Tuesday, January 26, 2016

Engagement Chicken






Is the way to a man's heart is through his stomach? I know Gabe loves my cooking but when I met him I made pumpkin bread ( he hates pumpkin) which he gave away.

If you want to win your mans heart, find out if he likes chicken before you make this!

This is from another cookbook in my collection, 100 Recipes Every Woman Should Know. This is the first recipe in the book. 

The story behind this recipe goes- a  fashion editor at Glamour magazine gave the recipe to her assistant, who was in search of a dish to prepare for dinner with her boyfriend. She made the chicken. Her boyfriend loved it. He had seconds. And shortly thereafter, he proposed.

Cooking really CAN get you what you want! (Within reason, of course...) Cooking for a loved one makes them feel good and special...make their favorite dish and the world is your oyster!

Now on to the recipe.....

Ingredients:

1 whole chicken (approximately 4-5 pounds)

2 whole lemons—1 for stuffing in the bird, 1 sliced for garnish

1 whole head garlic- cut it 1/2 crosswise

2 Spanish onions- peeled and thickly sliced

1 tablespoon kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

3 tablespoon olive oil

1 cup chicken broth 

1 tablespoon AP flour


Directions:

Position an oven rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat the oven to 400°F. Remove the giblets from the chicken, wash the chicken inside and out with cold water, then let the chicken drain, cavity down, in a colander for 2 minutes. Pat the chicken dry with a paper towel.

  Liberally salt and pepper the inside of the chicken. Cut the lemons in quarters, place 2 quarters in the chicken along with the garlic and reserve the rest of the lemons. Brush the outside of the chicken with about 1 tablespoon of the olive oil and sprinkle the chicken liberally with salt and pepper. Tie the legs together with kitchen string and tuck the wing tips under the body of the chicken. Place the chicken in a small (11 by 14-inch) roasting pan. Place the reserved lemons and the sliced onions in a large bowl and toss with 2 tablespoons of olive oil, 1 teaspoon of salt, and 1/2 teaspoon of pepper. Pour the mixture around the chicken in the pan.Roast the chicken for about 1 hour and 15 minutes, until the juices run clear when you cut between a leg and a thigh. A meat thermometer should read 180 F. Remove the chicken to a platter, cover with aluminum foil, and allow to rest for 10 minutes while you prepare the sauce.


 Place the pan on top of the stove and turn the heat to medium-high. Add 1/2 cup broth and stir with a wooden spoon to scrape up the brown bits. Add the other 1/2 cup of broth and sprinkle on the flour, stirring constantly for a minute, until the sauce thickens. Add any juices that collect under the chicken. Carve the chicken onto a platter. Now the "secret" is to pour the juice from the pan over the sliced chicken. This is suppose to be be the "marry me juice"!



Featured 2/7/2016 on Over the Moon


Featured 3/1/2016 Corn, Beans, Pigs and Kids

47 comments:

  1. This chicken reminds me of dinners when I was young. We used to have this meal all the time for company. No, I didn't marry any of them, but I do remember the amazing flavors. These days, I usually just cook cutlets, but thanks for the memories of days of old.

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    1. Gabe would of loved to have chicken instead of pumpkin bread!

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  2. That chicken looks and sounds delicious. You sure can't go wrong with onions, garlic and lemon. Simple ingredients that make the chicken the star......and roasting chickens are on sale this week. I think I may have found what I'll be making once the meatloaf is gone.

    Don't you love your cookbook collection? I adore going through mine-the recipe treasures that are just waiting for us to make them, huh?

    A pinning I will go.....

    Thanks Linda! :)

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  3. Exactly what I thought too Carol. simple ingredients, big flavor. can't go wrong with this recipe. Thanks for another keeper Linda!

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  4. Yes, the way to a man's heart is definitely through his stomach.... Or at least it helps a lot! This chicken looks and sounds delicious :-)

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    1. Oh Yeah! When I met Gabe he was thin, his photo is on the blog and he sure isn't thin anymore:-) Lots of lovin from the kitchen.

      Thanks for stopping by.
      Linda

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  5. It's cute isn't it. Not sure if it's true but I can verify the chicken is really good.

    Thanks for stopping by.

    Hugs,
    Linda

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  6. Is a way to man's heart through his stomach? It certainly worked for me and my man! haha I love cooking whole chicken and I will have to try this one but I would put it in the crock pot so I wouldn't have to be at home the whole time. thank you for linking up with us at the Tips and Tricks Link Party! I cannot wait to see what you have next week!

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    1. Hope your guy likes this one!

      When you use the crock pot to cook chicken do you roll up aluminium balls to place under the chicken in the pot? I usually add 4 ( depends on how large the chicken is). Juice and fat settles on the bottom. I bet you know this already but just wanted to add it just in case :-)

      Next week is a chili with a "secret" ingredient!!

      Hugs,
      Linda

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  7. Every Sunday night as a child, we gathered at my grandparents' chicken ranch -the larg e extended family together for a chicken dinner.

