'Cast Iron Chicken' on a Snow Day

I was inspired today to try a new meal I have been thinking about. Well actually, I was starved and due to the relentless snow all day I was stuck at home and out of necessity I cleaned out the pantry and refrigerator to put together something edible. And with help from a Parisian expert on all things food I put together a game plan. (I couldn't find the paper today in the snow bank, but the internet was wide open.)

The dates, pears, clementines and touch of Cayenne were my inspirations. The basics on how to put it all together without creating a disaster were Marie's. Thank you Marie. And don't tell anyone that I had to ask you about deglazing. Too bad you didn't get to taste it, but for a pot luck, peasant dish in one cast iron pot, it turned out well. The pear, date and Cayenne flavors worked together.

Now the presentation doesn't show well as this is a 'dive in and eat it' dish and not something for a 3 star restaurant where plating is paramount, and truth be told the chicken was fall-off-the-bone tender but not up to par for flavors but when you pull it out from the fridge and it's still a bit frozen, what can you expect. Patience is not one of MY virtues. Did I mention that I was stranded in a snow storm and starving?

Well as Julia used to say.

Bon Appetit!