What the Heck is Somerset Chicken?

That was the question Greg asked when I told him we were having that for dinner. I knew he'd ask so I was prepared. According to Wikipedia, Somerset is a rural county in Southwest England with lots of rolling hills and massive farmlands. Agriculture is a major business there and they're most notably for Cheddar cheese and strong apple cider. What does that all mean? Well, it means Somerset Chicken is a chicken dish with apple, cheese and cider. Duh! I was first intrigued by the dish when I stumbled upon this recipe from the Good to Know website, which is a UK-based site for women. (I find that recipes from other countries are just so different and interesting!) The picture looked SO creamy and yummy that I had to try it! Of course, I made LOTS of adjustments but I believe the result is comparable to the original and even BETTER than it looked!

Ingredients:


2 chicken thighs, skin-on, bone-in
1 Tbsp olive oil
1/4 c onions, diced
1 apple, peeled and diced
1/2 tsp dried sage
1/2 c mushrooms, sliced
1/2 c chicken broth
1/2 c apple juice
1/4 c heavy cream
1/2 cheddar cheese, shredded
Cooked rice, for serving


Prep:


1. Heat oil in a Dutch oven on medium-high heat. Season chicken with salt and pepper and brown 5 minutes on each side. Remove and keep warm.


2. Turn heat down to medium and add the onions, apple, sage and mushrooms. Saute until softened, 5 minutes. Stir in broth and juice and bring mixture to a boil. Scrape down any brown bits and add chicken back.


3. Turn heat down to medium-low, cover and simmer until chicken is cooked through. Remove chicken to serving platter, on top of the rice.


4. Turn heat up to medium-high and stir in cream. Boil until sauce thickens, 5 minutes. Turn off the heat, stir in cheese and pour over chicken.