Day 33: echoing spring

In my humble opinion, there is undeniably an element of spring in the air. I’m not sure about where you live, but here where I am in the UK, the daffodils, the crocuses and many other bulbs have been making their way through the soil for some time now; I think some even protruded to welcome in the New Year. Despite several snowfalls, their efforts to pierce through the frozen ground remain relentless - as new signs of life continue to become more apparent - in their mission to paint the winter landscape with all colours of the rainbow.

Now, I don’t like to wish the seasons away, but I did want to echo this feeling of Spring in the kitchen (and we were in need of a warmer tone of sunshine compared the dull-grey January skies), so I cooked Nigella’s Spring Chicken for our Sunday dinner this weekend. Although don’t get me wrong, I am loving the snowy, frost-bitten mornings, occasional clear blue skies, and the low-hanging winter sun.

Nigella’s Spring Chicken

Chicken, leek and smoked bacon (or in this case, pancetta) are a holy trinity, for me. Throw in some tarragon, and you probably have my true elixir in life, or, at the very least, a love potion to which I am not immune. While I have made many variations of a dish like this before - or improvisations based simply on the things I love - I have never made chicken in cider. So this was indeed a first.

It's super quick to prepare, it doesn’t take long to cook and it smells incredible while doing so. Although a grain-based side dish is recommended (or plain steamed new potatoes), I chose mashed potato (as to me there is no greater side suited for offering needed comfort). Of course, the mashed potato dissolved into the gravy forming a starchy, aniseedy, rich, chicken soup that offered nutritious sustenance, rejuvenation and great pleasure.

Flavour musings

I arose with a bit of a brain fog today, so I shall keep this one short or I will end up wintering on aimlessly. Usually, this fog dissipates by mid-afternoon, but for some reason today it's lingering. Therefore, I am in great need of comfort and will be administering said comfort in the form of Nigella’s Nursery Fish Pie.

I plan to use the leftovers from this Spring Chicken to make mini pie-for-ones; adding a little cream, thickening the sauce slightly and then encasing with puff pastry in some ramekins. Yes please - thank you very much.