I used leg and thigh quarters, divided. I pulled the skin off and trimmed off as much fat as I could. I know the skin and fat gives great flavor, but I'm trying to reduce my fat intake. Besides, the cooked skin is not attractive, as well as awkward to remove from hot chicken. I quickly browned the chicken in butter in my stovetop and oven safe casserole pot, instead of putting it on top of the salted and peppered chicken. I added whole garlic cloves after the chicken was a nice golden brown and sauted for only a few minutes, ensuring the garlic didn't burn. I added the layers of vegetables as listed, parsley flakes, garlic powder, and black pepper. Instead of adding salt and water I used homemade chicken broth. I covered the casserole pot with it's tight sealing lid to bake in the oven. This recipe reminds me of a rustic French dish I've had in the past. One could add wine as part of the liquid if desired. It is a simple recipe that can be taylored to what one has on hand. The smell is wonderful and tantalizing. My family's mouths watered in anticipation of the meal. I served with crusty french rolls and a salad. The broth was amazing. Thanks, Melissa.

Reviewed On: May 28, 2010

Oh my gosh, these are sooooooooooooooooo good. My bottle of carbonated water was a bit flat, but these still turned out great. I lightly salted while the onion rings were hot. Everyone couldn't stop eating them. Thanks so much for the post.

Reviewed On: Dec. 12, 2009

The acidity of the tomatoes prevented the potatoes from becoming tender in only 30 minutes. I cooked the mixture over an hour and a half, checking the potatoes every 15 minutes after the initial 30 minutes to ensure they were softened. I tasted for seasoning and added two teaspoons of Emeril's Cajun spice mixture (recipe for spice mixture at FoodNetwork.com) and tripled the hot sauce before adding the catfish. I have never eaten fish in a stew or soup, but since I'm trying to incorporate more fish into my diet, I wanted to give this recipe a try. The texture of the fish was strange to me, at first. I have to say it smelled wonderful while cooking. I almost used olive oil and left the bacon out to save calories and make it healthier. I decided to go ahead and stay as close as possible to the recipe as written. I love bacon in anything, but I was surprised the scrumptious undertone the bacon gave to this recipe. I'm sure that accounts for the hike in calories. Oh well, I'll try olive oil next time. I think chicken or pork could be substituted for catfish in this recipe with very good results.

Reviewed On: Nov. 17, 2009