Sundays should just be called Doomsday. It’s 2 p.m. on a Sunday and I am in my typical Sunday shutdown. I will spend the next 16 hours until my alarm goes off, moping around the house, lashing out at people for no reason, complaining about Monday. I’ve acted like this since kindergarden. Proof that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.

 Despite my Sunday sulking, I did manage to perk up for a little bit to bring you this delicious end of fall, start of winter recipe: Apple Cider Chicken with Mashed Parsnips & Potatoes. The chicken is saturated in that great fall cider flavor with some not so subtle hints of rosemary and thyme, my favorite herbs. I tend to go overboard with the rosemary

 Parsnips are weird little guys. They look like some unidentifiable root vegetable, but taste like carrots. Very Twilight Zone. Mixed with potatoes, the parsnips, which could have taken a terrible baby food turn, are creamy and rich due to all the starches.

Let’s get started

Apple Cider Chicken with Mashed Parsnips & Potatoes

For the Chicken
1 Whole chicken, broken down- 2 breasts, 2 thighs, and 2 legs. You could use all chicken breasts, I just like using the bones since it adds more flavor
2 3/4 Cups Apple Cider
8 oz. Whole and peeled pearl onions
3 Sprigs of fresh thyme
3 Sprigs of fresh rosemary
2 Cloves of garlic, minced
1/4 Cup olive oil, plus extra to sear the chicken
2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 Tablespoon whole grain dijon mustard
1 Bay leaf
1 Teaspoon salt
1/2 Teaspoon pepper
2 Large red apples, sliced

For the Mashed Parsnips and Potatoes
4 Large parsnips
3 Large redskin potatoes (you can use whatever you like, I like the pops of the red skin)
1/2 Cup sour cream
1/2 Cup butter
1/4 Cup whole milk, add more based on your desired consistency
Salt to taste
Pepper to taste

Directions

For the Chicken: Trim the fat off of your chicken and cut big slits in the chicken so the marinade can soak in.  Then, set side. In a large container, mix together the apple cider, olive oil, apple cider vinegar, dijon mustard, garlic, salt, and pepper. Then, add in the pearl onions, rosemary, and bay leaf. Add your chicken and let it marinate in the fridge for at least 2 hours, or up to 24 hours. I soaked mine for 6 hours and it was fabulous.

After your chicken has marinated, remove chicken from marinade and let it get to room temperature for an hour, this will help it sear better. Heat some olive oil in a large pan and sear the chicken on both sides until it is golden brown and beautiful. Once seared, pour your marinade into the pan and turn the meat to low. At this time, add your apple slices into the pan. You can add in more rosemary or thyme at this time too,  I did. Place a lid over your chicken. Every 15 minutes, flip the chicken over so each sides gets time in the apple cider jacuzzi that you have created. While the chicken is doing its thing, begin progress on the mashed parsnips and potatoes. Cook the chicken for 60-90 minutes, until the chicken is literally falling off the bone. So succulent and rich.

 For the Mashed Parsnips & Potatoes: Peel your parsnips. Cut the parsnips and potatoes into equal sized cubes. Place your parsnips and potatoes into a large pot and cover with water until the vegetables are just covered. Cook for about 30-40 minutes until your parsnips and potatoes are tender. Then, drain the liquid and put your vegetables back into the pot. Add the sour cream, butter, milk, salt and pepper to taste and mash until it is to your desired consistence. I made mine on the chunky side.

To plate, place a nice spoonful of your mashed parsnips and potatoes onto your plate. Put your tender chicken on top and smother the top with the apple cider gravy, apple slices, pearl onions, and fragrant rosemary and thyme.

 The chicken is sweet and savory and marries perfectly with the apples that are soft and taste like candy, and the parsnips cut the sweetness with a wonderful earthy flavor and creamy texture. Ugh, my mouth is watering.

It’s snowing here in New Jersey, our first real snow in two years. Nothing warms the soul and belly like some slow cooked chicken and earthy vegetables.