Chicken And Fruit Casserole

Serves:

Ingredients:

4 1/2 lb Chicken parts
Salt
6 Peppercorns
1 Whole clove
1 1/2-in piece of cinnamon
1 tb Sugar
1/4 c Dry sherry
3 Garlic cloves; minced
1/4 c Vinegar
1 lg White onion; thinly sliced
2 md Tomatoes; peeled and sliced
1 sm Apple; peeled, cored and
- thickly sliced
1 sm Pear; peeled, cored and
- thickly sliced
2 Bay leaves
1/8 ts Thyme
1/8 ts Oregano
--------- FOR GARNISH ---------
1/4 c Vegetable oil
1 Plantain; peeled and sliced
2 tb Capers; drained
15 Green olives, pitted
- halved
--------- FOR GARNISH ---------

Method:

SPRINKLE THE CHICKEN with salt.
Grind the peppercorns, clove and cinnamon together in a spice mill and mix with the sugar, sherry, garlic, vinegar and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt.
Spread 1/3 of the onion in the bottom of the crockpot; cover with 1/3 each of the tomatoes, chicken and fruit.
Add the bay leaves and sprinkle with some of the seasonings and pour on half the vinegar-spice mixture.
Repeat the layers, finishing up with a topping of onion, tomatoes and fruit.
Cover and cook for about 1 hour, then uncover and cook for 30 minutes longer, or until the chicken is tender and some of the juices have been reduced.
Discard bay leaves.
FOR THE GARNISH: Heat the oil and fry the plantain slices until deep golden brown.
Remove and drain.
To serve, cover the top of the stew with the capers, olives and plantain.