Saturday, May 20, 2006

Of Coq Au Vin and Other Things...

In my new resolution to stick to my diet (well, except for that HUGE piece of cake I ate yesterday. And the cookie I had the day before, and the Brownie Sundae I finished off for my daughter), I have been trying out new recipes. A couple nights ago, I made Coq Au Vin in the crock-pot and pleased all four members of the family (but disappointed the dogs, who didn't get any leftovers).

It's a really simple recipe -- you brown the chicken (I used a whole chicken, cut up) in a pan first, sprinkling salt and pepper on the pieces (I use bone-in. I find boneless dries out in the crock-pot). Put it in the crock-pot with an 8 ounce package of mushrooms (sliced or whole, you make the call), 1 cup of red wine (I used a fruity merlot), 1 cup chicken broth, an 8-ounce can of diced tomatoes (I used the Italian seasoned kind), some chopped onion, 1 clove of garlic, chopped (I buy the already chopped kind), 1/2 teaspoon thyme, 1 bay leaf and 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley (or 1 teaspoon dried). During the last half hour, I add three or four cooked slices of bacon, diced.

I also thickened the sauce at the end. Took out the meat and veggies, added some flour (mixing it with cold water first so it won't lump in the hot sauce), then whisked, with the crock-pot on high. I served it over cooked noodles but was good and didn't eat any.

I'm in the last stages of my braces, on the not-so-fun elastics, which give me an almost constant migraine, but YIPPEE am counting down the days until the braces come off: July 12th. My orthodontist wanted to tweak a tiny bit more, taking me into August, and I said no. It's been a year and a half and virtually every part of this has been hugely painful (especially headache-wise) and I am D-O-N-E. Plus I have my annual romance writers conference at the end of July, and I don't want to spend a second year there worrying about whether there is spinach in my teeth or if I'm going to spit on someone. ;-)

Now, I better get back to work. The shoemaker's elves, sadly, didn't show up last night to write my pages. :-)

Shirley
Listening to: Renee Olstead. This kid (who plays the eldest child on "Still Standing") has pipes you wouldn't believe and can take the old standards and really jazz them up. My favorite is "Summertime".

2 comments:

  1. Anonymous4:23 PM

    My favorite Renee Olstead song is, Someone to watch over me...
    Shelley from your justwriteit group.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I agree, Shelley -- that one is really good. That girl can SING.

    Shirley

    ReplyDelete

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