Yum-O

Since today was Patriot's Day and I had the day off from school, I had lots of time on my hands to relax!  I decided that I would try a new recipe, get some work done, and take a long walk.  After waking up and feeling super relaxed, I knew I wanted to try something in the slow cooker so I could smell it all day.


Coq au Vin was the answer. At first I was little intimidated.  My kitchen is quite small.  I have only a little area for prep, the stove (which is mini), and the sink.  Balancing plates and cutting boards at precarious angles, I started with the bacon.  The smell was just delicious.  My favorite bacon is by Nature's Rancher and as far as  I know you can only purchase this at Whole Foods.  It is seriously worth the trip! This step was of course easy.  Just a pan and some bacon strips.  The best part was seeing my dogs salivate as their nostrils were assaulted with the caramelizing hickory scent.

Step two: The Chicken
In the same pan as the bacon which is blackened and charred over, two tablespoons of butter are added and the chicken thighs (fat trimmed) covered in salt/pepper and flour and are basted and browned.  Scrapping up the brown bits, the chicken is removed from the heat and the veggies are sauteed.

Step Three: The Crock Pot aka Secret Weapon
Combine all ingredients into the crock pot. Add chicken broth, thyme, and wine (and take a swig for the chef!)  The cover and simmer/cook for 6-7 hours.

Step Four: The Aroma
Sit back and enjoy as your home is filled with the delicious smells of bacon, wine, and rustic France.    And wait patiently for the main event: Dinner time!

It was worth the weight and I highly recommend giving this recipe try. I am not the best chef but this meal was manageable, fun, and it made love to the taste buds!

Next time I am deeply in love with my cooking, I will make sure to take my own photo of it. But, you get the idea.