    I made the mistake for cooking for my husband and I am the World's Worst Cook. But, I guess it wasn't a mistake because he decided then and there that he would be the family cook.

    Thanks for Sharing Your Cup!

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    Replies
    1. Nice that you have a hubby that cooks! Next week's recipe Gabe and I cooked together.

      Think your hubby will give this a try?

      Hugs,
      Linda

      Delete
  8. So true! The way to man's heart is through his stomach.
    I have made this chicken several times and my husband love's it! I'll probably make it again on Valentine's Day. My recipe is almost exactly the same but called "Honeymoon Chicken".
    It's an easy recipe and turns out great every time.
    Thank you for sharing.
    Elizabeth

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    Replies
    1. Love the name "Honeymoon Chicken".

      Have a great Valentines Day and enjoy your meal :-)

      Thanks for stopping by.

      hugs,
      Linda

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  9. Thanks for sharing the story behind the recipe :) Pinning and will be making this for my son when he comes home for the summer.
    ~Laurie

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    Replies
    1. I usually don't write that much on a recipe but this one was cute.

      Hope your son enjoys it.

      Thanks for stopping by.

      Hugs.
      linda

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  10. I have used a similar recipe in the past and it was always a hit. Yours looks better, though, because it is done in the oven and I did mine in the crockpot. Needless to say, my chicken did NOT look like yours when it was time to serve! :) Pinning this and trying with the chicken I have in the freezer!

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    1. Wendy- if I cooked this in the crockpot I would of NEVER taken a photo of it!

      Hope you like it and thanks for stopping by.

      Hugs,
      linda

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  11. This looks good enough to pick a piece from the Photo..I will try this one..

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  12. I love roasting a chicken - this recipe sounds awesome!

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    Replies
    1. Beef has been so expensive. We enjoy chicken and this recipe is a keeper.

      Hope you enjoy it.

      Hugs,
      Linda

      Delete
  13. Well I'm already married but I still MUST try this version of roast chicken - looks so juicy and delicious! Maybe I can convince my husband to buy me some jewelry or something ;)

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    Replies
    1. My hubby loved this recipe and hope yours does also.

      Thanks so much for stopping by!

      hugs,
      Linda

      Delete
  14. I, too, like lemons with chicken, this recipe sounds really good! Visiting from Foodie Friday.

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  15. I am so craving CHICKEN right now - it's beyond words!! Gimmie!

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    Replies
    1. Hi GiGi,

      LOL! Hope you get some soon :-)

      Hugs,
      Linda

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  16. Fun story and the chicken looks good too. Thanks for sharing on the Creative K Kids Linky Party this week. I hope you will join us again next week.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Audrey. See you again at the party!!

      Hugs,
      Linda

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  17. This sounds like an Ina Garten recipe and it is sooooo good (and easy!). I add a quick and easy apricot glaze and we'll be celebrating 28 years this summer!!!!! Thanks for sharing this.

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    Replies
    1. Love recipes that are yummy and easy and the next time I make this I'm going to use the apricot glaze.

      I am now following you- number 59!

      LOVE your kitchen- I have white cabinets also.

      Thanks for stopping by.

      Hugs,
      Linda

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  18. I love a great Roast Chicken, this looks so good. Hope you are having a great day and thanks so much for sharing your awesome recipe with us at Full Plate Thursday.
    Come Back Soon!
    Miz Helen

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    Replies
    1. I'll see you Thursday on Full Plate!

      Hugs,
      Linda

      Delete
  19. I saw this recipe years ago and I still haven't actually made it, but it sounds and looks so good. I really need to have a go at it. Thanks for sharing it at the Over the Moon Link Party.

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  20. Yummy I love roasted chicken - it's so cheap at the grocery store and you'll have meat for a couple of meals at least! Thanks for sharing found you at This is How We Roll!

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    Replies
    1. That's what I love about it. I buy it on sale and get a few meals plus I use the carcuss to make soup!

      Thanks for stopping by.

      Hugs
      linda

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  21. This sounds SO tasty! :)

    Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!

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  22. Love the story and the chicken looks Yummy Too! Thanks for sharing on My 2 Favorite Things on Thursday! hope to see you again this week! Pinned!

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  23. I love that - 'marry me juice'! Mind you, a good roast chicken is the way to many a person's heart! This is a lovely recipe and I'm so glad you shared it with us at the Hearth and Soul Hop. I enjoyed reading your post too!

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  24. Lol, what a great story Linda! I make a similar one, and it is indeed mouthwatering! Thanks for sharing at Five Star Frou-Frou this week. Love, Mimi xxx

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  25. I picked your post as one of my Blue Ribbon Winners for the month of February for the Country Fair Blog Party! Thanks for linking up last month and we hope to see you again this month: http://www.cornbeanspigskids.com/2016/03/country-fair-blog-party-march-2016.html

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