Julia Child’s Coq au Vin

 

All hail Julia! This tasted AMAZING. The only thing I would do differently is brown the chicken a bit more and use a better red wine. The chicken came out looking a bit purple..but delicious!

Ingredients
3 to 4-ounce chunk lean bacon
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 1/2 to 3 pounds frying chicken, cut into pieces
1/2 teaspoon salt, plus additional for seasoning
1/8 teaspoon pepper, plus additional for seasoning
1/4 cup cognac ( I used brandy)
3 cups young, full-bodied red wine, such as Burgundy, Beaujolais, Cotes du Rhone, or Chianti
1 to 2 cups brown chicken stock, brown stock or canned beef bouillon
1/2 tablespoon tomato paste
2 cloves mashed garlic
1/4 teaspoon thyme leaves
1 bay leaf
12 to 24 Brown-Braised Onions, recipe follows
1/2 pound Sauteed Mushrooms, recipe follows
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons softened butter
Fresh parsley leaves
Brown-Braised Onions:
1 1/2 tablespoons butter
1 1/2 tablespoons oil
18 to 24 peeled white onions, about 1-inch in diameter (I used frozen pearl onions)
1/2 cup brown stock, canned beef bouillon, dry white wine, red wine, or water
Salt and pepper
Medium herb bouquet: 4 parsley sprigs, 1/2 bay leaf and 1/4 teaspoon thyme tied in cheesecloth
Sauteed Mushrooms:
2 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon oil
1/2 pound fresh mushrooms, washed, well dried, left whole if small, sliced or quartered if large
1 to 2 tablespoons minced shallots or green onions, optional
Salt and pepper

Directions
Remove the rind and cut the bacon into lardons (rectangles 1/4-inch across and 1-inch long). Simmer for 10 minutes in 2 quarts of water. Rinse in cold water. Dry. THIS IS IMPORTANT. REMOVES THE SMOKEY TASTE FROM BACON

In a heavy large heavy bottomed casserole or Dutch oven, saute the bacon slowly in hot butter until it is very lightly browned (temperature of 260 degrees F for an electric skillet). Remove to a side dish.

Dry the chicken thoroughly. Brown it in the hot fat in the casserole. (360 degrees F for the electric skillet.)

Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Return the bacon to the casserole with the chicken. Cover and cook slowly (300 degrees F) for 10 minutes, turning the chicken once.

Uncover, and pour in the cognac. Averting your face, ignite the cognac with a lighted match. Shake the casserole back and forth for several seconds until the flames subside.

Pour the wine into the casserole. Add just enough stock or bouillon to cover the chicken. Stir in the tomato paste, garlic and herbs. Bring to a simmer. Cover and simmer slowly for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the chicken is tender and its juices run a clear yellow when the meat is pricked with a fork. Remove the chicken to a side dish.

While the chicken is cooking, prepare the onions and mushrooms.

Simmer the chicken cooking liquid in the casserole for 1 to 2 minutes, skimming off fat. Then raise the heat and boil rapidly, reducing the liquid to about 2 1/4 cups. Correct seasoning. Remove from heat, and discard bay leaf.

Blend the butter and flour together into a smooth paste (beurre manie). Beat the paste into the hot liquid with a wire whip. Bring to the simmer, stirring and simmer for 1 to 2 minutes. The sauce should be thick enough to coat a spoon lightly.

Arrange the chicken in a casserole, place the mushrooms and onions around it and baste with the sauce. If the dish is not to be served immediately, film the top of the sauce with stock or dot with small pieces of butter. Set aside uncovered for no longer than 1 hour or cool, cover and refrigerate until needed.

Shortly before serving, bring the casserole to a simmer, basting the chicken with the sauce. Cover and simmer slowly for 4 to 5 minutes, until the chicken is heated through.

Serve from the casserole, or arrange on a hot platter. Decorate with sprigs of parsley.

Brown-Braised Onions:
When the butter and oil are bubbling in the skillet, add the onions and saute over moderate heat for 10 minutes, rolling the onions about so they will brown as evenly as possible. Be careful not to break their skins. You cannot expect to brown them uniformly.

Braise them as follows: Pour in the stock, season to taste, and add the herb bouquet. Cover and simmer slowly for 15 to 20 minutes until the onions are perfectly tender but retain their shape, and the liquid has evaporated. Remove herb bouquet. Serve them as they are.

Bake them as follows: Transfer the onions and their sauteing fat to a shallow baking dish or casserole just large enough to hold them in 1 layer. Set uncovered in upper third of a preheated 350 degree F oven for 40 to 50 minutes, turning them over once or twice. They should be very tender, retain their shape and be a nice golden brown. Remove herb bouquet. Serve them as they are.

Sauteed Mushrooms:
Place the skillet over high heat with the butter and oil. As soon as you see that the butter foam has begun to subside, indicating it is hot enough, add the mushrooms. Toss and shake the pan for 4 to 5 minutes. During their saute the mushrooms will at first absorb the fat. In 2 to 3 minutes the fat will reappear on their surface, and the mushrooms will begin to brown. As soon as they have browned lightly, remove from heat.

