The Barefoot Contessa would die if she knew how little fat went into her recipe! We watched her make Coq au Vin recently and thought it would be fun to try. We used her recipe as a model, but as usual we made lots of changes!
We of course omitted the onions (we used celery instead) and we decided to skip the bacon as well. Of course we used about 1/10 of the oil and butter she called for! We decided to add diced tomatoes, so ours turned out more tomatoey. And we didn’t thicken it with flour at the end – we were too lazy and didn’t mind a more liquidy dish.
Here’s what we did:
- Seared 2 chicken drumsticks in 1 tsp of olive oil.
- Removed chicken.
- Added 2 chopped carrots and 2 chopped celery stalks along with 1 clove garlic. Cooked until tender.
- De-glazed with a tiny splash of Brandy.
- Added 1/2 cup chicken stock, 1 mini bottle of red wine, 1 can diced tomatoes, 1/2 can tomato paste.
- Added a sprig of rosemary and thyme.
- Covered and baked at 300* for 30 minutes.
- Sauteed a pint of mushrooms in 1/2 tbsp real butter.
- Removed dish from oven.
- Stirred in mushrooms.
- Devoured!
I added 1/2 a serving of leftover bulgur to mine to help soak up the juices!
Up close and personal –
My drumstick (skinless) –
Honestly, I totally could have gone without the chicken. I mean, it was good, but I would have MUCH rather had a some big crusty bread croutons floating in my dinner than this guy. I just don’t crave meat like I do grains and vegetables.
This dinner was 420 kcal, 11 grams fiber, and 30 grams protein.
Off to research Niger for Cultural Foods. Ick.
VeggieGirl says
Haha, you’re right – Ina Garten WOULD be quite appalled by how little fat you used in your rendition of her recipe!! :0D
Enjoy researching Niger – that Cultural Foods class does sounds quite interesting though!
BethT says
Haha, Ina is my FAVORITE food network star – but like you, I have to modify her recipes quite frequently. Looks delish! Did you also notice that in that same episode she made a HUGE wedding cake for just her and her hubby? Crazy…
Alicia says
Why “ick” to researching Niger? Cultural Foods would be my favorite class of the whole M.A. if I were doing it. I think we have a lot to learn from how other parts of the world eat.
alex says
Kath,
Odd question? Do you think female’s and male’s crave different things? Like female’s more grains and vegetables and male’s more meats? Your comment about not craving meat made me sit back and realize that I don’t ever really “crave” meat. However, most guys I know talk about craving things like “a thick, juicy steak.”
Just wondering what your thoughts are on this 🙂
sharon says
…oh no. don’t tell me YOU’re going vegetarian TOO! ..i think all of the bloggers are very influenced alot by eachothers’ food choices.
the husband says
I don’t think there are too many specific cravings that are gender specific. The steak thing is definitely a guy stereotype, and I imagine that part of the reason guys say that is because it’s a socially encoded thing as well. I think each individual just has their own cravings.
BethT says
Trust me, no one is “influenced” to be a vegetarian or to eat less meat. I come from a VERY meat heavy fmaily and my decision to eat less meat/go veg was a very personal experience….having mainly to do with not liking the taste of most meats!
ana says
lol! i am VERY feminine (favorite activity: shopping!) but LOVE LOVE LOVE meat! and definitely crave it. pepperoni on my pizza, a good, hearty steak when i go out, meatballs on my pasta. i literally started drooling over that pic of the drumstick! so tender and yummy looking! lol! so i don’t think food cravings are at all gender specific (though hormones may come into play: women tend to crave sweets and chocolate more, possible influenced by estrogen, and men do tend to love meat and nuts/beer/bread -_^ influenced by higher testosterone. but everyone has different levels of these hormones in their body, which can influence cravings).
Mel says
looks awesome!
My husband and I have actually made traditional Coq au Vin and it was to die for, but I’d like to try your “lightened” version sometime…especially with bikini season coming up 🙂
pinklilly says
Ana,
You took all of the words right from me – or I guess I should said from my keyboard! I couldn’t agree more. I looooove meat and am a total girls girl – shopping, the color pink and have a huge place in my heart for sweets!
