Hot Chicken and Wheat Casserole

Earlier this summer I picked up a book at my local Costco that I've been enjoying ever since. It's 1/4 cookbook and 3/4 food storage education. I'm really trying hard to incorporate my food storage into my regular meal plan so that should the need arise, we are already used to the food storage meals. That said, nothing I've tried so far is weird or disgusting in any way. In fact, we have been LOVING it!

One of my newest found favorites in the long-term food storage category is wheat. Now mind you, I don't own a wheat grinder and I still am loving this wheat! One of the great things this book has taught me is how to use my wheat in other ways than the standard bread recipes. I have a few I'll share over time, too.

First you need to know HOW to cook the wheat to make them into wheat berries.

Cooked Wheat Berries
4 c. raw whole wheat
10 c. water
1 T. salt

Oil a large (4Qt or larger) slow cooker and fill with wheat, water and salt. Cover and cook on low all night, 8-10 hours. Cooked wheat may be bagged and stored in the refridgerator for at least a week or in the freezer for months.

Okay, so with these wheat berries, I LOVE adding them to my taco meat to make the meat "stretch" and add that bit of fiber my family so desperately needs. I enjoy eating them in a bowl with a touch of sugar and milk as a cereal! Really, once you get to know how wonderful the cooked wheat berry is, you can come up with all kinds of ways to incorporate them into your every day life and you and your family will be all the healthier for it!

Hot Chicken and Wheat Casserole

1/2 c. butter, plus 2T. Butter, divided
1 c. celery diced
1 c. onion, diced
1 c. green pepper, diced
6 c. cooked wheat berries
2 cans chicken chunks, drained (12.5 oz.) - I used my pre-shredded chicken breasts I have on hand in the freezer. I got this incredible idea from Kira. Click HERE for info.
1 can cream of chicken soup
3/4 c. mayo
1 can sliced water chestnuts, drained (I omitted)
1 c. breadcrumbs

Saute diced fresh veggies in 1/2 c. butter until they are partially cooked adn color brightens. Add wheat berries, drained chicken, soup, mayo, and water chestnuts. Stir to combine. Pour mix into an oiled 9x13 pan and sprinkle top with breadcrumbs that have been combined with the 2T melted butter. Bake 350 degrees F for 45 minutes.