I invited my friend Arthur for dinner last night and I wanted to make something fairly quick and easy - but also very good. Of course, I thought about my perennial chicken marsala recipe, which is amazingly yummy and simple - but I didn't have marsala on hand and our local Safeway doesn't sell it. Mike suggested that I make Coq au Vin instead, and I loved the idea.

I got my recipe from Coq au Vin from The Frugal Gourmet Cooks with Wine years ago, and I make it from time to time, not very often as it's very fattening. But lord, is it good! It's also very easy to make, though it does take about 2 hours from beginning to end (the second hour is simmering).

This time I used a $4 Cabernet Sauvignon from Safeway, but I'm sure $2 Chuck would be just as good.

Arthur and Mike (and I) were very pleased with the results.