Eliza says
anyone have any advice for food guilt 🙁
Susan says
Just a fun question for everyone, since we all seem to be oatmeal-holics! Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day. The minute I wake up I literally head to the micorwave to make oatmeal. Do you all shower,get dressed etc first then eat or eat then shower and get dressed?
Kath, you seem to watch a lot of food network (i think its great too) but when do you find the time and don’t you get hungry watching the shows and crave their fatty foods?
Annie says
Susan, I just wanted to say, I absolute cannot eat oatmeal! I think I am the only person ever, who doesnt like it. Its not the taste, I love it, I can eat the oatmeal pancakes, I love oatmeal cookies, things like that. Its the consistency. Does anyone else find it kind of hard to eat. It almost makes me gag a little bit (sorry kinda grosse). When I was little I used to eat it all the time, but now I find it kind of flemmy (eww).
I just hate that Im the ONLY person who seems to not like it, cause every single blog I read talks about how great and filling it is 🙁
Random I know, just wondering if Im the only one.
Brittany says
Kath,
What are some things you wished you would have known or done differently during your weight loss?
michelle says
Annie,
Your definately not the only one who doesn’t like regular oatmeal! I love anything with oatmeal in it , but just can’t seem to eat oatmeal…or yogurt for that matter. As much as I would love to be able to “stomach” both of them for health reasons, I just can’t eat them!
Karen says
Wow, what a great way to adapt a Barefoot Contessa recipe. Ina would be shocked by the little amount of fat that went into yours! Great job!
kay says
Who is your favorite foodnetwork chef/cook? I am guessing it’s not Paula Dean and her sticks of butter….she is fun though. Your husband’s would be Alton?
After your foot surgery, do you find any exercises more difficult or painful? Do you use a supporter? I had a previous foot/ankle injury and running for a long time becomes difficult for me sometimes 🙁
Nicole says
Hi, Kath and everyone! I was plundering through the fridge today and saw some egg beaters that have passed their “sell-by” date (by about a month), but they don’t smell funky or anything. keep them or trash them?? I’m not super eager to finish the last of the carton (since Kath pointed out they contain onion powder-gross to think about when making a yummmmmy oatmeal pancake!)…but I don’t want to waste food if I don’t have to either. Also, both egg beaters and egg whites say to use within 7 days of opening. I never do this and I’m still alive…it’s kind of hard for one person to go through a whole carton in 7 days..I wouldn’t even want to try!!!
Serena says
Nicole, I have the exact same problem getting through the egg beater carton w/in 7 days! I usually push it to two weeks, but even better, now I buy the single serving cartons (in the three pack) so I can use them up at my own pace! I’m still alive too, and I figure there are some preservatives in those, so I feel okay using them after the date, unlike milk. A month might be pushing it though! 🙂
Kiala says
Ina Garten comes to Portland ALL the time. I saw her in December at Nordstrom’s. She seemed very nice. I don’t know. I mean, she didn’t push anyone down the escalator or anything.
melissa says
I always have to modify Ina Garten’s recipes — I usually cut the fat in half. You’ve done even better! I want to try your recipe!
Layla says
Another egg question!
I have a carton of eggs whose exp. date is this coming Friday (2/23). Eggs are pretty perishable so I don’t want to use them past that.
However, I was wondering- if I hard boil them by the 23rd, can I then keep the hardboiled ones for a few more days (since they’re cooked), or should I definitely not eat them in any capacity after their expiration date? Thanks y’all!
P.S. For the earlier poster’s egg beater question- 1 month?! No way, throw those away.
Nicole says
haha thanks everyone! Yea they’ll probably see the can tomorrow…
mel says
I used egg beaters that were a few weeks past the sell by date and they tasted normal…I am still here! haha! I don’t think they are like milk and expire right when the carton says they do. I base it on smell! haha
For the eating patterns question- I like to simmer water in the pot on the stove and jump in the shower real quick, then come back and add the oats, banana and let them simmer while I get dressed, then add milk and eat them!! its so easy to do! yumm!! You are making me crave some now!
