Chicken and Rice Grande Cassoulet- La Bonne Femme Recipe Win!

It's been a while since I have cracked open my La Bonne Femme Cookbook, but I have been looking forward to making some of these hearty, savory dishes!

I love having this online food diary. I have looked back at some of the things I have made throughout the past year. The ones I really like...I make again.

This is one, I will make again!

I flattened 4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves and seasoned them with salt and pepper.
I browned them over medium-heat heat with 1 Tbsp each of butter and olive oil for 3 minutes per side.

I then transferred the chicken to my greased casserole dish.

I added onion and mushrooms to the same skillet and cooked them until the onions were tender.

I added 1 minced garlic clove and cooked for 30 seconds (until fragrant). I added 1/2 cup of Pinot Grigio...

...and a 1/4 tsp of Herbs De Provence!

I allowed all this to cook for about 1 minute more. I then added 3/4 cup of chicken broth and 1/2 cup of long grain white rice, and brought it to a boil.

I poured the rice mix over the chicken and made sure that the rice was completely submerged.

I covered and let it bake at 375 degrees for 25 minutes.

I let it stand for 5 minutes after baking.

I put the chicken on plates and then stirred 1/4 cup of Parmigiano- Reggiano cheese into the rice mixture.

I placed the cheesy rice mix on top of the chicken and added a side of seasoned mix veggies.

This was a hearty (but not heavy) meal. The Hubs and I really enjoyed this one!

Plus- dinner was one the table in less than 45 minutes!!!!

Happy La Bonne Femme Cooking Y'all!

Coming up: Blueberry Blintz Bake with Farmhouse Scramble...a great Valentines brunch!

Sometimes I Use Bad Words in My Kitchen; Or How I Made Mussel-Chorizo Goodness...

I remember watching Gordon Ramsey almost have cardiac arrest during the dinner rush at a restaurant he was trying to help. I also remember thinking- Yikes!

Then, I started cooking.

Beautiful Mussels and Chorizo!

I found this recipe from one of my favorites- Sunny Anderson!

She always has really delicious, flavorful dishes that are simple and quick to bring together.

I cut the recipe in half, so I need 1/2 lb of Mexican Chorizo.

I browned the Chorizo in 1/2 Tbsp of olive oil over medium-high heat. Once browned, I removed it from the Dutch oven.

My new Dutch oven!

I then chopped 1/2 a sweet onion and added it to the Chorizo drippings. I added a little salt and pepper and began to sweat the onions. I then added 2 cloves of minced garlic and let it cook for about 30 seconds.

I deglazed the pan with 1/2  bottle of wine!!! 

I then dumped 5 lbs of clean, rinsed, live mussels into this wonderful broth, and then poured the Chorizo over the the top. I put the lid on the Dutch oven and let it simmer and steam for 10 minutes.

So, you see this bowl of mussel-Chorizo goodness?

When I opened the lid to the Dutch oven the mussels opened and the smell of the broth was amazing. I then needed to transfer the mussel-Chorizo mixture along with the broth into my serving bowl.

I put by oven mitts on, grabbed both handles of the Dutch oven, and began to pour the contents into my serving bowl. I hear the "sssss" and "pop" of my beautiful onion, garlic, wine broth spilling over the Dutch oven and covering the stove top...and that's when I use bad words...with gusto...in my kitchen.

Yes- I hate losing that amazing, tangy sauce...but its more than that. 

Reflecting on this has made me take notice of the perfectionism that I seek in my kitchen. I hate it when I mess up. I want the perfect dish, perfectly created. I want it easy, simple, clean...It's kind of like a reflection on life.

I sometimes use those same words in other areas of my life, and if I stop and think about it...frequently, it is related to me being angry at myself for not living up to my standards.

Enter: GRACE.

Perfectly seasoned and cooked mussels...even with my spill.

Grace- getting what we don't deserve.

What if I "lighten up"? What if I give myself some grace? What if I relax into the Grace I already have in Jesus?

I might still be sad to lose some broth, but let's be honest...I ended up with way more than the Hubs and I would ever be able to eat!

The Mussels & Chorizo- perfection!

The broth spilled on the stove- came right up.

The perfectionism with the cavalcade of words that go along with it...Thank God- covered by grace.

Maybe I take a deep breath and enjoy this dish- and God's grace for me!

La Bonne Vie Y'all!

Chicken Tarragon- A Very French Dish

So the next season of my favorite TV Series (in fact, the only current TV Series I watch) came out last Tuesday: Once Upon A Time! 

Once Upon a Vine- Glass Slipper Sauvignon Blanc goes great with Once watching!

The menu called for something special...something with a unique flavor...Ahhh...Chicken Tarragon!

Peeled and seeded chopped tomatoes.

Saute'd chicken in butter. I flattened mine out and sprinkled a little salt and pepper.

Now, the sauce...use the same pan you just cooked the chicken in, cook tomatoes and shallot;
and then....Deglaze it with White Wine!!! Yay!
I used 3/4 cup of white wine and 1 Tbsp of white wine vinegar.

Reduce the sauce and thicken with more butter. Add FRESH Tarragon!

Viola! Chicken Tarragon over rice and served with mixed veggies!

We grabbed the white wine and hit play!

 This is a quick weeknight meal that is fancy enough to impress guests. You can find the full recipe in The Bonne Femme Cookbook by Wini Moranville.

My favorite show...bottle of white...and a fabulous French dish....

It's La Bonne Vie Y'all!