Some French Comfort...

On this frigid, deep-freeze cold morning (-22 degrees Celsius which feels like -28 degrees Celsius when we rolled out of bed) in Southwestern Ontario, Monsieur Honey enjoyed his morning coffee while reading the newspaper and the sale flyers.

In our local grocery store paper there was an article that peaked his interest and a link for a recipe...

"Cassoulet". 

Definition .... 

Encyclopedia 

cassoulet is ...

A French dish of white beans baked with meats; it takes it name from it's cooking pot, the cassole d'Issel.

Originating in the Languedoc in southwest France, cassoulet was once simple farmhouse fare, but it has been elaborated into a rich and complex dish. 

The basic cassoulet from the town of Castlenauary adds to the beans fresh pork and ham plus tomatoes, garlic, onions, herbs and stock; that of Carcassonne contains in addition mutton and partridges in season, while in Toulouse to the basic cassoulet are added duck or confit d'oie (pieces of goose poached and preserved in goose fat) and Toulouse sausage*. 

Bread crumbs and goose fat form a crust on top of the dish.

* Note...one of Monsieur Honey's favourites is "Toulouse Sausage" and he has been trying to master making them here at home with his own grinder and sausage making machine... Thanks to my brother the butcher for the wonderful gift a couple of years ago.  

A view of Carcassonne ...photo taken in 2005 ... This is where Robin Hood Prince of Thieves was filmed ... It is a truly magical place.

Photos of Toulouse 2012

He quickly checked the website and printed the recipe and with a list of ingredients in hand, off to the local surpermarket we went to purchase the needed items.

Monsieur Honey loves comfort food  ... Warm and hearty dishes especially when it is cold outside.

This recipe actually makes two dishes  ... two 12-cup/ 3 litre dishes... that is equivalent two 9 x 13 pans ...I don't know who he thinks is coming for dinner.

I will have to check if our cast iron Dutch oven similar to the French cookware   ... "Le Creuset" will be large enough.

It is probably something we should cook when there will be a houseful of guests, served with a delicious fresh salad, some hot fresh baked crusty bread and a good bottle or two of French wine and then maybe followed by a dish of Crème Brûlée or better yet Café Gourmand for dessert. 

This recipe is simpler and is made with boneless, skinless chicken thighs and white kidney beans (also known as cannellini beans) along with bacon, onions, carrots, garlic, stewed tomatoes, spices and herbs...with the addition of some of Monsieur Honey's homemade sausage.

Here's the link for the recipe that Monsieur started with...

https://www.sobeys.com/en/recipes/chicken-bean-cassoulet

Come back in a day or two...I will let you know how it turned out!