Ingredients
Butter, at least two sticks
Olive oil
5 medium onions (or Pearl Onions)
3 cups mushrooms (I use Crimini and Shitake)
2 cloves garlic
10 strips bacon
1 small can tomato paste
1 cup beef stock
4-5 pounds chicken, in pieces, but still on the bone, skin on
3 cups bordeaux
1 shot cognac
Thyme
Bay leaves
Flour
Salt and pepper
Preparation
I do this in phases, starting with…
The Onions
Cut onions into quarters, saving the tops and skins. Heat large skillet, with 1 tablespoon butter and 1 tablespoon olive oil (when melted the butter/olive oil combination should coat the inside of the pan). Add the onions and sauté until onions are brown (lightly caramelized). Add the cup of beef stock, 2 teaspoons thyme and 2 bay leaves. Simmer for approximately 40 minutes. Strain onions from stock, saving both.
The Mushrooms
De-stem 3 cups mushrooms (save the stems) and cut into 1 inch pieces. Crush and dice 2 cloves garlic (save leftover skins as well). Heat large skillet, with 1 tablespoon butter and 1 tablespoon olive oil (when melted the butter/olive oil combination should coat the inside of the pan). Sauté mushrooms and garlic for approximately 20 minutes, until tender. Remove to from heat and set aside in a bowl.
The Stock
In a sauce pan, combine stock from onions (above), saved pieces from the mushrooms (stems), onion and garlic leftovers (tops, peels, skins), 1 cup water, and 2 crushed garlic cloves. Simmer for about an hour. Strain liquid and discard any remaining large vegetable pieces.
The Chicken
Cut strips of bacon into quarter inch pieces. Heat large skillet, with 1 tablespoon butter and 1 tablespoon olive oil (when melted the butter/olive oil combination should coat the inside of the pan). Add the bacon and sauté until light brown (if bacon becomes crisp you’ll have “crunchy” bits in your sauce). Remove the bacon to bowl, but save their drippings in pan. Add 1/3 stick of butter and bring bacon grease and butter to boiling. Very carefully add chicken. Brown on both sides, covering pot for each side, for around 15 minutes. If your stove has an open flame be very, very careful doing this and keep baking powder on hand in case the pan catches fire.
Putting it All Together, Part 1
Flambe with the chicken with cognac. Add the merlot, the small can of tomato paste, and the stock made previously. Simmer covered for approximately 45 minutes. Remove chicken from skillet; de-bone the chicken ; add bones to liquid still in the skillet and simmer for approximately 40 minutes. Remove the bones and discard. Strain the stock into a saucepan and skim off the excess fat; Reduce by simmering until thicker.
Putting it All Together, Part 2: making the rue
In a separate saucepan create a rue by melting 6 tablespoons of butter. Add 6 tablespoons of flour, stirring all the time. Add stock bit by bit to rue until paste forms; add rue to stock above in small portions until desired thickness it acquired. Note: This step must be done carefully otherwise the sauce will become lumpy. Note2: Rue thickens when it nears a boil (this occurs when the flour “puffs”). The general rule is to combine cold and hot to avoid lumps (if rue is hot add cold stock). But – if you’re very careful you can add hot stock to a hot rue and get away with it.
Final Preparation
If you are going to serve immediately, combine mushrooms, onions, chicken, and sauce in a large serving bowl and serve right away. If you are going to prepare in a crock-pot, combine all ingredients in the crock-pot and set to low. If preparing a day ahead, combine all above in a container, keep in the refrigerator overnight, and heat the following day in a crock pot set to low. Re-heating by this method takes about 7 hours.