Saturday's Home Game

Indeed, I am playing at home today.  I went to Publix, the "local" grocery store based in Florida.  I am quite frankly, underwhelmed.  There were flies around the fruits and the organic section left something to be desired.  I chose a 50% less fat/calories avocado, but couldn't help but wonder what kind of genetic mutation the fruit has gone through. I will admit, however, there is nothing quite like walking into a grocery store on a Saturday morning and smelling fresh baked bread...and, I could have sworn, doughnuts, although I did not see any.

Last week while I was in NYC, I bought a pair of pants that needed to be hemmed, so I brought them to a nearby alteration place.  I don't know the name of it, but it is near the corner of N. Druid Hills and Briarcliff Road.  I was already having an allergy attack, but when I stepped into the dressing room, snot was literally pouring out of my nose.  I know, it's gross, but so was the awful moldy smell in the place.  The woman taking dry cleaning and such was really nice though.  I asked her to measure both legs separately as I have one hip lower than another (something pointed out to me by a former tailor in MI and for which I am forever indebted as it drives me crazy having one pant leg even 3/8" shorter), and she was more than happy to do so without arguing or saying it wasn't necessary.  

I then walked to Target Greatland to buy some wooden spoons and such, as mine were lost in my move. I didn't find a huge selection and was a little disappointed.  I prefer bamboo over other types of wood, as it is a sustainable resource.  The only bamboo spoons I found were a Giada de Laurentis item, but I liked the look and feel of them, so I bought them.  I also bought her whisk.

So, here is the recipe for my chicken, which I dressed this morning after I got back from Publix.

3 cloves of garlic

2 onions

3 lemons

Thyme

Rosemary

Olive Oil

Chenin Blanc

Mixed roasting potatoes

I cleaned out the chicken and salted and peppered the inside and out, then stuffed it with garlic, onions and lemon slices.  I also put lemon slices under the breast skin, along with more garlic.  I let it sit in the fridge for as long as I could possibly, but then I go impatient after about 3-4 hours, so I took it out, to finish dressing it and pop it into the oven.

Since I do not have a nice little wire rack to sit the chicken on, inside my roasting pan, I laid a bed of onions, which I had roughly chopped into eighths.  I pulled apart another head of garlic and smashed the cloves with my knife.  I put some of these in the onion slices and put the chicken on top.  I tucked the roasting potatoes around the chicken and the rest of the semi-smashed garlic scattered amongst the potatoes.  I poured olive oil over the chicken, then dusted with rosemary and thyme.  I used a second lemon's juice over the chicken and potatoes.  I used the chenin blanc over the potatoes and around the chicken as the roasting liquid, along with some water.  I didn't use all the wine, because I will need to drink some later...I have already drunk most of the bottle that I opened yesterday.  Excuse me, it helps my allergies!

I then put a few slices of bacon of the top of the chicken.  This kind of helps protect it from getting too crispy and the fat from the bacon will flavour the chicken nicely.  I roasted it at about 400 F or so, for almost 2 hours.  Internal temp has to reach 160 F, but you can take it out a little before and let it set, as it will absorb the juices, as well as continue to cook. 

I used a little chenin blanc plus corn starch to make the base of the gravy.  I added it into the juices from the cooking process and...wow!  A lemon-white wine flavour is amazing!!  Ridiculous!  So, so good!  The potatoes were roasted to perfection and I really liked the mild purple potatoes in particular.  

My whole place smells amazing and I have already gone back for seconds.  I wish I had bought some bread or something, just to make garlic bread, to compliment the chicken.  It does have a faint garlic flavour, although next time I think I would try to emphasize that a bit more.  

Next, I will make a creamy chicken soup from the gravy and chicken leftovers.  I intend to boil chicken stock, and add some pasta.  Yum!  I should open my own restaurant....