Chicken, Apples and Cream a la Normande and Green Beans with Pancetta
Oooooh this sauce! I mean, I never really met a cream sauce I didn’t like, but this one is top notch. It was silky and almost sweet from the apples, but not quite. It went perfectly with the chicken. I love Dorie’s recipes, she gives you options for sides and also ways you can change it up if you want. She also recommends this one with pork, which would also be great!
If you don’t have Calvados, you can substitute another apple brandy, but you can find it in some larger liquor stores. Calvados is VERY much a Normandy thing. It’s also a little bit like apple flavored jet fuel! Not for the faint of heart or non-drinkers! No fear though, the alcohol cooks out and it gives the sauce a nice flavor.
Surprise, surprise, she recommends of all things for a side dish: Fried green beans! Haha! These get some crisped up pancetta thrown in (you can use regular thick-cut bacon) and then the beans get sauteed in the rendered fat. Hello, who wouldn’t eat green beans in bacon fat?? YUM! The bonus to this meal is that it is also SUPER easy! A little chopping and you’re good to go. I did use a Fuji apple, you want something a little bit crisp that will hold up to cooking in the sauce and not get mushy. Mushy apples are YUCK! This dish was great, I would definitely make it again; I am going to try with some boneless pork next time just to see the difference.
Bon Appetit! ~ Jen
