SMOTHERED CHICKEN (Stufato di Pollo)

Ingredients

• 1 whole Chicken, cut into pieces (Quantity estimated (not specified in original recipe))
• 4 oz Butter (or vegetable shortening) (Originally fat, half butter and half lard. Substituted with butter for modern preference. Can also use vegetable shortening for similar texture.)
• 1 cup Stewed tomatoes, strained
• 1 Onion, finely chopped (Quantity estimated (not specified in original recipe))
• 1 Carrot, cut into small pieces (Quantity estimated (not specified in original recipe))
• 1 stalk Celery stalk, cut into small pieces
• 1 teaspoon Salt (Quantity estimated (not specified in original recipe))
• 1/2 teaspoon Black pepper (Quantity estimated (not specified in original recipe))
• 1 cup Hot water (Quantity estimated (not specified in original recipe))

Instructions

1. 1Cut up the chicken into serving pieces.
2. 2Melt half of the butter (or shortening) in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Rub the chicken pieces with the remaining butter (or shortening) and brown them in the pot.
3. 3Add the strained tomato, chopped onion, carrot, and celery to the pot. Season with salt and pepper.
4. 4Let the chicken simmer slowly until perfectly tender, adding hot water from time to time to keep it moist as the tomato cooks away. This should take about 40 minutes.