Don Briscoe's Escallopd Chicken

from the Dark Shadows Celebrity Cookbook

Chicken is often a good choice for dinner and I enjoyed trying Don Briscoe's Escalloped Chicken from the Dark Shadows Celebrity Cookbook.  As with many of the other recipes from the book, I was quite pleasantly surprised.  Boiled chicken is used for this recipe along with the reserved broth and fat.  Crushed cracker crumbs, chicken pieces, and chopped boiled potatoes are layered in a casserole dish and smothered in a light gravy.  Baked in the oven for twenty minutes it comes to the table hot and bubbling with a rich chicken aroma and flavor rivaling some of the best pot pies I have ever tasted.  The crackers melt away and thicken the gravy and the potatoes are creamy, while the top is crisp, golden.  I have made escalloped corn, tomatoes and of course potatoes, but had never made a chicken dish quite like this.  I served it with steamed carrots and a spicy chutney, but peas or green beans and cranberry sauce would be nice with it too.  This is comfort food from Mr. Briscoe's southern roots and probably was a family favorite. Your guess is as good as mine as to whether or not Chris Jennings prepared it while he was in Collinsport.  He certainly wasn't in the kitchen during a full moon, but perhaps he and Quentin enjoyed it for a late supper on an occasional werewolf's night off.  It's tasty and satisfying as you'll see when you make it and you'll be missing a treat if you don't.  Personally, I enjoyed it in memory of Mr. Briscoe who was a very intelligent, refined, and fascinating person, and a gifted actor of depth and sensitivity.