December 20, 2012

Okay, so it’s 8:30 EST PM Thursday night before we’re hit by a big asteroid (or something otherwise dire) sometime after midnight.

So…..Todd and I are fixing a nice late-night steak dinner, before heading down to beach afterwards to watch the UFO’s land.

 

We think the first “take us to your leader” representative may be disguised as one of these: (SEE PHOTO AT TOP LEFT, taken by Todd one day when he spotted this guy scouting out the territory, as he was coming in our front door).

 

We actually like these guys better than the ones that look like chickens/roosters (LOUD MF’s) especially the ones that keep trying to keep coming in, and pecking & pooping in our living room.  Our dog Daisy could do a better job of keeping them out, but we’re all pretty glad she wisely gives them wide berth.

Live chickens are currency/personal property here, and no one wants to see one go before their time as road/dog kill….or let's wring its neck time.

 

 

 

That being said, inexplicably, one occasionally one goes missing. ** 

 

Coq Au Vin

Our food blogger, Jenna Weber, puts her spin on Julia Child's coq au vin recipe. She shares some tips for making this dish in a full post on the Fresh Tastes blog.

Ingredients

• 4 slices thick cut bacon
• 3 lbs chicken breasts and legs, skin on (two breasts and two drumsticks)
• 1 yellow onion, chopped
• 2 tsp minced garlic
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 sprig fresh rosemary, minced
• 2 cups red wine
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 2 tbsp butter
• 3 tbsp flour
• 10 oz sliced mushrooms
• ¼ tsp pepper
• ½ tsp salt (or, to taste)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 250 degrees.
2. Fry the bacon over medium heat in a dutch oven or large heavy-bottomed pot. After it’s fried, remove the bacon and place on paper towels to drain. Once cool, chop bacon and set aside. Keep the bacon grease in the pot.
3. Turn heat to high and place chicken, skin-side down in the pot. Sear chicken until golden brown on both sides, about eight minutes. Then, add the onions, garlic, bay leaves and rosemary. Continue sautéing until the onions begin to soften, about six minutes.
4. Add the chicken broth and red wine. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Cover and let simmer for 30 minutes.
5. After 30 minutes, carefully remove the chicken from the pot and place in an oven-safe dish. Keep chicken warm in the oven while you work on the sauce.
6. Stir the flour and butter (butter should melt instantly in the pot) into the red wine sauce. Bring back up to a boil and stir constantly----sauce should be begin to thicken. Add mushrooms, chopped bacon, salt and pepper and continue cooking for 10-12 minutes. Keep in mind that the sauce will also thicken up a bit when it cools.
7. Place chicken back in sauce and serve with roasted potatoes, noodles or a big green salad.

Yield: 4 servings

** No animals were harmed during the writing of this essay.