Coq au Vin
Some say that the French style of food is a little dated and does not belong in today’s culinary catalogue; however, there is no denying the great taste and combinations you find in many French dishes. Here is a classic peasant dish, particularly popular with the workers on the vineyards of France. Remember the golden rule for cooking with wine: If you would not drink it, do not cook with it.
 Serves 4
Preparation: 30 minutes
Cooking time: 1 hour
Ingredients
25g/ 1oz butter
160g/ 6oz shallots, halved
160g/ 6oz streaky bacon, cut into strips
4 garlic cloves, crushed
300g/ 10oz button mushrooms
Sprig of thyme
500ml/ 16fl oz red wine (Burgundy or Shiraz)
500ml/16fl oz chicken stock
1 Chicken cut into 8 pieces
Salt and black pepper
Method
1. Heat a thick bottomed pan, add the butter and fry the shallots until browned, then add the garlic and fry for a couple of minutes.
2. Add the mushrooms and bacon, brown slightly and then pour in the wine and stock. Put in the chicken pieces and thyme, then bring to the boil and simmer for 30 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through.
3. Remove the chicken and reduce the liquid by a quarter, put the chicken back into the sauce, season and serve with sauté potatoes or crusty bread.
Bloody Mary – Cocktail
 This classic cocktail is one of the few which is not sweet. It is traditionally served as a cure for a hangover but, since it is alcoholic, it will merely prolong the high level of alcohol in the blood.
It is very simple to make. It consists of a mixture of 2 parts of tomato juice and 1 part of vodka with a splash of lemon juice. These ingredients are shaken with ice and salt and pepper. Worcester sauce and Tabasco are also added to make the drink hot and spicy. How much depends on how hot you like it. Some people add horseradish and celery salt. I like to add a glass of fino sherry. Serve the drink with an olive, a cherry tomato and a stick of celery in a tall glass.
There are many variations. If you use rum instead of vodka you have a Bloody Pirate. Other spirits such as gin, whisky or tequila can also be substituted for the vodka. |
