Chicken Cider Casserole

Ingredients

Serves: 4

3 Rashers Smoked Bacon, cut into strips
3 Tablespoons Plain Flour
2 Cups Apple Cider
2 Tablespoons Tomato Paste
1/2 Teaspoon Dried Thyme Leaves, crushed
1 Tablespoon CSR Raw Sugar
Salt and Pepper to taste
1 x 1.25kg Chicken, cut into pieces
4 Carrots, thinly sliced
2 Medium Potatoes, peeled and thickly sliced
2 Medium Brown Onions, finely chopped
1 Stalk Celery cut into 2.5cm pieces
1 cooking Apple, peeled, cored and chopped

Method

1 : In a large heavy based casserole, cook bacon and when it begins to crisp, stir in flour; cook, stirring until well blended.
2 : Pour in cider, stirring until smooth; add tomato paste, thyme, CSR Raw Sugar, salt and pepper to taste. Add chicken pieces. Cover and place in oven preheated to 180°C and cook for 30 mins.
3 : Add carrots, potatoes, onions, celery and apple. Reduce oven temperature to 160oC. Cover casserole and return to oven for another 30 mins or until meat and vegetables are tender.