Monday, November 1, 2010

M. Jacques Armagnac Chicken...another Dorie wonder...

I have not made this many recipes from a newly received cookbook ever. Usually I get them, read them cover to cover and IF I make one or two things from a book I consider myself lucky. All of the things I have made from Dorie's new book"Around My French Table" have been wonderful...I am on a roll. I may just cook my way through the book!


I am not going to post the recipe because this may end up being chosen for a French Fridays with Dorie...but in a nutshell, it is some onions and some potatoes...carrots and some herbs sauteed a bit in a cast iron pot.
A nice plump organic chicken seasoned nicely with salt and pepper is nestled into the pan with the veggies...some Armagnac is added . The pot covered and put into the oven for a hour at 450*...the bird comes out and is kept warm and some water is added to the sauce...
Voila...a one pot meal fit for a Queen, the King and their Prince....so simple and so wonderful.
The chicken was juicy and succulent...the heady aroma of the sauce is magnificent. Dorie calls this an "elixir and that is the perfect description of it. I did not have any Armagnac this day so I used some Calvados...it was wonderful.  I ran out the next day and bought a bottle of Armagnac because I know I will make this comforting dish again very soon. I had a really lovely baguette from Balthazar to sop up the lovely juices....
Even the boy who hates carrots...loved the carrots. I had some tiny petite organic carrots with tops....I needed more. Next time! And there will be a next time!
I had a 4 and a 1/4 pound chicken...my 5 quart Le Creuset was a little too small so I used my 9 quart. I think the 7 quart would have been perfect...the 9 was a little bit too large. I think my chicken would have been more well browned in the smaller pot. I am going to try it in the 5 quart and compare....I will have to use smaller potatoes in that case! Hmmmmm...this just might be the perfect reason to buy a new 7 quart Le Creuset....
Someone needs to take me out and shoot me....really...I have no more room!

This recipe can be found on pages 204 and 205 of Dorie Greenspan's new cookbook, "Around My French Table"
The recipe appears in the NEW YORK TIMES STYLE MAGAZINE

35 comments:

  1. Oh I can smell the wonderfullness

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  2. Dorie's book and the recipes Ive seen being shared are making quite a splash. This chicken dish adds to my hunger!

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  3. I've been wanting to try this since you mentioned it! Looks fabulous...just need the Armagnac.

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  4. Thank you my friends...I am still thinking about this chicken. It does not get much easier than this, really.

    Lizzie.., I used Calvados and it was wonderful, so if you have that, a chicken, some carrots, potatoes, and onions you are in business!

    Peter, I will trade you some Lobster Mac and Cheese for a chicken! LOL...

    Jen....you gotta try it!

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  5. Yum, this does sound like a winner. Roast chicken is the perfect Sunday dinner. Thanks for the recommendation, Linda. I'm looking forward to trying this.

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  6. I'm really looking forward to making this Linda especially now that you rave about it. Next trip to liquor store I need to buy some Armagnac. Gorgeous photos!

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  7. Your photos are mouth watering..Wow..I hope she sees your posts..It's in my Amazon wish list because of you..

    C'est beau Linda!!

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  8. Thank you!
    This chicken is more like a cross between a roast chicken and chicken in a pot...soooo flavorful!

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  9. I love Dorie's new book! There are so many recipes that I want to try. Your chicken looks wonderful.

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  10. i love those recipes to feed th family. the veggies look delicious with the chicken and the calvados.

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  11. Linda.....Gorgeous photo's, this chicken looks like a must try. I can just smell the wonderful aroma.....

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  12. Thanks so much for stopping by my dears!

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  13. Linda I am crazy about Armagnac... it has such a deep rich personality...when I put it in my verjus I always have a little left over that I use sparingly. you are really making me want that cookbook...I'm thinking Dorie is more that desserts!

    ps: get the 7qt.. you deserve it for making such wonderful things for your family

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  14. I know right...?
    I honestly have no room but I just may request that from Santa!
    xo

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  15. Hi,

    That looks soooooooooooooo wow...:0

    Dr.Sameena@

    http://www.myeasytocookrecipes.blogspot.com

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  16. Thanks for stopping by Dr. Sameena!

