Creamed Chicken

• 1 (3 lb) (1½ kg) oven-ready chicken
• 1 tablespoon

The chicken stock left over from cooking this recipe may be used for soup.

Place the chicken, breast downwards, in a large saucepan. Add sufficient water to cover. Add the salt, peppercorns, the peeled onion stuck with the clove, the stalks of celery cut up, and the bay leaf. Cover and bring to the boil. Simmer the chicken gently for 1 hour then draw off the heat. Remove the flavouring