Life moves fast these days, but here's one delicious reason to slow down: a hearty Sunday supper of chicken cacciatore that will bring everyone to the table on Father's Day.

In this classic Italian dish, also called hunter's stew, bone-in chicken pieces are nestled in a garlicky tomato sauce studded with woodsy mushrooms, herbs and a splash of red wine. It's simmered until the meat is so tender it falls off the bone.

Braised dishes like this lend themselves particularly well to the slow cooker. Besides slicing the mushrooms, onions, garlic and parsley, the only preparation is to flour and brown the chicken.

Slow-cooker sauces are not reduced by evaporation, so we use tomato paste with drained, canned, diced tomatoes for more concentrated flavor. Dried herbs hold up best in the slow cooker, but we brighten the flavor of the dish by stirring in fresh basil and parsley at the end.

This recipe makes a large batch (leftovers taste great the next day!), so be sure your slow cooker is large enough to accommodate it.

This hearty dish is an ideal partner for a spicy, fruity, full-flavored wine such as the Zaca Mesa 2005 Syrah ($18). Don't forget to raise a glass and toast your world's best dad.

Carole Kotkin is manager of the Ocean Reef Club cooking school and co-author of Mmmmiami: Tempting Tropical Tastes for Home Cooks Everywhere.

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