Party Recipe: French Rustic

We’re having Calie and her boyfriend over for dinner tonight. The plan is for a hearty French-ish meal to warm us all up (I guess I’m still getting over Tour de France fever). Small artichokes will be our starter, followed by coq au vin with mashed potatoes. For dessert: spice cake with blackberries and ice cream.

Here is my mom’s easy recipe for coq au vin:

4 chicken breasts, bone in.
1 chopped onion
Tops and leaves from 1 bunch of celery
1 bay leaf
1 cup of flour
1/3 cup olive oil
Red wine
Extra button mushrooms, bacon/lardon, carrots, etc optional.

Skin the chicken, cut breasts in half and drench in flour. Brown chicken pieces in a pan with olive oil. Add more flour to remaining juices to thicken. Add the chopped onion, celery and red wine (until covered) and simmer until tender (30-40 minutes). Serve in a big bowl poured over mashed potatoes.

PS: Fun rooster painting available for sale online here.