Sunday, April 11, 2010

The New Chicken Soup

Before I talk a bit about this recipe, I wanted to thank each and every one of you for your prayers and well wishes for my cousin. He was released from the hospital on Sunday and is staying with my aunt (his mother) while he fully recovers. But he is doing much better than expected and we think he'll make a full recovery. Thank you all so very much for your positivity!

I woke up with a sore throat on Friday and have been feeling like poo all weekend long. ugh! I've mentioned before that I'm a part time nanny and every time that the little man gets sick, so do I. It's so frustrating because I'll be with the sick kid all week long and by the weekend, I'm feeling miserable and doing nothing but sleeping, building up mountains of Kleenex and drugging myself up just to feel somewhat like a human. And doctors don't work the weekends, so what d'ya do?

I haven't been cooking much this weekend simply because I haven't had the energy. I did manage to whip out a pizza for dinner last night but that doesn't require much effort. Mr. H has been taking care of me and putting up with take out. He's even made breakfast a couple times and cleaned up- what a man! I was wanting something warm and comforting for dinner and thought of this meal that I made a couple weeks ago. I found it on Cassie Craves and I've made it a couple times now. It's loaded with bacon and garlicky goodness and gets even more flavor from the red wine and chicken broth that it's cooked in. The chicken gets really tender and falls apart and the veggies retain their texture. It's really simple and it's delicious and perfect for when you're feeling under the weather. I just wish I had someone to make it for me :-)

Crock Pot Coq Au Vin adapted from Cassie Craves

  • 5 slices thick-cut bacon
  • 2 cups frozen pearl onions, thawed (or 1 medium onion, chopped)
  • 1 cup sliced button mushrooms
  • 2 large carrots, peeled and chopped into 2 inch pieces
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
  • 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
  • 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into halves
  • 1/2 cup dry red wine
  • 3/4 cup chicken broth
  • 1/4 cup tomato paste
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

Cook bacon in medium skillet over medium heat. Drain and crumble. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Layer ingredients in slow cooker in the following order: onions, bacon, carrots, mushrooms, garlic, thyme, pepper, chicken, wine and broth. Cover and cook on High for 4 hours.

Remove chicken and vegetables to a plate. Ladle 1/2 cup cooking liquid into small bowl; allow to cool slightly. Turn slow cooker to High; cover. Mix reserved liquid, tomato paste and flour until smooth. Return sauce mixture to slow cooker and stir. Add the chicken and veggies back to the sauce being sure that everything gets covered in sauce. Cover and cook for an additional 15 minutes or until thickened.

Serve over mashed potatoes.

NOTE: I left the carrots out of this recipe simply because I didn't have them. This is much better WITH the carrots.

Wontcha join me for a bowl?

30 comments:

  1. A savory recipe from Monica! Girl, I love this recipe and I am so going to make this. You made this, despite feeling so sick? Working with kids is like working in a petri dish. I hope you have a speedy recovery. xoxo

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  2. No Debby, I didn't make this dish this weekend while sick. I'm just wishing I had!

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  3. Oh my!!! This is on the menu at my house this week! Looks heavenly!

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  4. Join you? Okay - I'll be right over.

    I think it was the lovely pile of mashed potatoes that sold me. I'm definitely gonna try it, sans mushrooms, but it's making me hungry just looking at it. (and it's only 7 AM!)

    Hope you're feeling better.

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  5. nice...I love anything with a big ole scoop of mashed potatoes :)
    Glad to hear that your cousin is home and recovering!

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  6. this looks great! and i totally understand your health dilemma. i am the office manager at a pediatrician's office and i catch EVERYTHING. I am going to be quitting in a few months b/c it is just not worth my health! I developed some chronic conditions after getting mono from the office 3 years ago, and now if i make it through a whole week of work i am stuck in bed all weekend, but if i do too much on the weekend i miss work! blech. supid sick. i will have to make this next time!

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  7. Sorry to hear you are under the weather! We have some emergency facilities in our area that are open on weekends. They are affordable and accessible and great for those nights when you are sick (or like me, need stitches), but don't want to go to the ER.

