Harvest Time Chicken and Apple Stew

Harvest Time Chicken and Apple Stew
(Adapted from Ready and Waiting, Rick Rodgers)
Serves 4-6

Ingredients:

Olive oil
2 large chicken breasts (original recipe calls for pork, which would also be lovely!)
S&P
2 onions, chopped
2 carrots, sliced
2 apples, peeled, cored and chopped
3 small potatoes chopped (reserved for last 4 hours of cooking)
3/4 cups apple cider or apple juice
1/4 cup white vermouth or white wine
2 tbsp Calvados or brandy but an apple brandy makes this wonderful if you have it!
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1/4 tsp ground allspice
1/4 tsp sage

Directions:

1. Heat the olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the chicken, season with S&P and brown lightly. Remove and set aside.

2. Add more oil if needed; then add the onions, carrots and apples. Cook until the onions start to brown slightly then transfer to your slow cooker. Add the chicken.

3. In the same pan, add the apple cider, vermouth, Calvados and spices. Bring to a simmer and deglaze the pan. Pour into the slow cooker.

4. Slow cook on low for 7-8 hours total. At the 3 hour mark, add the potatoes and give it all a stir. Turn the heat up to high for about an hour, then back to low for the last 2-3 hours.