French Onion Chicken Skillet Dinner

This chicken dish features a rich pan sauce, loads of slowly caramelized onions, and bubbly, broiled cheeses on top - oh my! Even better, this savory dish is prepared in one large skillet. This French Onion Chicken Skillet Dinner is likely to become a new family favorite.

French Onion Chicken Skillet Dinner
Serves 4 - 6

Ingredients:
4 tablespoons butter
2 large sweet onions, cut pole-to- pole, Lyonnaise style strips
1 teaspoon sugar
2 cloves garlic
6 thin cut skinless, boneless chicken breasts
For dusting chicken: 1/4 cup flour, 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves, 1/4 teaspoon paprika
2 tablespoons flour, for thickening the sauce
1/4 cup white wine
1 cup beef broth
6 sprigs fresh thyme
Kosher salt
Freshly ground pepper
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
8 oz Gruyère or Swiss cheese, shredded
4 oz Parmesan cheese, shredded

Directions:
1. Using a large oven-proof skillet or braiser melt the butter.

2. Add the sliced onions and cook over medium-high heat. Stir the onions every few minutes, then turn down the heat. Continue to cook the onions until they begin to turn a nice brown color. Turn the heat lower, as needed, to prevent the onions from burning. Caramelizing onions fully takes time! A true caramelized onion takes about an hour, but for this recipe giving the onions 25-30 minutes to reach a tender, caramelized state works well. Sprinkle the onions with 1 teaspoon of sugar to help with the process. To help the onions caramelize slowly, let them sit in a little pile, then stir once or twice about every 5 minutes.

3. Once the onions have caramelized, add the garlic and sauté for another 2 minutes until fragrant.

4. Remove the onions from the pan, and set aside to brown the chicken.

5. Lightly coat the chicken breasts in the flour, salt, pepper, paprika, and thyme mixture until dusted on both sides. Add up to 4 additional tablespoons of butter or olive oil while cooking the chicken to prevent sticking.

6. Brown the chicken on both sides and cook until about 150 degrees F, but not all the way done. Remove the chicken from the pan.

7. Add the onions back to the pan, and then sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of flour. Stir until coated. Add the wine, and reduce down. Add the beef broth and Worcestershire sauce, and stir until a sauce is formed. Once the sauce has thickened slightly, add the chicken breasts back in.

8. Turn the oven to broil. Sprinkle the chicken breasts with the Gruyère and Parmesan cheese and then broil until bubbling and golden brown and the chicken reaches 165 degrees F.

9. Garnish with fresh thyme leaves.

10. Serve with a side of kale Caesar salad, a side of roasted vegetable, mashed or baked potatoes, egg noodles, pasta, or cauliflower rice.

Classic Minestrone Soup

Minestrone, a classic Italian soup, features a wide range of  vegetables, beans, and pasta. Our recipe version focuses on techniques for building great flavor in stages. The result? Deep, rich, satisfying tastes and textures without being over-cooked. You’ll find this soup highly flexible – use seasonal vegetables, or whatever you have on hand.  We think you’ll agree that this minestrone easily earns its reputation as a healthy, winter comfort food.

Comforting Minestrone Soup
Serves 4 - 6

Ingredients:
4 tablespoons olive oil
1 yellow onion, diced
3 celery stalks, dice
2 carrots, cut on the bias into slices
2 small potatoes, cut into 1/2" cubes
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 tablespoon tomato paste
2 bay leaves
1 Parmesan cheese rind
1 can (28 oz) diced tomatoes
6 cups vegetable broth
1 can (15.5 oz) Great Northern beans
1 can (15.5 oz) butter beans
1 cup ditalini pasta (or other small pasta)
1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 sprigs fresh thyme
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1 cup frozen peas
3 cups chopped kale
Parmesan cheese, shaved, for serving

Directions:
1. Start by making the mirepoix. Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the onions and sauté for about 3 minutes until softened. Add the celery and carrots, and continue to cook for another 3-5 minutes, or until softened.

2. Add the potatoes and garlic and continue to cook for another 5 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste.

3. Add the bay leaves, Parmesan rind, canned tomatoes, vegetable broth, Great Northern and butter beans, ditalini pasta, salt, pepper, thyme, and red pepper flakes. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.

4. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer the soup for another 20-25 minutes. Use tongs to remove the Parmesan rind, bay leaves, and thyme stems.

5. Stir in the red wine vinegar, frozen peas, and chopped kale. Cook for one more minute, or until the kale just begins to wilt. Serve with shaved Parmesan cheese as a garnish on top.

Manchego and Thyme Popovers

Popovers are impressive, high-rising rolls with a soft, airy inside and a crispy, crunchy exterior. These delectable morsels are meant to be enjoyed freshly baked straight out of the oven. IN THIS ISSUE, we feature Manchego and Thyme Popovers with an Herb Butter that would be enjoyably delicious as a savory breakfast, or as a side at lunch or dinner! 