Toss the shallots or green onions, if using, with the mushrooms. Saute over moderate heat for 2 minutes. Sauteed mushrooms may be cooked in advance, set aside, then reheated when needed. Season to taste just before serving.

We placed the chicken atop mashed potatoes and served with green beans.

Inspired by: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/chicken-in-red-wine-with-onions-mushrooms-and-bacon-coq-au-vin-recipe.html?oc=linkback

 

Chicken Marsala

After purchasing basically a lifetime supply of chicken thighs from Cosco, we decided to make Chicken Marsala. I wanted to avoid a thick, sauce using flour and opted for something more light. The result was the best Chicken Marsala recipe I’ve ever tasted! 

Chicken Marsala w/Kale and Spaghetti

2 pounds chicken thighs, with skin (can be substituted for the breast if you prefer white meat)
1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
3 1/2 tablespoons butter
1 onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, diced
1 pound mushrooms, sliced thin
3/4 cup Marsala
3/4 cup low sodium chicken broth
2 cups of trimmed kale
6 servings of spaghetti

Pat chicken dry and season with salt and pepper. In a large heavy skillet heat oil and 1 1/2 tablespoons butter over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking and brown chicken in 2 batches, transferring with tongs to a large plate as browned.

Discard all but 1 tablespoon fat from skillet and sauté onion and mushrooms, stirring occasionally. Add garlic. Cook until liquid mushrooms give off is evaporated. Add Marsala and cook mixture, stirring, until Marsala is almost evaporated and scraping up any browned bits that might be stuck to the pan. Add kale. Add broth and chicken with any juices that have accumulated on plate and simmer, turning chicken once, until cooked through, about 15 – 20 minutes. Transfer chicken with tongs to a platter.

Simmer mushroom sauce until liquid is reduced to about 1/2 cup. Remove skillet from heat and stir in remaining 2 tablespoons butter and salt and pepper to taste, stirring until butter is just incorporated. Toss in spaghetti. Place chicken a top pasta.

Inspired by: http://theredspoon.com/2011/02/chicken-and-mushroom-marsala/

Butter Chicken Curry Naan Pizzas

Butter Chicken Curry Naan Pizzas

Ingredients:
Butter Chicken Curry (we recommend Shan Butter Chicken Curry Mix)
Naan bread
Mozzarella
Goat cheese
Diced tomato

Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2) Bake naan bread on cookie sheet for 12 minutes.
3) Remove naan bread from oven and cover it with butter chicken, then mozzarella, goat cheese crumbles, and diced tomatoes.
4) Return pizzas to oven for another 12 minutes.
5) When done, cut into halves or quarters and serve.

Lemon Chicken Thighs

 

Lemon Chicken Recipe

• Cook time: 55 minutes
• Yield: Serves 4-6.

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INGREDIENTS

• 3-4 pounds chicken parts (thighs and legs recommended), skin-on, bone-in, trimmed of excess fat

• 2 Tbsp lemon zest
• 1/3 cup lemon juice
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• 2 Tbsp fresh chopped thyme (or 2 teaspoons dried)
• 1 Tbsp fresh chopped rosemary (or 1 teaspoon dried)
• 1 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper

• 2-3 Tbsp melted butter
• Lemon slices for garnish

METHOD

1 Place lemon juice, lemon peel, garlic, thyme, rosemary, salt, and pepper in a small bowl, whisk to combine. With the tip of a sharp knife, cut into each chicken piece one or two times by about 1/2 an inch. (This will help the marinade penetrate.) Place the chicken pieces and the marinade in a gallon-sized freezer bag. Rotate the bag so that all chicken pieces are coated with the marinade. Seal the bag and place in a bowl in the refrigerator (in case of leakage). Let marinate for 2 hours.

2 Preheat oven to 425°F. Remove chicken from marinade and place in a single layer in a large baking dish, skin side up. Reserve the marinade. Use a pastry brush to brush a little melted butter on to each piece of chicken.

3 Bake for a total of 50 to 55 minutes, until the skins are crispy brown, and the chicken is cooked through, juices running clear (breasts have an internal temperature of 165°F and thighs 175°F). Half-way through the baking, at about the 25 minute mark, baste the chicken pieces generously with reserved marinade.

Depending on the size of the breasts, they may be ready before the thighs, so if you are cooking a mix of chicken parts, keep that in mind, you may have to take them out of the oven before the thighs.

Let rest, covered in foil, for 10 minutes before serving.

4 Pour the juices from the pan into a serving bowl. Use a tablespoon to skim the fat off the top (save the fat for cooking with later, or discard, but do not discard down the drain or it will solidify and clog your drain). Serve the chicken with the juices on the side or a little poured over the top of the chicken.

Inspired by: http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/lemon_chicken/

Buffalo Chicken Calzones

Buffalo Chicken Calzones

We made these using our leftover roast chicken. They turned out to be the best calzones we’ve ever had. Definitely a winner and very easy to make.

