King Ranch Chicken Casserole

• 1 (4 1/2- to 5-lb) whole chicken
• 2 celery ribs, cut into 3 pieces each
• 2 carrots, cut into 3 pieces each
• 2 1/2 to 3 tsp. salt
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 medium-size green bell pepper, chopped
• 1 garlic clove, pressed
• 1 (10 3/4-oz.) can cream of mushroom soup
• 1 (10 3/4-oz.) can cream of chicken soup
• 2 (10-oz.) cans diced tomatoes and green chiles, drained
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon Gebhardt chili powder
• 3 cups grated sharp Cheddar cheese
• 12 (6-inch) fajita-size Tia Rosa yellow corn tortillas, cut into 1/2-inch strips

1. 1. If applicable, remove giblets from chicken, and reserve for another use. Rinse chicken.
2. 2. Place chicken, celery, carrots, and salt in a large Dutch oven with water to cover. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat; reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer 50 minutes to 1 hour or until chicken is done. Remove from heat. Remove chicken from broth; cool 30 minutes. Remove and reserve 3/4 cup cooking liquid. Strain any remaining cooking liquid, and reserve for another use.
3. 3. Preheat oven to 350u0b0. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion, and saute 6 to 7 minutes or until tender. Add bell pepper and garlic, and saute 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in reserved 3/4 cup cooking liquid, cream of mushroom soup, and next 5 ingredients. Cook, stirring occasionally, 8 minutes.
4. 4. Skin and bone chicken; shred meat into bite-size pieces. Layer half of chicken in a lightly greased 13- x 9-inch baking dish. Top with half of soup mixture and 1 cup Cheddar cheese. Cover with half of corn tortilla strips. Repeat layers once. Top with remaining 1-cup cheese.
5. 5. Bake at 350u0b0 for 55 minutes to 1 hour or until bubbly. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

celery, carrots, salt, butter, onion, green bell pepper, garlic, cream of mushroom soup, cream of chicken soup, tomatoes, oregano, ground cumin, gebhardt chili powder, grated sharp, tia

Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/member/views/king-ranch-chicken-casserole-51805101 (may not work)