Manchego and Thyme Popovers with Herb Butter
Makes 12 popovers

Popover Ingredients:
1-1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon Kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
1 tablespoon fresh thyme, finely chopped
4 large eggs, room temperature
1-1/2 cups whole milk, room temperature
1/2 cup Manchego cheese, finely grated
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted (for greasing the popover pan)

Herb Butter Ingredients - makes 1/2 cup
1/2 cup (I stick) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
1 garlic clove, minced
1 tablespoon fresh sage, finely chopped
1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, finely chopped
1/4 teaspoon Kosher saltPopover

Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 450°F. Place the empty pan in the oven while it preheats. 

2. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, salt, and pepper and mix with a fork for about 30 seconds to incorporate evenly. Add the thyme and continue mixing until evenly distributed.

3. In a large bowl, whisk the eggs and whole milk together until contents are frothy, about 5 minutes.

4. Slowly add the flour mixture to the egg mixture and continue whisking until all the ingredients are combined and the batter is the consistency of thick cream. (Try not to over whisk!) Stir in the cheese.

5. Remove the preheated popover or mun pan from the oven and brush the cups with the melted butter. Fill the cups 3/4 full with the batter. Bake the popovers on the lowest rack for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, reduce the temperature to 350°F, ensuring the oven door stays closed so no steam escapes (this is crucial to getting the pop effect!). Continue to bake for another 20 minutes, or until golden brown.

6. Remove popovers from the oven and serve hot with herb butter. If not serving right away, remove popovers from the pan and cool on a wire rack immediately to keep that delightful crunch!

Herb Butter Directions:
1. In a small bowl, combine all of the ingredients together and mix with a fork or a hand mixer until the herbs and garlic are distributed evenly. 

2. Transfer the butter onto a sheet of plastic wrap and roll into a cylinder. Twist the ends of the plastic wrap tightly and refrigerate for at least one hour until cold and solid.

3. Serve herb butter alongside warm popovers in a small dish. Butter is best when enjoyed within 1 week, but can be frozen for up to two months. To freeze, simply wrap the plastic wrapped butter in parchment paper and freeze in a freezer bag, removing excess air. Extra herb butter? Heat and drizzle butter over homemade popcorn or add to baked potatoes.

Coq au Vin

Coq au Vin or "rooster in wine" is a traditional French peasant stew that became popular thanks to Julia Child's encouragement. While the original recipe might turn a tough old rooster into something delicious,  it's equally delightful with chicken thighs and or legs. Red wine, mushrooms, bacon, onions, and thyme all infuse wonderful flavors into this ultimate comfort food dish. A slow braising technique coaxes a mélange of easy ingredients into a dance of gustatory perfection!

Coq au Vin - Chicken in Wine
Serves 4 - 6

Ingredients:
1/2 lb bacon, diced
4 drumsticks, skin on and bone-in
4 chicken thighs, skin on and bone-in
1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
4-5 large carrots, cut into 1-inch diagonal pieces
3 tablespoons flour
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 tablespoon brandy
2 cups red wine (a good red wine like a pinot noir)
1 cup chicken broth
8-10 sprigs of fresh thyme
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 lb frozen small pearl onions
8 oz cremini mushrooms, sliced
Chopped parsley, for garnish

Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. 

2. Prepare the onions, garlic, and carrots.

3. In a large Dutch oven fry the bacon until crisp. Remove the bacon, and drain on a paper towel-lined plate.

4. Remove most of the bacon fat, leaving about 3-4 tablespoons in the Dutch oven.

5. Sprinkle the chicken pieces with Kosher salt and pepper. Sear the chicken legs and thighs on all sides in the Dutch oven until the skin is a crispy golden brown, then remove the chicken pieces.

6. Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil to the pot and sauté the diced onions until softened and translucent.

7. Add the garlic and carrots to the onion and sauté for a few more minutes until the garlic is fragrant.

8. Dust the vegetables with 3 tablespoons of flour and stir until coated. Cook for about 2 minutes.

9. Add the tomato paste and cook until fragrant, then add the brandy to the mixture. Cook the brandy down for a minute, then continue to deglaze the pan with the red wine. Add the chicken broth and stir until combined. Add the seared chicken pieces back to the pot with the cooked bacon, and the sprigs of thyme.

10. Cover the pot and place in the oven. Bake for 20-40 minutes or until the chicken is tender and cooked to 165 degrees F.

11. While the chicken is baking, prepare the mashed potatoes.

12. While the chicken bakes, prepare the pearl onions. In a skillet, sauté the pearl onions in two tablespoons butter until they are lightly golden brown on all sides.

13. Then, sauté the mushrooms in the same skillet, adding olive oil as needed, and cook until browned.

14. Add the cooked pearl onions and mushrooms to the Dutch oven. Carefully taste and season with additional salt and pepper, as needed. If needed, continue to simmer on the stovetop to thicken the sauce. The sauce will also thicken more as it cools.

15. Serve the Coq au Vin on a bed of mashed potatoes (or egg noodles or cauliflower rice), and garnish with fresh parsley.