Chicken with Braised Celery and Cider

Serves 4

Preparation time: 30 mins

Cooking time approx. 1½ hrs

Ingredients:

Small knob butter

2kg/4lb 8oz chicken

4 rashers smoked streaky bacon, chopped

1 onion, finely chopped

2 carrots, diced

Sprig thyme

2 celery hearts, quartered

150ml Merrydown Cider

300ml chicken stock

AND THIS IS WHAT YOU DO…

1.  Heat the oven to 190c/Fan 170c/Gas 5. heat the butter in a large casserole dish and brown the chicken slowly on all sides. This should take 10-15 mins. Be patient, it will pay off later.

2.  Remove the chicken, throw in the bacon and cook for 3-4 mins until starting to crisp.

3.  Add the onion, carrots and thyme and cooked for 4-5 minutes untl the vegetables soften.

4.  Stir the celery into the vegetables and nestle the chicken among them, breast side down.

5.  Pour over the cider and stock, bring to a simmer and roast the chicken uncovered for one hour.

6.  Turn the chicken right-way up and give it 30 mins more, by which point the legs should be coming away.

7.  Carefully lift the chicken from the dish, check the seasoning of the vegetables and serve with the chicken.