Easy Chicken & Rice Divan

This is a recipe from "way back", at a time when I was rather novice in the kitchen and cooked recipes "to a T".
Anyhow, it was inspiration for tonight's dinner, though I didn't end up following the recipe at all.
Easy Chicken & Rice Divan

serves 6 (good leftovers too!)
prep 15 min. total time: 50 min.

2 cups milk
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 tsp. dried thyme leaves
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
2 cups Minute brown rice, uncooked
1 1/4 lb. boneless chicken breasts, cut into chunks
1 pkg. (10 oz) frozen chopped broccoli, thawed & drained (or use fresh)
1 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar

preheat oven to 375

Using a 3 qt. casserole or 13x9 inch baking dish,
mix together the milk, mayo, thyme and garlic powder.

Add rice, chicken and broccoli; mix well.

Bake 30 min.

Remove and sprinkle with cheese.

Let stand until cheese is melted (or turn off oven, cover
with foil and leave in oven until it’s time to eat).

What I did:
Blanch fresh chopped broccoli in boiling water for 4 minutes, run under cold water to stop the cooking.
Chop up & saute some celery, onions and mushrooms.
Chop up 1 very large chicken breast.
Cook breast with the veggies once they are softened. I turned the chicken over at this point.
Pour into a casserole, grate some cheddar on top, cook at 375º until melted.
Cook up a side of rice.
Enjoy!
Here is a BIG fan of rice: