Coq Au Vin

INGREDIENTS
4 chicken thighs
4 chicken legs
2 cups full-bodied red wine, such as Cabernet Sauvignon
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
8 ounces slab bacon, cut into 1/2-inch dice
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, if needed
1 medium onion, finely chopped
8 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
10 white pearl onions, peeled
1/2 pound small cremini mushrooms
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon tomato paste
2 tablespoons Cognac
1 chicken liver, coarsely chopped
2 bay leaves
5 fresh thyme sprigs

DIRECTIONS
1. Place chicken in a large bowl, and add wine. Cover, and refrigerate overnight.

2. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Remove chicken from wine, and pat dry; reserve wine. Season chicken with salt and pepper.

3. Cook bacon in a Dutch oven over medium-low heat until crisp, about 20 minutes. Transfer bacon to a plate, leaving drippings in pot. (You should have 3 tablespoons; you may need to add oil.)

4. Raise heat to medium-high. Working in batches, cook chicken, flipping once, until golden, 4 to 5 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate. Add onion to pot, and cook 4 to 5 minutes. Add garlic, and cook 2 minutes. Add pearl onions and mushrooms, and cook until brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in flour and tomato paste, and cook 2 minutes. Add Cognac, and cook, stirring, 1 minute.

5. Return bacon and chicken to pot. Pour in reserved wine, and add chicken liver and herbs. Bring to a simmer. Cover, and place in oven until chicken has cooked through and vegetables are tender, 45 minutes to 1 hour. Discard herbs, and skim fat from surface.