Cider And Calvados Gelees With Champagne Grapes Food

CIDER AND CALVADOS GELEES WITH CHAMPAGNE GRAPES

Steps:

• In a small bowl sprinkle gelatin over water to soften 1 minute. In a saucepan combine cider and sugar and bring to a rolling boil. Boil mixture, skimming froth, until reduced to 2 cups. Stir in brandy and lemon juice and pour through a sieve lined with a double thickness of dampened cheesecloth or paper towel into a bowl. Stir gelatin mixture into hot cider mixture, stirring until gelatin is dissolved. Stir mixture well and divide among four 1/2-cup molds. Chill gelées until firm, at least 3 hours, and up to 2 days.
• To unmold gelées, dip bottoms of molds, 1 at a time, into a bowl of hot water 3 seconds. Run a thin knife around edges of molds and invert gelées onto 4 small dessert plates.
• Serve gelées with small bunches of grapes alongside.

CALVADOS (APPLE BRANDY) GRAVY

Steps:

• Place the sugar in a medium-size heavy saucepan. Place over medium heat, and cook until sugar is golden (do not stir).
• Carefully add cider, stirring constantly (mixture will bubble vigorously).
• Stir in brandy; cook 1 minute.
• Add broth, lemon juice, nutmeg and salt.
• Combine water and cornstarch, stirring with a wire whisk; add to the gravy. Bring to a boil and cook 1 minute, stirring constantly.

HOT GRAPE CIDER

Steps:

• In a slow cooker or medium stockpot, combine the grape juice, cinnamon, star anise, allspice, ginger and grapes. Bring to a simmer. Turn off the heat and let steep for at least 20 minutes before ladling into mugs.

POULET AU CIDRE (CHICKEN IN CIDER AND CALVADOS)

Steps:

• Peel and core apples. Finely chop half of one apple and cut the rest into 12 wedges. Toss the apple in lemon juice.
• Heat half the butter in large frying pan. Add the chicken pieces, skin side down, and cook until golden. Turn chicken over and cook another 5 minutes. Remove the chicken and pour off fat.
• Heat 1 tablespoon butter in the same pan and add onion, celery and chopped apple. Fry over moderate heat for 5 minutes without browning.
• Remove from heat. Sprinkle flour into mixture and stir. Add Calvados and return to heat. Gradually stir in cider. Bring to a boil, return chicken to pan, cover and simmer gently for 15 minutes.
• Heat remaining butter in small frying pan. Add apple wedges and fry over moderate heat until browned and tender. Remove from heat and keep warm.
• Remove the chicken pieces from the pan to a platter and keep warm. Skim excess fat from cooking liquid. Add creme fraiche, bring just to a boil and simmer 4 minutes, until it thickens enough to coat the back of a wooden spoon. Season with salt and pepper. Pour sauce over chicken and serve with warm apple wedges.