Rainy Days and Mondays...

Okay...it's not Monday...but that sounds nice...like the Carpenter's song. But rainy days are here again in my part of the world. We can definitely feel the chill which is really welcome because we have summer here almost all year round. And times like these call for warm filling soups and stews like this re-worked Brunswick stew from last April's Daring Cook's Challenge. This time instead of using stewed tomatoes, I cooked it with crushed tomatoes. I have to say in addition to other Filipino soups and stews that I crave when the rainy season starts, this is becoming a new favorite.

Rainy Day Stew

Oil 2 tablespoons

Bacon, chopped 200 grams

Chicken fillet, diced 500 grams

Hungarian Sausage, halved then diced 4 pieces

Crushed tomatoes 1 can

Celery, peeled and diced 2 stalks

Bay leaf, dry 2 pieces

Potatoes, peeled and diced 4 pieces

Carrots, peeled and diced 2 pieces

Onion, peeled and diced 1 piece

Corn kernel 1 can

White beans, boiled until tender 250 grams

Chili, dried 2 pieces

Chicken stock 1 liter

Preheat pot with oil, fry bacon, transfer to plate and in the same pot, fry chilies until fragrant, remove and add to bacon on plate. Season chicken pieces and place in pot, brown until golden in color. Remove to plate. Deglaze the pan with 1/2 of the stock. Boil until reduced. Add remaining stock, celery, bay leaf, potatoes and the meats including the sausages. Cook for 30 minutes and add in the onions, beans, crushed tomatoes and corn. Cook until vegetables are tender. Season with salt and pepper. Serve hot. Curl up with a good book and a bowl of this :)