Tonight I ventured out and tried roasting my chicken for the first time ever! I had high hopes and wasn't disappointed! I started by checking out blogs for ideas/recipes, then I googled recipes, and finally, I consulted my Better Homes and Garden cookbook. I gleaned ideas, cooking times/temps, from all sources and then decided to wing it and try my own conglomeration of them all with my own touches. Here's how it turned out:
I started with a hormone/antibiotic free chicken from Whole Foods that I got on sale. I cleaned out the insides, rinsed it, and placed it in a baking dish.
Next I rubbed the chicken down with olive oil on the top and bottom, turning it over and back. Then I made a rub consisting of: 2-3 tbps. softened butter, 1/2 tbps. thyme, 1/2 tbps. rosemary, 1/2 tbps. basil, 1/2 tbps. salt (maybe a little less) and about 7-8 cloves of garlic, minced. I mixed it all together into a thick rub and then proceeded to massage it into the chicken. At first, I placed it on the outside of the skin (shown in picture) but then I read that it should go under the skin to prevent burning. I scraped it all off and shoved it up under the breast skin, and left it on the outside everywhere else.
Next, I covered the chicken with foil to prevent burning and drying out, however, leaving "breathing room." Then, place it in a preheated oven at 375 for 2 hours with cover. At about an hour I took it out, scooped up the juices, and coated the chicken in them, to prevent drying. After the two hours I took it out of the oven, took off the foil, and placed it back in for about 20 more minutes. I don't have a thermometer so I just cut into the breast and made sure it was not pink.
Ta-da!!!! Here's our yummy bird that we enjoyed for dinner. The taste was amazing, rich, and perfect! Kyle and I both rated it at a 10 for moistness and flavor.
For dinner I added a salad and sauteed cabbage. (btw... I tried sauteing the cabbage in coconut oil and it added great flavor.)
Tissue? Crybaby...
15 years ago
