There are always loads of recipes I'd like to try but lose them before I do. This is where I can record recipes I find interesting and keep notes on my experiments with them.

I have a system that I've adopted for working through recipes:

1 - New recipes are saved to the Experimental Mouffette and is labeled : Untested
2 - As I'm working out the changes I'd like to make (if any) it is labeled : Testing
3 - Once I think I've got the correct formula it is labeled : Test 1
4 - IF I am able to reproduce the effect a second time it is labeled : Test 2 - if I am not able to reproduce the effect, it remains Test 1
5 - The same process as step 4 is used to graduate it to Test 3
6 - Once I have been able to reproduce the effect successfully 3 times, it graduates to my main blog, La Mouffette Gourmande

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Saturday, February 15, 2025

Chicken with sloe gin and juniper berries - Untested


This recipe asks for chicken breasts but I try to convert these to whole chicken. Maybe skin the chicken first.
Serves 4

1 tbsp butter
2 tbsp olive oil
4 chicken breasts fillets, skinned
2 medium sized (English) onions, chopped
2 sticks of celery, chopped
350g carrots (or 3 medium sized), sliced
2 cloves of garlic, chopped
125g chestnut mushrooms, sliced
1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
1 bay leaf
1 tsp fresh thyme, chopped (or half a tsp of dried thyme)
100ml chicken stock
100ml  red wine
100ml sloe gin
1 tsp juniper berries, crushed
salt and freshly ground black pepper

  1. Melt butter and 1 tbsp olive oil in a frying pan and fry the chicken breasts until they are lightly browned on each side. Set aside
  2. Heat 1 tbsp of olive oil in a large pan and add chopped onion and celery. Gently fry for 5 minutes, before adding the garlic. Continue to fry for 2 more minutes.
  3. Add mushrooms and lightly salt. Stir and continue to cook, with the lid on for 5 minutes.
  4. Add carrots and fry for 2 more minutes. The mushrooms will have released much of their water into the pan.
  5. Add the herbs, juniper berries and the liquid. Bring to the boil and simmer for 15 minutes.
  6. Cool the mixture and blend to a smooth puree. If the sauce is a little thick, then add either a little more stock or wine, to thin out.
  7. Put the chicken breasts into a pan and add the blended sauce. Cook until the chicken is cooked through, about 15 minutes depending on the thickness of the fillets.
  8. Season to taste (bearing in mind that you have already added salt to the mushrooms and that your chicken stock may be salty).
  9. p.s:
  10. In the interests of full disclosure, I think I should mention that this really isn't the prettiest of dishes. The combination of carrots, red wine and sloe gin does give it a rather muddy appearance but don't let that put you off. It tastes delicious, particularly with mash and lashings of colourful savoy cabbage.

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