Chicken with Apples and Calvados

Hearty and regional. Calvados is the apple-based treasure that Normandy prides, along with its chickens. The Normandy coast is not quite the same climate as the south of France. The terroir affects everyone and everything. The people, often with several layers of clothing to stave off the cold and mists. The chickens, who tend to plump with some extra fat, their version of layering. And trees, short, groomed and with trunks and branches braced for the storms that can appear year round.

We looked at several cookbooks and websites in search of a recipe that can be easily prepared and thoroughly enjoyed. This one seems the very best fit.

Of course, we modified it. We had already bought chicken parts, because Suzen loves white meat while I favor the dark. No matter. And, since I seem to be developing just the slightest reaction to mushrooms, Suzen left those out. So the picture above is what we ate, and the recipe below is yours to enjoy or adapt to your own whims.

“I don’t want to cause you any pain,” Suzen said as she put the mushrooms back into the refrigerator. She’d seen me eyeing them with disdain, if not fears of pain.

If, if only she thought that way every day. If I could just train her on one thing a day, then after a decade I’d be …

Well, I should not complain. With thighs and legs and with no mushrooms, this was a delightful meal. After all, the liquids are calvados and cream. We ate the whole thing with only two layers of clothing. Serve with sides of beans or peas or even summer carrots.

Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients:

1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup chopped green onions
3 cups sliced fresh mushrooms
3 Granny Smith apples, peeled and sliced
1 cup apple brandy
1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 cup heavy cream

Preparation:

Combine flour and seasoned salt in a wide, shallow dish. Coat the chicken breasts in the seasoned flour. Heat the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown chicken in the butter, about 3 minutes on each side. Transfer chicken to a plate and tent with foil.

Combine the onions, mushrooms, and apples in the skillet. Cook and stir until the apples are just tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in the brandy, thyme, salt, and pepper; bring to a simmer. Return chicken to the pan; cook, uncovered, about 10 minutes. Stir in cream, and simmer until thickened, about 5 minutes.

Chicken with Apples and Calvados