FOOD:You might think it's better suited to a dark night in the depths of January, but this chicken casserole dish is so delicious that it's just as appetising during our unpredictable summer
A ROAST CHICKEN supper is just delicious to serve at any time of the year, but I'm amazed how fussy people are about the "leg or breast" dilemma. Although most people I know have evolved beyond making Benny Hill-style gags when asked this pertinent question, people are still fairly inflexible. It's fine if it's my immediate family, as the chicken is divided with UN approval and economic sanctions. Plus, we have a routine and everyone knows what lump of bird they're getting. But add a stranger to the mix and the balance can be upset. So much so, that I won't do roast chicken for more than four.
We can sometimes squeeze out a fifth or sixth portion, but only if we're all on diets and feeling generous. However, it's very rare in our household to feel both these sentiments simultaneously. Plus, chicken is now so expensive that it's no longer an everyday dinner, but rather a genuine treat.
With this in mind, we've recreated this big, friendly, casserole-type dish. Although it would be better served up in the depths of January, considering how the weather has been dodgy all summer long, I've decided to share it as it's rather delicious.
Of course, if the sun is splitting the rocks outside, you will think I am bananas, while you look for BBQ and salad recipes. If that's the case, put this recipe away for a rainy evening. It's a great dish to make in a big pot - you can freeze half of it for a delicious hassle-free dinner on another night.
The recipe may seem a bit fiddly initially, but all you are doing is browning and caramelising all the ingredients and then chucking them in a large pot and cooking until it's done. You will need one good big frying pan and one heavy-based large saucepan. Washing up is minimal, I promise.
Seeing as I like to hedge my bets, and just in case the sun is splitting the rocks, make this raspberry crush, which is a bit extravagant and quite delicious. Unlike the chicken casserole, it is perfectly sunny and summery.
Rich chicken and apple casserole (serves six to eight)
Few glugs olive oil
2 onions, peeled and sliced
8-10 chicken pieces (breast, legs, thighs etc)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Splash of brandy (optional)
Few knobs butter
½ kg field mushrooms
500 ml cider
250g tub creme fraiche
2 cooking apples, peeled and chopped
1 teaspoon caster sugar
fresh thyme
Heat some olive oil and butter in a large frying pan and sauté the onions until they are soft and starting to caramelise, then transfer to your big saucepan.
Next, brown the chicken really well on all sides. Season it well and carefully pour the brandy on the chicken and tip the frying pan towards to flame to set it alight. Don't panic, the flame will die off.
Put the chicken into the pot. In the frying pan heat up a bit more olive oil and butter and sauté the mushrooms, then add to the big pot. Add the cider and creme fraiche and cook over a gentle heat for about 30 minutes, until the chicken is well cooked.
Meanwhile, in the same frying pan, heat up the butter and fry the apples, sprinkling with some caster sugar to help them caramelise even more. When the chicken is done, add the apples, mix well, sprinkle with thyme and serve with rice or mash.
Raspberry lemonade (serves four)
4 lemons
450g fresh raspberries
Few tablespoons caster sugar
Zest the lemons and then juice them. Puree the raspberries with the lemon juice and sugar. Push the raspberry pulp through a sieve, using a wooden spoon to squish and extract as much juice as possible. Mix the raspberry puree and the sparkling water together with the lemon zest. This would also be gorgeous with Prosecco instead of water. If you think it needs more sugar, dissolve a few tablespoons in a little hot water, add to the sparkling water, then chill and serve.
A word of warning, though. When you add the sparkling water to the raspberry mixture, it foams up like Alka-Seltzer and may spill everywhere. So go easy - I'm not coming to anyone's house to clean up sticky raspberry spillages.
