Chicken Cacciatore

I was hoping to finish this post last night and put it up early this morning, but I went to Book Club last night, got home late, and actually fell asleep in my clothes...
I don't remember the last time I did that.
(Yes, we had a good time!)

Many years ago, I found this fabulous cook book at the DI (thrift store) for $.75

"Fabulous Ways with Chicken" copyright 1967
(I've never got around to taking the price tag off...)

One of our favorite recipes in it is called:

Chicken Cacciatore ("catch-a-tor-ay" is how we say it)
This picture is from the book!

I'm sure the recipes in this book aren't the most health-concscious, but they are so yummy and fairly simple too. I've made this on the stove top in a large skillet as well as in the crockpot and it turns out great. We like to serve it with spaghetti noodles, garlic bread, and a "BIG" salad.

CHICKEN CACCIATORE
(this is for the skillet -- for the crockpot, I just throw it all in and cook it on high for 4-5 hours)

• Brown in 1/4 cup hot oil, 2-3 lbs. bone-in chicken (I've also used boneless skinless THIGHS and they are the best in my opinion. Whatever you use, just be sure to use dark meat, NOT breasts, it's just not the same)
• After browning chicken, remove from skillet and keep warm.
• Cook 1 medium onion, cut in 1/4 inch slices, and 2 cloves minced garlic in oil until tender, but not brown.
• Return chicken to skillet.
• Combine one 16 oz. can tomatoes, one 8 oz. can tomato sauce, 1 tsp. salt, 1/4 tsp. pepper, 1 tsp. dried oregano or basil (I use both), 1/2 tsp. celery seed, and 1 or 2 bay leaves.
• Mix and pour over chicken.
• Cover and simmer 30 minutes.
• Stir in 1/4 cup white cooking wine or chicken broth.
• Cook chicken uncovered for 15 minutes longer or until tender; turn occasionally.
• Remove bay leaves*; skim off excess fat.
• Ladle sauce over chicken. Serves 4.

I hope your family likes it as much as we do.

P.S. *Whenever I'm cooking with bay leaves, I like to leave them in and whoever ends up with one on their plate has good luck! (My kids really get into "finding the bay leaf"! I think it's helped them be a bit more willing to try new foods.)