Almost "Arroz Con Pollo"

I found a nice sounding recipe for Arroz Con Pollo in one of Pierre Franey's cookbooks last night, and decided to make it. There were only 2 "minor" problems: (1) I can't eat peppers. They make me sick, and (2) I can't cook everything in one pot. My mother thought casseroles were the greatest invention in the world, and I'm a strict food segregationalist. That being said, I'll give you my spin on this great dinner, and then tell you what Mr. Franey really said to do.

MARJIE'S ARROZ CON POLLO
(With thanks to P. Franey)

3 lbs. boneless chicken, cut into 1" thick pieces
1/4 cup olive oil
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp. oregano
salt & pepper to taste
1 bunch chopped scallions
2 tomatoes, cut into 1" cubes
1/2 cup sliced mushrooms
1-1/2 cups chicken broth
1/2 cup white wine
1 tsp lemon juice
2 tbsp. cornstarch

Place the chicken in the bottom of the broiler pan; coat with olive oil and the spices. Broil on each side for 4 minutes. Turn oven heat to 400. Add to the pan the scallions, tomatoes and mushrooms. Whisk together chicken broth, wine, lemon juice and cornstarch, and pour over the chicken mixture. Bake about 15 minutes. Top with freshly cut parsley and serve with white rice.

Mr. Franey says to brown the chicken in a pan with minced garlic (no spices except salt & pepper), stir in 2 cups rice, tomatoes, 2 cups green, red, or mixed colors sweet peppers, and onions (no scallions or mushrooms), add the liquids (no cornstarch), and cook until the rice is done. It's undoubtedly great (all of his recipes are, which is why he sells cookbooks, and I just read them). But like I said, I can't eat peppers, and I'm not in favor of one pot cooking. All of that notwithstanding, however, my dearly beloved said this was a splendid dish.

Of course, with a nice, colorful dinner, my camera would choose last night to malfunction. Last week, Pam wrote about her Christmas cactus getting ready to bloom. Mine has always been stupid. In 4 years, it bloomed in March & May of this year, and in March of 2006. So I went to lecture it about how pretty Pam's were getting to be for the holidays, and, Lo! It has rewarded me with 9, count 'em, 9 buds! I am excited! So, instead of a pretty chicken dinner, here's a formerly stupid Christmas Cactus!