Pollo all Birra....Thats'a Nice!

Chicken in Beer Pollo alla Birra

Serves 6

A 3½- to- 4- pound roasting chicken

2 teaspoons kosher salt

2 medium onions, peeled, quartered through the root

1 large carrot, peeled, halved crosswise, and quartered lengthwise (about 4 ounces)

2 medium parsnips, peeled, halved crosswise, and quartered lengthwise (about 4 ounces)

2 tablespoons fresh sage leaves

4 whole cloves

1 cinnamon stick

1½ cups light stock (chicken, turkey, or vegetable broth) or water

1½ cups (one 12-ounce bottle) flavorful beer or ale

1 cup apple cider, preferably unfiltered

Recommended equipment: A heavy 6- quart pot, such as enameled cast iron

Arrange a rack in the middle of the oven and heat to 400º.

Trim excess fat from chicken, and season it inside and out with 1 teaspoon of the salt.

Scatter the onions, carrot, parsnips, sage, cloves, and cinnamon in the pot, sprinkle over this the rest of the salt, and set the chicken on top of the vegetables.

Put the pot on the stove, pour in the stock, beer, and apple cider, and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Cook, uncovered, for about 15 minutes on top of the stove.

Put the pot in the oven, and roast the chicken for about 30 minutes, basting with the pan juices two or three times. Cover the chicken with a sheet of aluminum foil to prevent overbrowning, and roast another 30 minutes. Remove the foil, and roast another 20 to 30 minutes, basting frequently, until the chicken and vegetables are cooked through and tender.

Remove the chicken to a warm platter, and surround with the vegetables. Bring the pan juices to a boil on top of the stove, and cook until reduced by half. Carve the chicken at the table, and spoon some of the pan juices on top.