Chicken in a Pot

I was thinking 'how can you change up Chicken in a Pot?' when I found this recipe in Around My Kitchen Table. Chicken is chicken when you stick it in the oven but I ventured into this recipe anyway.

 There was about 1/2 an hour prep that went into this dish that is sealed inside the dough. Again I followed the recipe just as it said. The recipe said to pre-heat the oven to 450 but after the dish had been baking for about 20 minutes I could see that the dough was turning black so I turned the heat down.
I presented the dish to the table for the unsealing ceremony. The book says to do it either in the kitchen to save on the mess or at the table for presentation. I chose the table of course. I used a butter knife to pry the top from the bread and let the aroma fill my dining room.

My husband cut into the chicken and the oldest child complained that the chicken wasn't done. After examining it I explained that when chicken is 'wet' cooked it can be pink in spots but I assured him it was cooked through. Next time I will take more time in browning it in the prepping stage, turn down the heat and give it some more time.
This was an ok dish that I may try again with changes. One thing that I won't change is the sweet potatoes that went it. It was a nice change from plain ol' potatoes.

Chicken in a Pot

Crack Open The New Cookbook!

The first recipe from 'Around My French Table' is My Go-To Beef Daube on page 244. The recipe was really easy except that I don't have a dutch oven so I substituted a large baker's crock.

I split the daube into two crocks so we could have leftovers. Here is the larger one after I took it out of the oven. It looks dry in the picture but it was very moist and the beef melted in my mouth.

I also made Gougere on the side (page 4). I followed the recipe exactly and worried that the dough was too wet. Next time I will thicken it up.

Both recipes will be keepers at our table.

By the way, there were no leftovers in either crock.

French Fridays

I have been looking for something new to bring to our dinner table for a while now. Collecting recipes here and there and on occasion clearing empty dishes from the table. While surfing the net I came across a site for a cooking group offering a very tasty adventure through a cookbook.

 I ran out to Books-A-Million and bought 'Around My French Table' by Dorie Greenspan. Come with me on my French cooking adventure. Allons-y!