Chicken and streaky bacon casserole

1.57kg chicken or 6 chicken thighs

a little butter or oil for sautéing

340g green streaky bacon (blanch if salty)

340g carrot, peeled and thickly sliced

450g onions

sprig of thyme

750ml homemade chicken stock

roux – optional (melt 14g butter and stir 28g white flour, cook on a gentle heat for 2-3 minutes)

2 tbsp parsley, freshly chopped

For the mushroom a la créme:

15-25g butter

75g onion, finely chopped

225g mushrooms, sliced

100ml cream

freshly chopped parsley

½ tbsp freshly chopped chives (optional)

squeeze of lemon juice

salt

freshly ground pepper

roux