On a recent trip for a client, I met with food blogger and all-things-Italian aficionado, Paula Jones of Bell’Alimento. Since Paula knows her way around the kitchen, I asked her for some easy dinner ideas because cooking is not my strong suit (but give me a baking recipe, and I can whip up a batch of cookies like nobody’s business).
Paula recommended this incredible—and incredibly easy—Chicken Cacciatore recipe from her blog. Not only was it done within an hour, but it was super tasty! Bonus: dishes were a cinch since this recipe only requires one pan (or Dutch oven, as Paula uses).
Buon Appetito!
Chicken Cacciatore
Ingredients
1 whole chicken, cut into pieces (I used raw chicken breasts in a package from the store)
2 Tbsp butter
3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
2 14.5-oz. cans of whole tomatoes
2 carrots, chopped
2 ribs of celery, chopped
1 6-oz. small package of mushrooms, sliced (I didn’t include, as I’m not a mushroom fan!)
2/3 cup white wine
Italian flat leaf parsley, roughly chopped
Salt
Pepper
Directions
Pat your chicken pieces dry with a paper towel, season with salt and pepper, and set aside. Heat the oil and butter in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. When melted, add the chicken pieces and cook for approximately 15 minutes or until browned, turning often.
Add onions and cook for a few minutes, lower heat to lowest setting and add carrots, celery and tomatoes. Stir together.
Add in the wine, cover the dish and simmer for approximately 45 minutes. Add in the mushrooms 15 minutes before the dish is finished; stir to combine.
When finished, add additional seasoning if needed, to taste. Garnish with parsley.
This can be served as is or over polenta, pasta or rice. I served mine over pasta – delish!
Archives for October 2012
A Sneak Peek Inside Davis’ New Whole Foods
If you haven’t heard already, Whole Foods is opening its fourth Sacramento-area store in downtown Davis this week. Now hungry travelers on their way to the Bay Area have yet another reason to pass through Davis, if simply for a fresh salad or made-to-order gourmet deli sandwich. Doors officially open at 10 a.m. this Wednesday, October 24.
Last week SacFoodies had the privilege to attend a private preview tour of the 19,741-square-foot store. The cozy retail space is packed to the brim and aptly decorated with bicycle-themed murals—a tribute to the local college town.
In addition to the usual trappings of fine cheeses, organic produce and specialty natural food brands, the Davis Whole Foods boasts a full-service kitchen that produces a wide array of prepared foods in addition to a deli, burrito station and extensive salad bar. I am most excited about the well-stocked bulk bins, which occupy a significant portion of floor space and offer everything from quinoa to cereal. UC Davis students will also particularly enjoy the indoor café and free Wi-Fi.
Finally, any other bread lovers out there? Word has it that the freshest loaves will be out of the ovens and onto the shelf at 5 p.m. each day. I’ll meet you there.
Whole Foods Market Davis
500 1st Street
Davis, CA 95616
Hours: 7 a.m. – 9 p.m. daily
Website: http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/davis
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/WFMDavis
“Ready, Set, Kids…Cookoff” This Sunday at Oak Park
A unique foodie event is hitting Sacramento this Sunday, October 21 from 2-5 p.m. in Oak Park (3rd Ave. between 34th St. and Broadway). The inaugural “Ready, Set, Kids…Cookoff” is a competition pairing local student teams with renowned Sacramento chefs Noah Zonca of The Kitchen, John Bays of Red Rabbit and Patrick Mulvaney of Mulvaney’s B&L. Each of the student-chef teams will prepare meals for local celebrity judges.
The students participating have been involved in nutrition and entrepreneurship education at Hiram Johnson High School, Will C. Wood Middle School and Oak Ridge Elementary through the Fresh Producers program. The kids will be using their knowledge of nutrition to prepare selections for the judges using locally grown produce and products.
Although there won’t be enough of these select meals to go around, there will plenty of food trucks and other vendors to supply those in attendance with healthy food options and entertainment.
This is a free event for the public, so head on out and support area youth and this great cause.
Ready, Set, Go!
Behind-the-Scenes of a Food Photo Shoot with “Good Day Sacramento”
Have you ever wondered how professional food photo shoots work? Is the food real…or fake? How do they make it look so mouth-watering in the glossy food magazines? Is that really wine in the glass?
Wonder no more! Yesterday, the crew at “Good Day Sacramento” visited our offices where we were shooting a new series of recipe photography in our kitchen for our client, Mirassou Winery. Lucky for us, we had enlisted the real pros to help us make our recipe shoot as perfect as possible: photographer Keith Seaman and food stylist extraordinaire Patty Mastracco.
Check out the segment below for a peek behind the scenes!
Wordless Wednesday- Danny’s Mini Donuts
“Made Hot on the Spot!” The slogan doesn’t lie. I watched as the mini donuts were fried to perfection, then coated to order – chocolate, powdered sugar, glazed – you name it! It’s an easy stop on the way to the dozens of downtown offices. I brought in a variety and they were a hit, and, of course, great with coffee!
Danny’s Mini Donuts
Old Sacramento
900 2nd Street