Thanks so much for all your Blogiversary wishes! I’m so glad you guys are liking my prize pack.
Don’t forget to enter the giveaway if you haven’t already!!
************
So tonight’s dinner was a new adventure for me…I roasted a chicken.
Alright, I know it doesn’t look pretty. What can I say? I got a little anxious and ended up ripping the skin during prep. So although it may not look perfect, it still tasted pretty perfect.
Better yet, it was actually pretty easy, too! I used this recipe as a base to start prepping my bird, but ended up adding a little extra to suit my own tastes. So I got the naked little guy washed and dried, and then it was time to get to work.
First, I started out by mixing the spices together for the rub. Yes, that’s a little orange zest in there! Also, please take note of my makeshift roasting rack. I think it’s one of the only kitchen gadgets I don’t have, so I made my own using a cookie cooling rack and the rack out of my toaster oven. Hey, it works!
Next, I rubbed half of the spice mixture underneath the skin of the bird.
Then, I rubbed a little bit of canola oil over the top of the skin,
along with the rest of the spice mixture.
Finally, I squeezed about half of an orange over the top for a little extra flavor. Mmmm mmmmm.
Before tossing the bird into the oven, I punctured a lemon and pushed that sucker right inside.
I could not help but laugh while I was doing this, after I did this, and even right now as I’m typing this. Sorry, I’m mature, I know. Teehehehe.
I also ended up adding a little bit of garlic in there as well, because hey, you can never have too much garlic. Well, except for this one time…yowsahs!
After about 1:45 in the oven, my little timer popped and it was time to eat!
Jay took care of the carving, thankfully. Cody is going to have some awesome chicken scraps tonight!
The chicken turned out so moist and tender, and FULL of flavor!! I actually had to give myself a pat on the back for this one.
[print_this]
Savory Roasted Chicken
- 1 (6 pound) roasting chicken
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp minced onion
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp dried thyme
- 1/2 tsp dried sage
- 1/2 tsp dried rosemary
- 1/4 tsp grated orange zest
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp canola oil
- 1 lemon
- 1 clove garlic, mashed
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
- Place chicken on a rack in a shallow roasting pan. Carefully loosen the skin above the breast meat. Combine the first seven spice ingredients; rub half of the herb mixture under the loosened skin. Rub chicken skin with oil; sprinkle with remaining herb mixture. Puncture lemon and place into cavity of chicken, along with garlic clove.
- Roast chicken for about 20 minutes (to get a golden crispy skin and good smoky flavor). Reduce temperature down to 375 degrees for the remainder of cooking time, about 1-1-1/2 hours.
- Allow chicken to rest for 15 minutes upside down (breast down) to let the juices run to the good meat. Remove skin before carving. ENJOY!
[/print_this]
************
Along with our chicken, I cooked up some brown rice (in chicken broth instead of water) and Tina’s Best Roasted Broccoli Recipe.
She’s not kidding…this recipe is phenomenal!
And it went perfectly with my chicken.
If I only had the time and patience to cook like this every night…
Hey, at least we’ve got plenty of leftovers!
Time to go clean up the dishes and then give my hands some much-needed lovin’ with a manicure. Saweeeet!
Question for the Evening:
Have you ever roasted a whole chicken or turkey?
Erin @ The Grass Skirt says
I’ve had a frozen chicken in my freezer for over a month that I’ve been too chicken to roast since I’ve never attempted it before. You’ve just inspired me! I am going to make this next week. :)
Courtney says
YAY!! :)
Amanda- The Nutritionist Reviews says
That chicken looks amazing! I’ve never roasted a whole chicken but would like to now as it doesn’t look too hard!
Shanna, Like Banana says
Woot Woot! Nicely done! I can’t handle nekkid chicky, but I like the end result!
Allison @ Food For Healing says
I’ve roasted chicken a few times, always turns out fabulous. Never a turkey, never had to do that one yet.
Blog is the New Black says
Chicken roasting virgin over here! Yours looks great. Love the idea of adding orange zest!
Courtney @ The Granola Chronicles says
I’ve never roasted a chicken or turkey (we don’t eat meat that often) – I’ve always been intimidated, but you make it look easy!
Paula @ Eat: Watch: Run says
I roasted a turkey once. I was young and didn’t know what I was doing. (Now I’m just old and don’t know what I’m doing.)
I followed the directions with the thawing, prepping, temperature, etc…but it was not done on time. It was thanksgiving and me and my bf at the time had to eat…so I took it out of the oven, cut off some slices, and microwaved the part we wanted to eat so we wouldn’t be eating Thanksgiving dinner on Black Friday.
This is why I just look at good food pictures on blogs now. < —-no talent in the kitchen
Miranda @ Working Mom Works Out says
I’ve roasted a turkey in the oven years ago and it was a disaster. Now we have a rotisserie. It can hold a 15 lb turkey and that thing rocks my socks off.
Okay, sugar on broccoli? It’s good?
Courtney says
YES!!! :)
Kristina says
Woah!!!! I give you major credit for jumping in and making this bad boy!!!!
Melissa says
I have roasted a chicken. And yes, I giggled when I shoved the lemon up its butt, too! :)
This looks like the perfect thing to make early in the week and then do lots of fun things with all week long!
Tina says
I have tried before but it never comes out right! I’m not sure what I do wrong lol. Good for you for cooking that on a weeknight! I know I don’t have that much patience. I usually wait until the weekend : )
Alyssa Kuminski says
I love roasting chickens! You’ll have meals for days :)
Ellie says
Yep I sure have! Last year in college we had a grandma’s potlock were you brought food your grandma made. I roasted a chicken. My grandma would have fried it but the dietician in me couldn’t do it
Alexa @ SimpleEats says
Ah this is awesome that you did this, I’m terrified to roast anything, except for veggies! Looks delish!
Autumn @ Good Eats Girl says
I love roasted chicken! It’s always so awesome! I need to try your recipe!
Colleen @ The Lunchbox Diaries says
I love to eat roasted chicken, but I can’t say that I’ve ever put the work into making it. And I’m just as mature as you. I laughed out loud at the lemon-in-chicken-hole picture :)
Khushboo says
That looks delicious! Never roasted a chicken as I only eat the breast so the rest would go to waste! Just think of all that you can do with leftovers!
Courtney says
Me too, but hubby took care of the legs and the scraps will go to Cody! :)
Jamie aka "Sometimes Healthy Living Girl" says
I have never even come close to roasting a turkey or chicken. It’s funny because my post tonight happens to be about my version of Thanksgiving in salad form…sadly, I used packaged turkey because I didn’t have the time nor skill to roast a turkey! Still your chicken roasting is inspirational :-)
Jenny (Fit Girl Foodie) says
Kudos on roasting that ginormous chicken! The lemon picture made me giggle :) I’ve never thought to make rice in chicken broth instead of water. I didn’t think it would make a difference. Looks delish! :D
Thetreadmilldiaries says
I actually think your roasted chicken pic looks mighty tasty. LOVE stuffing them with lemons & then roasting – it definitely makes them juicy.