Alsace Chicken Food

ALSACE CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Melt the butter in a large skillet over high heat and add the chicken thighs skin side down. Cook for about 6-7 minutes until golden brown and turn over and cook for an additional 4-5 minutes.
• Using a metal ladle, warm the brandy quickly and ignite the surface of the brandy using a lighter. Pour the brandy slowly and evenly over the chicken and wait for the flames subside. Be careful not to boil the brandy in the ladle as this boils off the alcohol. Pouring slowly and evenly will avoid "Flare-up"
• Remove chicken and place in a casserole dish. Keep warm.
• Reduce heat to medium and add onions to skillet and cook gently for about 3 minutes. Add mushrooms to pan and cook for a further 4 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, remove onions and mushrooms and place in casserole dish with Chicken.
• Add wine to the pan, bring to a boil and add the mixture to the casserole dish.
• Cook the casserole in the oven uncovered for about an hour and 15 minutes.
• Pour off the liquid into a skillet and keep chicken warm. Reduce the liquid down to about 2 cups. Add cream and salt and pepper to taste and simmer for about 10 minutes.
• Pour mixture over chicken and serve.

CHICKEN IN RIESLING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350F with rack in middle.
• Pat chicken dry and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon salt and a rounded 3/4 teaspoon pepper. Heat oil with 1 tablespoon butter in a wide 3 1/2- to 5-quart heavy ovenproof pot over medium-high heat until foam subsides, then brown chicken in 2 batches, turning once, about 10 minutes total per batch. Transfer to a plate.
• Meanwhile, wash leeks and pat dry.
• Pour off fat from pot, then cook leeks, shallot, and 1/4 teaspoon salt in remaining 2 tablespoons butter, covered, over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until leeks are pale golden, 5 to 7 minutes. Add chicken, skin sides up, with any juices from plate, carrots, and wine and boil until liquid is reduced by half, 3 to 4 minutes. Cover pot and braise chicken in oven until cooked through, 20 to 25 minutes.
• While chicken braises, peel potatoes, then generously cover with cold water in a 2- to 3-quart saucepan and add 1 1/2 teaspoons salt. Bring to a boil, then simmer until potatoes are just tender, about 15 minutes. Drain in a colander, then return to saucepan. Add parsley and shake to coat.
• Stir crème fraîche into chicken mixture and season with salt, pepper, and lemon juice, then add potatoes.