Coq Au Vin

Hearty Coq Au Vin sounds exotic, foreign and fancy, but it really is French comfort food. Using chicken thighs and a bottle of reasonably priced burgundy, this budget-wise dish is perfect for those who are busy and don't have much time to spend in the kitchen. Once you master this, you won't need to find any nearby French restaurant anymore. Why, simply cook this, enjoy the meal and the oohs and aahs.. Bon appétit!

Ingredients:

- 4 slices of bacon

- 3 tbsp butter

- 3 lbs chicken thighs

- 1/2 lb fresh button mushrooms (I love Baby Bella)

- 3 cup Burgundy wine

- 24 oz frozen pearl onions

- 3 medium sliced carrots

- 2 bay leaves

- 2 sprigs fresh thyme, or 1/2 tsp dried

- 2 garlic cloves, sliced

- 1 tbsp tomato paste

- Salt & pepper to taste

- 3 tbsp corn starch

- 1/4 cup water

Directions:

1. Cut bacon into small pieces (1" is fine)

2. Cook bacon in a large skillet. (I personally love a cast iron for this) Remove bacon and set aside.

3. Add butter to bacon fat, and once melted, brown the chicken thighs in the skillet. Remove the thighs when they are golden brown.

4. Add fresh button mushrooms to skillet and lightly brown them. Remove mushrooms and place in slow cooker.

5. Place chicken thighs, bacon, garlic, pearl onions, and sliced carrots in the slow cooker.

6. Deglaze the skillet with burgundy scraping the skillet bottom with a wooden spoon to loosen all the tasty brown bits of goodness. If you are concerned about the alcohol content allow the wine to come to a simmer to evaporate the alcohol, and also replace half of the wine with chicken stock.

7. Pour the liquid from skillet into slow cooker.

8. Add bay leaves, thyme and tomato paste. If using fresh thyme create a string tied bundle with the bay leaves so they can easily be removed before serving.

9. Cook on high for 7-8 hours on low.

10. To thicken sauce, remove vegetables and meat to serving dish and keep warm. Discard herb bundle. Mix cornstarch and cold water in small bowl till cornstarch dissolves. Turn slow cooker to High and add cornstarch mixture stirring till it thickens the sauce. Pour sauce over chicken and veggies and serve.