Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Perfect Whole Roasted Chicken


“Address the bird”- Julia Childs.  I confess that watching Julie and Julia kind of kicked my cooking butt into gear.  I loved Julie’s humble little home, where cooking was her means of relaxing and creativity.  And her husband ate it all.  So today I’m crossing one off the list, folks.  Roasting a WHOLE CHICKEN.

Me and Birdy



This was actually a dress rehearsal to play with my new roasting pan that I picked up at a garage sale (so proud of my find) for a song.  It’s just beautiful and has been begging to be used at least once before I host my first thanksgiving.

Since this blog is all about confessions here, I did have Chris pull out the giblets.  I don’t know.  It’s know like they were gonna bite me or something.  It’s just… I do orthopedics, not organs.  Next time, I promise.

And wanting to find a SIMPLE recipe with items I already had, I did it.  I googled.  I know… it’s not even someone I really know or admire.  But I do now.  Fabulous success.  So kudos to http://chefyourself.wordpress.com/

Perfect Whole Roast Chicken

1 4-6lb whole chicken
3-4 tbsp butter, softened (plus a little extra for the outside of the bird)
Chopped herbs–I used rosemary, Italian parsley, several garlic cloves
Sea salt
Fresh black pepper, ground
Smoked paprika
1 lemon, quartered

Guys, this was so simple.  Granted, it did take a little bit of thyme, time.  I thought Chris was gonna have a coronary when I told him we’d be eating at 9pm.  I’ll plan better next time.

First pat dry the little guy
and make sure he keeps warm while you get out your ingredients.

Mix together herbs, butter, salt and pepper
Add quartered lemons to body cavity
followed by the herbed mixture
give him a nice little massage with butter, salt, pepper and paprika 
Pop it in at 425 for 15 min.  Then turn oven down to 350 for 2 hours.  If you live in a triplex the neighbors may want to come over...
The inaugural sniff
a "beaut"
a perfect 165.  I learned later that to officially check the temp you should
insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the leg.
time to eat.  and we had left overs for days.  a thrifty meal for a family of two.

1 comment:

  1. I tried this for the first time a couple of years ago and loved it. Unfortunately, John, not so much. Something to do with childhood memories of 'tough old birds from the farm' for Sunday dinner.
    But if I buy the air-chilled chicken at Whole Foods (really great chicken), I can get away with it once in a while.

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