French Chicken Casserole a la Normande

Name: French Chicken Casserole a la Normande
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 1 h 30 min
Total time: 1 h 40 min
Cuisine: French
Ingredients: 1 tbsp olive oil; 2 lbs chicken thighs and legs; salt; 4 shallots (diced or one medium onion); 1 rib celery (diced); 4-5 thyme sprigs; 2 cloves garlic (minced); 125g/4 oz bacon lardons (or 6 strips of bacon, chopped); 2 tbsp brandy or whiskey; 2 tbsp flour; 85 ml/1/3 cup chicken stock; 400ml/1 1/2 cups hard dry apple cider (such as Strongbow ); 2 apples (peeled, cored and cut into wedges); 125ml/1/2cup double cream/heavy cream