Ingredients:

1 Pillsbury Artisan whole grain pizza crust
2 cups roast chicken
1/2 bottle Louisiana Supreme chicken wing sauce (8 oz.)
1/2 an onion (chopped)
1/2 cup diced tomatoes
1/2 cup blue cheese crumbles
1 cup shredded pizza blend cheese

Directions:

In a large mixing bowl, mix all the ingredients except for the cheeses. Roll out the pizza dough and cut it in half. We’re making two calzones. Pour the filling onto half of each half, with a border of about an inch on the three remaining sides, to make room for the folding and crimping. Cover the filling of each with a layer of blue cheese, then a layer of pizza blend cheese. Fold the dough over the filling and seal the dough together by pressing it together, then fold it onto itself and crimp like you would a pie crust. Poke holes in the top with a fork.

Place in 400 degree oven and bake for 20-25 minutes.

Chicken Divan

Chicken Divan

This is a family recipe I was raised with and is possibly my all time favorite way of consuming broccoli. It also works fantastically as a way of using leftover chicken or turkey.

Ingredients:

2-3 bunches of broccoli
3-4 chicken breast halves
2 cans cream of chicken soup
1 cup mayo
2 Tbs lemon juice
1 Tb Worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 cups bread crumbs
1 cup grated sharp cheddar
paprika

Directions:

Prepare broccoli via whichever method you prefer. Personally I just microwave it wrapped in paper towels for around 6-8 minutes. Cut it up and make a layer of broccoli in a 9×13 inch glass dish.

Prepare your chicken via whichever method your prefer. Personally I just cook it on medium in a steel pan, covered, with some water or white wine if I have it. When it’s done, pull it apart into chunks and create a layer of chicken on top of the layer of broccoli.

Combine soup, mayo, lime juice, Worcestershire sauce, in a bowl until well mixed. Spread over the chicken and broccoli. Cover this third layer with the cheese, then bread crumbs, then paprika.

Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes covered. Uncover and bake for an additional 15 minutes.

Chicken and Cauliflower Tikka Masala

Chicken Tikka Masala

Marinade Ingredients:

1 cup Greek yogurt
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon hot curry powder
1 teaspoon ground tabasco pepper (Cajun Kicker)
2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
1 teaspoon salt
1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs (cut up into skewer size pieces)
4 long skewers

Sauce Ingredients:

1 tablespoon butter
1 clove garlic, minced
1 jalapeno pepper, finely chopped
1 cup chopped cauliflower
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons paprika
2 teaspoons hot curry powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground tabasco pepper (Cajun Kicker)
1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
1 cup half and half or cream
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Directions:

For marinade combine yogurt, lemon juice, cumin, curry powder, tabasco pepper, black pepper, ginger, and salt. Stir in chicken, cover, and refrigerate for 1 hour.

Get your grill going. When grill is ready put chicken onto skewers, and discard marinade. Grill until juices run clear, about 5-10 minutes on each side, depending on the heat of your grill/coals.

Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Saute garlic and jalapeno for 1 minute. Season with cumin, paprika, hot curry powder, ground tabasco, and salt. Stir in tomato sauce and cream. Simmer on low heat until sauce thickens, about 20 minutes. Add grilled chicken and cauliflower, and simmer for 15 minutes. Transfer to a serving platter, and garnish with fresh cilantro.

Commentary: The use of Coussou’s Cajun Kicker Pure Ground Tabasco really gives this traditional Indiana dish some nice Louisiana heat (some other hot ground pepper will do fine as a replacement though), and the cauliflower acts as a curry sponge which is awesome. Also, doing this with skewers really results in a wonderful flavor and tenderness for the chicken if done right.

Inspired by: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/chicken-tikka-masala/

Buffalo Chicken Pizza

Buffalo Chicken Pizza

Ingredients

1 cup of cooked chicken, cubed
1 pizza dough, store bought
Cornmeal or flour, to handle dough
2 tablespoons butter
2 to 3 tablespoons hot sauce, medium to spicy heat
1/2 cup tomato sauce

1/2 onion, sliced
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese, a few generous handfuls

1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup blue cheese crumbles

Directions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Preheat grill pan to high.Stretch dough to form pizza using cornmeal or flour to help you handle it. If you let it rest and warm up a few minutes it will handle even easier. Set pizza on pizza pan to the side and clean board.

Mix melted butter with hot sauce and toss with chicken.Cover the pizza dough with tomato sauce, saucy Buffalo chicken, onions, and cheeses. Bake 15 minutes or until crisp.

Inspired by: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/rachael-ray/wingless-buffalo-chicken-pizza-recipe/index.html?oc=linkback

Chicken Curry Burrito Supreme

Chicken Curry Burrito Supreme

Ingredients:

Chicken curry
Flour tortillas
Sour cream
Diced tomatoes
Shredded cheese
Shredded lettuce
Taco Bell salsa packets

Directions: Put chicken curry, tomatoes, lettuce, cheese, and sour cream into a warm flour tortilla. Cover it with salsa packets from Taco Bell because that’s how to be a real gourmet.

Note: This should totally be a new menu item. Nudge nudge Taco Bell…

Molten Breakfast Curry

Ingredients:

Eggs

Directions:

Use that to make chicken curry hot enough to restart the Earth’s core should the events of The Core ever play out for reals. Top leftovers the following morning with an egg or two.