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  17. LOL someone needs to shoot me too. I just buy things and then pull all my hair out.

    the chicken dish looks fab! Im quite sure I can smell it from here :)

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  18. Linda, this looks absolutely wonderful. I love your description and beautiful photos. I can practically taste how delicious this is. Coincidentally, I have a 7-qt Le Creuset!! :D Perfect!

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  19. I shouldn't have looked at your roast chicken again. Now I have a major craving and it isn't going to get satisfied tonight.

    Great photos Linda.

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  20. I love the smell of a roasting chicken and will have to get myself a copy of this book. I just tried her Double Chocolate, World Peace cookies, which were fantastic.

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  21. Linda,

    Your pictures and description of this wonderful dish had me doing a major search on the Internet for the recipe. Eureka, I found it and dashed out to the LCBO and the grocery store for a few of the required ingredients.

    Am I ever glad that you posted and that I went out and shopped. This recipe creates the most divine chicken imaginable!

    My newest dilemma is now trying to figure out what quart size Le Creuset pots I have. They all have numbers on the bottom 38, 36, and downwards, but how do they relate to the real world??!!

    My lid was ‘not shaky’, so perhaps the pot was not small enough because the bird was not ‘beautifully browned’ and described by Dorie.

    I went to yesterday Costco, but alas no book there, so I have ordered it and it is on its way.

    You never steer us wrong on your recipe selections.

    Thank you.
    Susan

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  22. I love Dorie's recipes. Always a winner :)

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  23. I bought this cookbook for myself as a New Year's treat and have to agree with you. So far everything I've made has been incredible. If you like salmon, try her recipe for salmon and lentils. To die for.

    Thanks for the link to the printed recipe. I want to share my experience with this wonderful dish with my readers.

    Nice to meet you. I like your blog and will follow you.

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  24. Lyndsay...sorry I missed your response...thank you for visiting...a bit late...but thank you!

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  25. You can never have too many le creuset or things for the kitchen - your photos have some a romantic air about them. Enjoyed your post!

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  26. Thank you Christy...that is such a lovely compliment!
    I am so happy you stopped by...
    Have a great weekend!

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  27. Splendid! I love how making this dish once convinced you to run out and buy a bottle of armagnac. 9qt Le Creuset must be huge! I can't imagine fitting it even through the door of my house. ;)

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  28. I use my 9 quart often...for stocks and stews...it is not quite as large as you may think. It is heavy when filled with food...but very useful. I have some Le Creuset pieces that are over thirty years old...we have had a few bottles of Armagnac since this post...a snifter is lovely after a great meal! I prefer it to cognac!
    Thanks for stopping by!

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  29. Thanks for sharing your post again, Linda! I hope you still enjoy cooking through AMFT. It's definitely one of my favorite cookbooks/experiences from 2011 (and 2012 so far).

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  30. Oh my! Your photos are terrific - makes me want to bake another one today! I think it's been so much fun cooking through this book with all of the FFWD crew - glad you are having fun with it too!!!

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  31. I'd have to start weight training to lift a full 9 qt Le Cruset:) Really nice pictures!

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  32. I only used a cognac that I had on hand and after reading all the other FFWD posts...I am dying to try the actual Armagnac. I am also very curious about trying it with the Calvados and throwing in some diced up apples. I just need to allow time to broil the top since we are a crispy bird kind of family - no matter how moist this recipe turned out :) Great job ~

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  33. Thanks so much everyone for your kind comments....
    I have not been really good about posting every Friday..but I do adore the book....

    The 9qt. Is much better than going to the gym...lol...

    Thanks for stopping by!

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  34. I have a 5.5 Qt and 9 Qt - I was told I was cut off from any more... Somehow I managed to squeeze in a 3.5 Qt and a buffet casserole (I don't know how they got in the pantry.)
    Looks lovely!

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  35. Great job on this chicken! I'll bet you've made this again since November. I just loved this chicken, even though I really wanted the skin to be crispier. It's still a winner.

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