A perfectly roasted chicken is the essence of home cooking, especially when the chicken and its fixings are raised responsibly on a nearby farm. In the fall my family really enjoys this aromatic dish. As the chicken roasts, the apples “melt” and form a tasty rustic pan stew that is perfect tossed with the roast chicken. This is a very easy way to cook and serve a chicken.
Yield: Serves 4 to 6
Ingredients
4 quartered and cored local apples
2 peeled and cut into large chunks onions
1 whole head garlic cloves,peeled
1 or 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
1 or 2 sprinkles Salt and Pepper
1/2 cup apple cider
1 4 lb Roasting Chicken
2 green onions, thinly sliced
Procedure
Preheat your oven to 350 °F (180 °C).
Toss the apples, onions, garlic and rosemary together in a roasting pan large enough to hold the chicken.
Season chicken well with salt and pepper and rest it on top of the apple mixture. Pour in the cider. Roast chicken until a meat thermometer inserted in the thickest part of one of the thighs reads 180 °F (82 °C), about 20 minutes per pound.
As soon as the chicken is cool enough to handle, and without removing it from the pan, slice and pull the meat from the carcass and toss with the apple pan stew. Sprinkle with the sliced green onions and serve directly out of the pan.
Variation
Any choice of apple will work well. For an upscale presentation, you may also slice the chicken and arrange it on a serving platter with the apple pan sauce served on the side. For an easy chicken broth, the chicken carcass can be tossed into a small stockpot with an onion, celery, carrot and bay leaf, covered with water and then simmered for 1 or 2 hours.
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