Recipe - Poulet Chasseur

2 Chickens (3One half to 4 lbs ea)
cut up
Salt and pepper; as desired
1/3 cup Cooking oil
2 md Onions
peeled and roughly minced
2 md Carrots; roughly minced
1 Celery stalk; roughly cut or sliced up
1 tablespoon Minced garlic
4 tablespoon Allpurpose flour
2 cup Lowsodium chicken broth
2 tablespoon Tomato paste
2 Bay leaves
One half pound Bacon; cut into 1/2in cubes
One half pound Mushrooms, cut or sliced up
One fourth cup Brandy
One fourth cup Milk
One fourth cup Cream
1 tablespoon Chopped fresh tarragon

PREHEAT OVEN TO 325F. Pat the chicken pieces dry and sprinkle with salt and
pepper. Heat the oil in a large covered ovenproof casserole or Dutch oven
over mediumhigh heat on top of the stove. Add the chicken pieces and brown
well on all sides, about 7 minutes. The chicken should not crowd the pan so
you may have to perform this operation in batches. Remove pieces to a plate
as they are done. Discard all but 2 tablespoons oil, reduce heat to medium
and replace skillet on the stove top. Add onion, carrot, celery and garlic
and cook about 3 minutes. Sprinkle with flour and cook, stirring, another
minute. Add the stock, tomato paste and bay leaves. Replace the chicken
thighs and drumsticks in the casserole with any accumulated juices from the
chicken. Cover and bring to a boil. Place the casserole in the oven. After
15 minutes, add the reserved breasts and cook 20 minutes longer. Remove
from the oven, remove the chicken from the casserole and set aside. Strain
the sauce through a fine sieve and discard vegetables. Place bacon in
another medium ovenproof pot on the stove over medium heat and cook,
stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes. Pour off excess fat and add the
mushrooms, brandy, milk, cream and braising sauce. Mix well. Arrange
chicken pieces on the baconmushroom mixture, cover and place in the oven
for 15 minutes or until bubbling hot. To serve, arrange the chicken pieces
on a platter and spoon the bacon, mushrooms and sauce over the top and
garnish with tarragon.

From Gemini's MASSIVE MealMaster collection at www.synapse.com/~gemini