Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Chicken Cacciatore and Why I’ll Never Be a Hand Model

After only making a quick pita bread pizza from the product the people at Muir Glen had sent me I figured attempting something a little more adventurous might be the thing to do. I wanted to make a Chicken Cacciatore and while this one is probably not a traditional recipe it turned out very well and was quite delicious.
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For dishes like this I tend to like to buy a whole chicken and break it down myself, that way I have the back to make some chicken stock. Breaking  down a chicken is not difficult  as I will soon show and that is where my failure as a hand model comes in.
But first the recipe
1 medium chicken
2 Cups All Purpose Flour (Seasoned with Salt and Pepper)
3 tablespoons Cooking Oil
4 Cloves Garlic (Thinly Sliced)
1 Medium Onion (Sliced)
1 Large Red Pepper
1 Cup of Sliced Mushrooms (I excluded these as I for got to buy them.)
1 Cup of Red Wine
1 14oz Can Of Diced Tomatoes
2 Cups of Chicken Broth
Fresh Thyme and Oregano (You should use this to your own taste.)
Salt and Pepper
  • Firstly break your chicken into eight pieces or you may of course buy this prepared at your local supermarket.
  • Dredge your chicken in seasoned flour.
  • Heat your favorite oil in a large pan and brown your chicken parts on all sides.
  • Remove chicken from pan and set aside.
  • Cook garlic and onion in pan till translucent then add red peppers and lightly cook. Add red wine and reduce by half.
  • Then add diced tomato and chicken broth and slowly bring to a boil. Allow to cook for five minutes.
  • Return chicken to pan and cover allow to cook for around ten minutes.
  • At his stage I add my chopped herbs and season with salt and pepper.
  • Ten more minutes of cook should be enough but you can always cut your largest piece of choicken open to check.
  • Taste sauce, add more seasoning if needed and  serve.
I hope this is reasonably clear as my recipe writing needs a lot of work. But I am hoping to be writing a lot more and please bear with me as I learn.
Now onto my issue as a hand model. As if taking on one of my first recipe writing posts I decided to also make a video of me breaking down a chicken to show you guys how easy it is. As you will see from the video I will never be a hand model.
The audio on this is very bad as I was using a goofy little camera but it gives you some idea of preparing the chicken.

Preparing the chicken

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And while I am on an Italian kick here is a photo I took in Rome last year.
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Just one last thing please be sure to take a look at The Thinking Man’s Menu and see all the great links posted over there and vote for your favorites.
I am also sharing this at Everyday Mom's Meals Sunday Church Supper Link Party