Ashley H says
Kath-
I have a few questions about your lunches. I know you try to fit in every food group but do you do this by eating small portions of everything so that you can fit them all in. Also I am lactose intolerant so how should I fit in “dairy”?
Kiala says
I have to eat breakfasat and have 2 cups of tea before do anything. It really gets things moving , if you know what I mean. Right?
Leah says
Hi Kath! I noticed someone commented on how good the lasagna made by your MIL was. Did you post the recipe? I can’t find it anywhere.
Also, how did you make your iced tea?
I found this on eatingwell.com – is yours similar?
http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/citrus_iced_tea.html
Thanks!!
Kath says
Susan,
Since I usually workout first thing, I don’t eat my oats first thing. But on days when I eat first, workout second or take a rest, I usually wait a bit to let the oatmeal eating generate some excitement and suspense 🙂 I’ll have a cup of tea when I first get up while I check emails and make oats 30-45 minutes later.
Annie,
I can totally understand why someone would find oatmeal gross – when I think about plain oats made with water with no toppings. Have you tried making it with milk (it’s not as flemmy – I know what you mean) and adding all kinds of mixins? You might like steel cut oats better because they are more like the shape and texture of short grain rice. Give ’em a try and add whatever toppings you love most – chocolate, PB, berries.
Alicia,
I love learning about other culture’s foods, but this project is like a book report. I’m saying “ugh” to the project – not the country or learning about cultural foods in general.
Alex,
While I think there may be trends for male/female cravings, I gotta go with “it depends on the individual” for a scientific reason. I bet there is a connection between hormones and food (I don’t think chocolate cravings are a coincidence in women) but I think for meat vs. grains it’s probably more a reflection of personal preference. My husband loves bread more than many women I know! But he’s also a HUGE meat eater.
Re. Eggs,
I say if they look and smell fine, they’re OK to eat. But don’t hold me liable on that!
Brittany,
Whew, loaded question. I wish I had read Fit From Within and SuperFoods sooner! I’d say for the first 6 months to a year of my weight loss it was more about what could I get by with eating and less about what I should be eating. (See FAQs for more on that). I probably ate too many packaged foods during that time. I also wish I had realized the benefits of eating bigger meals sooner – I used to be hungry so much more of the time because I’d have a smaller breakfast and then have to experience hunger for a mid-morning snack. I like that now I only really need 1 snack around 4:00. I’m not sure what else off the top of my head – overall I was really happy with the way I lost weight. I never felt discouraged because I just kept doing what I thought was best – eating a lot of healthy foods and exercising a lot.
Kay,
Robin Miller is by far my favorite 🙂 I love the way she cooks and the ingredients she uses (minus the pre-minced garlic – eww!).
It took me a LONG time (almost a year) after my foot surgery to be able to fun comfortably again. I spent the first year doing lots of spinning, the elliptical, the Stairmaster and lifting weights. After a year I was able to add boot camp classes and running, but I still don’t run more than a few times a week. I think it’s really hard on the whole lower body, not just my foot, so I try to balance running with less weight-bearing exercise.
Leah,
Here’s the lasagna recipe. One reader already tired it and seconded that it was fabulous!
https://www.katheats.com/?page_id=1947
The husband has been making our tea, but I think he usually boils 3-4 cups of water, adds teabags and some splenda, and let’s it cool. The Eating Well recipe looks great!
Kath
TC says
Oh wow, I am so going to make this soon! Thank you for still making dishes with a little bit of meat.
texasfoodie says
Portland, Oregon or Portland, Maine… just curious, Kiala.
Kiala says
Portland, oregon.
Ashley H says
I am very sad! I have posted the same question three times and it never gets answered. what does a girl have todo to get her questions answered?
texasfoodie says
thanks… just getting back to checking the blog 🙂
MoniMoni says
I just made this and it was OUTSTANDING!!!