Coq Au Vin Stew

SLOW COOKER.  Could there be two more beautiful words in the English language?  What I love about slow cooker recipes is that you can toss in your ingredients, turn on the cooker and get on with the other 10,000 things on your to-do list. 

You also know that I love wine.  I even love cooking with it!  ; )  I especially love how the flavors meld together and result in a rich, delicious dish that makes YOU look like a STAR!

Let your slow cooker do all the work while you get all the credit!

So this easy stew was perfect for a super busy day when I was out and about more than I was home.  But at the end of the day, the aroma beckoned us as we walked in the door.  A simple side and a loaf of frozen rosemary bread made this dinner complete.

Coq Au Vin Stew

• Non-stick cooking spray
• 3 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken thighs (with all visible fat removed)
• 1 envelope of Lipton Beefy Onion Soup Mix (using only 1/2 the package)
• 1 1/2 c. of frozen pearl onions
• 2 c. fresh button or baby bella mushrooms, quartered
• 1/2 c. dry red wine (think pinot noir, merlot, bordeaux or cabernet)
• Hot, mashed potatoes for serving
• Fresh snipped basil or parsley for garnish

Lightly coat a large skillet with cooking spray; heat over medium heat.  Cook chicken thighs in the hot skillet until brown; drain off fat.  Place browned chicken in slow cooker.  (Spray slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray)

Sprinkle 1/2 package of the Lipton Onion Soup Mix over the chicken.  Add onions and mushrooms.  Pour wine over chicken and vegetables.

Cook on LOW for 5 to 6 hours, or HIGH for 2 1/2 to 3 hours.  Using a slotted spoon, remove the chicken from the slow cooker.  Using two forks, break the chicken into pieces and return to the stew in the cooker. 

Serve with hot mashed potatoes.  If you don't have time to whip up an entire batch of mashed potatoes try this QUICK TIP:  Cut one large baking potato into cubes, cover with water and bring to a boil.  Cook about 15 minutes until potatoes are tender.  Drain.  Following package directions, make one envelope of Idahoan Garlic Mashed Potatoes, add cooked cubed potatoes and mash with potato masher for super quick "homestyle" potatoes.  You can also find frozen potatoes that you microwave and mash in the frozen food section:  Alexia brand.

Wine With Dinner

Now it does not come as a surprise that I enjoy a good glass of wine.  Not only do I like to drink it, but I really like to cook with it, too.  I have read different theories on cooking with wine and have found that the consensus is that you shouldn't cook with a wine you wouldn't drink.  The alcohol in the wine is burned off in the cooking process and you are left with the flavors of the wine.  It's these flavors that can turn an ordinary dish into an extraordinary one. 

Wine Glazed Chicken Thighs


You can see the rosemary and sage in this flavorful
sauce!  And who thought RED wine
would go with chicken? 

• 8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs (about 2 lbs.)
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/8 tsp. pepper
• 1 T. olive oil
• 1 T. Land O' Lakes LIGHT butter
• 2 T. fresh chopped rosemary
• 8 large leaves fresh sage
• 1 1/2 c. dry, RED wine
• 3 large garlic cloves, minced or run through a press
• Pinch of crushed red pepper

Remove any visible fat from the chicken thighs.  Season chicken with salt and pepper.  Heat oil and butter in a large, heavy non-stick skillet over medium high heat.  Add chicken, rosemary and sage and cook, turn chicken occasionally, 15 minutes or until golden brown.

Spoon off any fat, leaving 1 T. or less.  Add 1/4 c. of the wine, the garlic and crushed red pepper. 

Cook 20 minutes longer, turnking chicken occasionally and spooning on all bur 2 T. of the wine as the pan juices evaporate, until chicken is cooked through adn coated with a deep brown glaze.  Remove to warm serving plates. 

Wine
I have received calls from friends out shopping for groceries wanting to know what wine to buy to add to a dish.  I buy what I know we will later drink, so I am happy to give you my suggestions:  Angelina Pinot Noir Reserve, Dynamite Cabernet, or Conn Creek Cabernet.  Many people prefer drinking Merlot, so if you like Merlot you might enjoy Tangley Oaks Merlot.