Coq au Vin Meatballs

This is a new recipe to me - a meal I enjoyed at a friend's house this summer. I'm posting it here to add to my recipe collection. It's a wonderful fall/winter comfort meal, served with mashed potatoes.

Ingredients

3/4 pounds ground chicken or turkey

3/4 pounds ground pork

1 egg

1/3 cup bread crumbs

1//3 cup parmesan cheese

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

2-3 slices thick cut bacon, chopped

1 onion, chopped

4 cloves garlic, minced

2 cups cremini mushrooms

1 cup white wine

1 cup chicken broth mixed with 1 tsp mustard

1 cup cream

1/2 cup milk mixed with 1 Tbsp cornstarch (if needed to thicken sauce)

1 bay leaf

sprinkling of thyme or a few thyme sprigs 

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 F. Line a baking pan with parchment or aluminum foil.

2. In a bowl, combine the chicken (or turkey) with pork, egg, bread crumbs, cheese, and seasoning. Shape into 1-1/12 inch meatballs and place on prepared pan. Bake for 15 - 20 minutes. 

3. Meanwhile, cook the bacon in a large skillet until crisp, a few minutes. Add the onion until soft. Add garlic and mushrooms. Cook another 5 minutes to caramelize a bit.

4. Add wine and cook a few minutes, then the broth, mustard, cream and bay leaf. Stir and allow to come to a boil and simmer about 10 minutes. Sprinkle with thyme. If sauce needs thickening, add milk and cornstarch mix.

5. Stir in the meatballs and bring to a simmer again. Serve with mashed potatoes. Enjoy!