I am the first to praise this recipe, the first to denounce it, the most useful review, the most recent, the oldest, and everything in between. Seldom does one accomplish so many firsts in ont thrust? The recipe is good; the family members all ate it and gave thumbs up. I found it wholesome and "crusty", but not exciting. I used pearl barley instead of rice (prefer it) and added more chicken and more ham than called for. I increase some of the other ingredients, accordingly, but followed pretty well. Also, added about one cup of shredded cheddar to top the casserole before baking. The almonds were a nice touch, and the chestnuts remained crispy. We all liked it, but I will not hurry to offer it a second time.