Chicken Stuff: Coq Au Vin Stew or White Chicken Chili

Cooking is creative, right? I tell myself that right now as I am absurdly into my kitchen and cozy food. That frigidly cold two weeks Dallas had kicked it off. I dusted off my shiny red Crock-Pot. I think it's less that 6 quarts but just a nice size. Got out the slow cooker cookbook.

The result: this Coc Au Vin Stew that was way beyond what I though Better Homes and Gardens had to offer. Here's the recipe: Coq Au Vin Stew Recipe.

The kicker is you serve it over mashed potatoes. I kept the skins on, added garlic, loads of butter and half and half (non-fat). Did you even know they made it that way? I think the flavor of the 1/2 cup of red wine, tiny onions, and mushrooms meld slowly and make you feel something French. I have that whole Julia thing going on right now, so I loved this.

Ok, that was such a hit, I went in another chicken direction, and tried this white chili mix I found on the grocery shelves. Wow, another score. I made it "mild" so the grandkids could try it (their dad , the family fire-eater, added cayenne pepper to his bowl), added 2 cans of diced tomatoes and two cans of cannelloni beans to stretch the two pounds of boneless, skinless chicken thighs. Laripin' good, mama!

Do you "Kindle"?

I do and I love it. My big kids gave me one for Christmas. I had been lusting after one for a year. I am a total convert. Don't get me wrong. I still love real books and having real books around me. There are stacks of them around the house to prove it. I can't imagine not having a real cookbook to cook from, for instance, or a real picture book for children. But, the size and portability make my Kindle my new best book friend. I am in a Julia Child phase and am currently reading My Life in France, by said maven, on my Kindle. It goes to bed with me, hangs out at Starbucks with me, and travels in my capacious purse with me.

My friend, Martie, has started this discussion on her blog of real books vs. the Kindle. It is a conundrum for sure. I personally don't think they are mutually exclusive. I will still read "real" books. I just love the idea of the Kindle . It may be part of my techno-geek conversion over the last 5-10 years. Martie and I have, between us, moved each other to Tivo, IPhone, and Macs. In some worlds we are barely above ludite status, but for "women of a certain age" we are most certainly "geeks".

This is a great site for kindle reference. He covers all the features. So, back to the question: Do you Kindle?" Let me know what you think. Julia is waiting for me.