1 fat chicken
1 Spanish onion, stuck with 2 cloves
2 large carrrots
Bouquet garni
2 stalks celery
1 glass dry white wine
1 quart white stock (chicken or veal, or both)
Salt and black peppercorns

Rice
1 tablespoon butter
1 Spanish onion, finely chopped
½ pound rice
½ pint strained chicken stock
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Cream sauce
2 tablespoons flour
2 tablespoons butter
¼ pint strained chicken stock
¾ pint double cream
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Freshly grated nutmeg

Garnish
Cooked carrots
Cooked green beans

Clean, singe and truss chicken; place in a casserole with an onion stuck with cloves; add carrots, bouquet garni and celery, and moisten with dry white wine and a good white stock. Season to taste with salt and a few peppercorns, and simmer gently for about 1 ½ hours, or until chicken is tender. Remove chicken and keep warm. Strain chicken stock and use for cooking rice and for cream sauce.

To prepare rice: Melt butter in a saucepan; add finely chopped onion and stir for a minute over heat until transparent. Stir in rice; add ½ pint strained chicken stock and 1 pint hot water; season to taste with salt and black pepper; simmer very gently, covered, for about 25 minutes, or until tender but not mushy.

Cream sauce: Make a white roux with flour and butter; add ¼ pint chicken stock and ¾ pint double cream, and bring slowly to a boil, stirring constantly. Simmer, stirring from time to time, until sauce is thick and smooth. Remove from heat. Season to taste with salt, black pepper, and nutmeg.

To serve: place boiled chicken in the centre of a large heated serving platter. Surround with colourful clusters of cooked whole carrots, green beans and rice. Pour a little cream sauce over chicken and serve with the rest separately. Serves 4 to 6.

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Thomas Nelson & Sons Ltd, 36 Park Street, London W.1. ©Robert Carrier 1968