Tastes Like Chicken!

Ingredients

• 6 med dried black mushrooms
• 1 chicken breast (about 1 lb)
• 1/2 t cornstarch
• 1 1/2 t salt
• 1 lb winter melon
• 1/4 lb fully cooked smoked ham
• 1/2 C sliced canned bamboo shoots
• 4 C Chinese Chicken Broth
• 1/8 t white pepper

Instructions

1. Soak mushrooms in hot water about 20 minutes or until soft. Drain. Rinse in warm water. Drain. Squeeze out excess moisture. Remove and discard stem and cut caps into 1/4-inch pieces.
2. Remove bones and skin from chicken. Cut chicken into 1/2-inch pieces. Toss chicken, cornstarch and 1/2 teaspoon salt in medium bowl. Cover and refrigerate 20 minutes.
3. Remove rind, seeds and fibers from melon. Cut melon into 1/2-inch pieces.
4. Cut ham and bamboo shoots into 1/2-inch pieces.
5. Heat broth to boiling in 3-quart saucepan. Add mushrooms, melon and bamboo shoots. Heat to boiling. Stir in chicken and ham. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat. Cover and simmer 10 minutes.
6. Stir in 1 teaspoon salt and white pepper.