Coq au vin, pronounced kohk-oh-vahn, is a very classic French dish that includes chicken, bacon, wine and a few other ingredients. The one and only time I had this dish I remember that I wasn't super impressed. I was even eating it in France, prepared by a real French person. Nevertheless, when I saw it again in one of Julia Child's cookbooks I decided to give it a go. Mainly because, God bless Julia, it looked easy to prepare.
One of the reasons, I believe, that Julia was so wildly successful was that she explained everything in grand detail. She really makes you feel like, yes, I can do that too! So when I reread the recipe I wanted to try it. However, sometimes even Julia went a little over board with her directions, so I thought about how I could make this still true to form but just a little simpler, and of course, faster. What turned out was an excellent version of coq au vin, if I don't say so myself. I found the sauce to be so fantastic I almost wanted to drink it. This is my version, but if you would like Julia's you can find one in The French Chef Cookbook, p. 76.
Recip Saw
- 4 slices bacon, cut into matchsticks
- Cooking oil
- Frying chicken, cut into pieces
- Salt and pepper
- 1/4 cup cognac or brandy
- 3 cups red wine; Julia suggests Burgundy, Chianti or California Mountain Red wine; I used a Chianti
- 3-4 cups beef stock or bouillon
- 1 Tbsp. tomato paste
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 tsp. dried thyme
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 large onion, sliced thick
- 1/2 lb. mushrooms, cleaned and quartered
- Butter
- Flour
In a large, deep skillet or Dutch oven, saute bacon with 2 Tbsp. oil until browned. Remove bacon, leaving fat. Season chicken with salt and pepper on all sides. Over medium-high heat brown chicken on all sides in the bacon fat. When chicken is browned return bacon to pan, cover and cook over medium heat for 10 minutes, turning chicken once. Uncover, pour in brandy, and light with match. (Be careful! Flames will come up from the dish!) Shake pan back and forth until flames subside.
Pour wine into pan, and add just enough beef stock to cover chicken. Stir in tomato paste, garlic, thyme, and bay leaves. Bring to a simmer and cover. Simmer for 30 minutes or until chicken is tender when pierced with a fork. If chicken was not fully covered by stock turn chicken once halfway through cooking. While chicken is cooking, in a large skillet saute onions and mushrooms with 1 Tbsp. butter and 2 Tbsp. cooking oil until lightly browned and tender.
When chicken is done, remove from pan. Skim off fat and boil down to concentrate flavors. While sauce is boiling, in a separate sauce pan melt 2 Tbsp. butter. When butter is melted add 3 Tbsp. flour, whisking until incorporated. Add butter and flour mixture to sauce, whisking well. Bring sauce to a simmer and cook until thickened. Off heat add mushrooms and onions to sauce. Taste and season with salt and pepper if needed. Add chicken back to sauce. Serve as is or with rice, noodles, or potatoes. If making this ahead of time, when reheating simmer chicken and sauce on low until chicken is just heated through. Do not boil, chicken will overcook.
Special Price!!! DEWALT DC385K 18-Volt Ni-Cad Cordless Reciprocating Saw Kit
Oct 20, 2011 16:24:21
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DEWALT DC385K 18-Volt Ni-Cad Cordless Reciprocating Saw Kit Feature
- Lever-action keyless blade clamp for quick and easy blade changes and 4-positions for flush cutting
- 1-1/8-inch stroke length and 0-3,000 strokes per minute for faster cutting speed, pivoting shoe for comfort
- High-capacity XRP battery offer 40% more run-time than standard batteries
- Includes saw, battery, 1-hour charger, kit box
- 8.2 pounds, 90-day money back guarantee, 1-year free service contract, 3-year limited warranty
DEWALT DC385K 18-Volt Ni-Cad Cordless Reciprocating Saw Kit Overview
The DEWALT 18-Volt Cordless XRP Ni-Cad Reciprocating Saw Kit will help you make quick work of demolition tasks involved in renovations and remodels. Featuring variable-speed trigger, and a powerful DEWALT XRP extended run-time battery system, this saw is built for control and power. The kit includes a quick one-hour charger, 18 volt XRP battery, and handy carrying kit box so you can recharge and be back at it in no time.
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 Take on renovation and remodeling projects with this powerful reciprocating saw. View larger. |
 Variable-speed saw blade delivers 3,000 spm, ideal for framing jobs. View larger. |
A reciprocation saw mimics the back-and-forth motion of a handsaw that lets you quickly cut through wood framing, shingles, PVC pipes, and more. Plus a reciprocating saw fits into places where other saws can't go, making it a truly versatile addition to your professional tool kit.
A DEWALT cordless reciprocating saw helps you capitalize on all those benefits, thanks to the fast cutting speeds allowed by its powerful, 18-volt motor and big 1-1/8-inch stroke length. This saw offers variable-speed control for application-specific performance, and it is capable of operating at speeds ranging from 0 to 3,000 spm. When you're finished with a cut, the saw's electric brake stops the blade quickly and reliably.
 Three-position adjustable shoe. |
For versatility, the saw's four-position blade clamp allows you to choose the configuration that best matches your application, and the blade clamp is reinforced with metal for long-term durability. This setup gives you the ability to make flush cuts and the ability to reverse the blade for cutting upside-down, and--regardless of which configuration you're using--the saw's pivoting, open-top shoe makes it easy to see what you're working on. The three-position shoe also makes adjusting cut depth easy and helps extend blade life.
Fast, Keyless Blade Changes
When it comes time to switch to a different type of blade or replace a blade with a fresh one, the keyless lever-action blade-clamp design allows for fast, easy blade changes--no special tools required.
Comfort Grip and Long Battery Life
Since comfortable handling contributes to better control and accurate cuts, this saw weighs an easy-to-maneuver 8.2 pounds and features a textured, anti-slip grip. The variable speed trigger provides consistent performance and improved user control in extended use situations.
A tool's only useful if it runs long enough to get the job done, and DEWALT XRP extended run-time batteries keep this reciprocating saw running at full tilt. They provide up to 40 percent more run-time than standard batteries, and any XRP battery can be used with any 18-volt DEWALT tool, which allows you to streamline your kit. In addition, the one-hour charger helps reduce downtime so you can get your task done quickly.
This 18-volt cordless XRP reciprocating saw kit also comes with a DEWALT warranty package that includes a three-year limited warranty, a one-year free service contract, and a 90-day money back guarantee.
What's in the Box
DC385K DEWALT 18-Volt Cordless XRP Reciprocating Saw, one-hour Ni-Cad charger, 18-volt XRP battery, and kit box.
 Four-position blade change. |  Keyless blade-change lever. |
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