    I love coq au vin. I will definitely try this!

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  8. This sound yummy. And your chicken and dumplings sound scrumptious. I love your website. Hope you get to feeling better. I was wondering how to print your recipes? I am new to the internet and need all the help I can get. Thanks. Connie

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  9. I would love to join you for a bowl. It looks delicious and I am "bookmarking" it. I am really enjoying the good recipes I find in food blogland. So is my husband! Even though I have over 200 cookbooks, I'm constantly looking for new recipes.

    Glad to hear that your cousin is improving. Hope you are feeling better as well.

    Best,
    Bonnie

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  10. I am thankful that your cousin is recovering.Praise God for answered prayer.
    Blessings,Ruth

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  11. Would love to join you for a bowl, but lets possibly wait till you arent sick anymore! haha just kidding.

    hope you are feeling better and thanks for sharing this dish. I always love trying new crock pot recipes.

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  12. Hi Connie, I don't have a printable function on this blog so until I get that worked out, just copy and paste the recipe, then print it.

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  13. How delicious - I'd love to try this one out.

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  14. I am soooooo glad to hear about your cousin, this goes to show prayer from sincere hearts really work!!!


    This dish looks wonderful!! I have to try this minus the bacon (can't eat pork)!! Wonder what it taste like over brown rice, hmmmmm!!

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  15. this looks so yummy!!!!
    and I'm VERY happy for your cousin!!
    greetings from switzerland
    sibylle

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  16. Oh, I'm so glad your cousin is better and that he has so many people around who love him and wants to take care of him.

    I'm sad that you're sick though! I hope you get better really soon.

    This chicken dish looks FREAKING AMAZING!! I'm bookmarking this recipe, but I'm also going to steal a bowl from you whenever you make this again haha.

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  17. Oh, I'm so glad your cousin is better and that he has so many people around who love him and wants to take care of him.

    I'm sad that you're sick though! I hope you get better really soon.

    This chicken dish looks FREAKING AMAZING!! I'm bookmarking this recipe, but I'm also going to steal a bowl from you whenever you make this again haha.

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  18. I'm so glad you liked this!! Yours looks so incredibly delicious that I think I'm going to have to put this on our menu soon. I think serving it over the mashed potatoes makes it out-of-this-world good!

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  19. TOTAL drool worthy!!! Im loving this served over the mashed potatoes!

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  20. Hope you are feeling better. The chicken dish looks wonderful and so hearty!!!

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  21. This looks so tasty! Get well soon!

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  22. I am so happy to hear about your cousin. Will continue to pray. Will also be making this recipe TODAY! DH had a headache and sore throat last night - and I woke up with one this morning. Sounds like your chicken "soup" will be the best thing for both of us.

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  23. I'm so glad your cousin is doing better! Your family must be so relieved!

    This looks delicious!! I love coq au vin and this looks a lot easier than what I've had to do to make it in the past. Thanks for posting!

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  24. Hope you are feeling better. Huge fan of your blog and recipes! I have even given you an award over at my own cooking blog!

    www.heatherskitchenconcoctions.com

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  25. I'd take this over traditional chicken soup any day :)

    And I'm so glad your cousin is doing better - my thoughts are with you!

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  26. I've been looking for more crock-pot recipes! This does look amazing.

    I'm a bit late with this, but I'm so sorry to hear about your cousin :(. I hope that he is doing better these days, I will be keeping him and your family in my prayers. ::hugs::

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  27. Oh my gravy, that looks divine!

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  28. Saw your blog on Gonna Want Seconds. So glad I did. This recipe looks so good. I have been looking for a good crockpot recipe. Thanks.

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  29. Okay, so I didn't comment on this one either but AGAIN I did email you a bunch about this recipe AND I did make it. That should count for something. For a lot, I would think! :)

    Yum, yum.....you know we loved this one!
    ~ingrid

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Thank you for your supportive comments. I appreciate each and every one of them!