| 1/2 | c | All-purpose flour |
| 2 | tb | Caribe (crushed N. New Mexico hot red chile) |
| 1 | ts | Salt |
| 1 | | Broiler-fryer chicken; cut for frying (3-1/2 to 4 lbs) |
| 1/2 | c | Unsalted butter |
| 6 | tb | Cognac |
| 1 | | Clove garlic; crushed |
| 1 | | Fresh bay leaf |
| 4 | | Sprigs fresh thyme -or- |
| 1/2 | ts | Dried leaf thyme |
| 1/2 | c | Minced fresh parsley |
| 6 | sm | White boiling onions; peeled |
| 1/2 | lb | Fresh mushrooms; sliced thin |
| 6 | sl | Lean; heavily smoked country bacon; in 1/2-inch pieces, partially cooked & drained |
| | Freshly ground black pepper |
| 1 | c | Burgundy or other dry red wine |
| 1/2 | c | Fried crutons (below) |
| | FRIED CRUTONS |
| | 1-inch French bread cubes |
| | Olive oil |
| | Unsalted butter |
