Use a whole cut up chicken. Dust it with flour and brown the pieces in a big deep skillet large enough to hold all the pieces (I usually dont use the backbone or neck but save them to make chicken stock). Remove the pieces and add some flour to make a dark roux with the oil. Add water or stock to make a gravy then return the chicken pieces back to the skillet. Add red potatoes cut into pieces, carrots cut into pieces or baby carrots, sliced onion or pearl onions, bell pepper slices and sliced mushrooms. Season this all up with some salt, pepper, cayenne and thyme bring to a boil then lower heat to simmer till chicken is fork tender along with all the vegetables. Add abut 2 cups of frozen green peas and let simmer another five minutes till the peas are heated through then serve on a bed of steamed rice.
You can add wine to the gravy if you like, I do about half the time. I sometimes add celery, fennel, turnips or parsnips. It's a good stew.