Cluck CLuck
Hope everyone is doing something fun . . . or at least eating some good quality chocolate
Chris and I spent our Valentines ‘celebration’ using an Olive Garden gift card for lunch on Saturday. The food was really bleh. I’m becoming more and more of a food snob lately, especially when it comes to chain restaurants. I’m ok with that though.
Afterwards we went to see the new Adam Sandler movie Just Go With It which ended up being really funny. Today we both are working. After 5 years, Valentines day is kind of just another day.
I bet your wondering how my roasted chicken came out?
GREAT!
I slathered it in earth balance, paprika, salt, pepper, sage and minced garlic under and on top of the skin before cooking. It gave it a great flavor and a smoky color.
I was disappointed that the bird didn’t have as much meat as I thought it would on it, but it still fed the three of us.
We asked Jerry to come over since his fiance worked late and we were all going bowling right after.
I served it with some roasted mirepoix (carrots, celery, onion) baked potato and millet which I was really surprised the boys even liked! I bought a bag to use for a future burger recipe.
I was determined to make at least two more things from this chicken.
Stock.
I added all the mirepoix scraps with some bones and fat of the chicken and simmered on high for 8 hours in the crockpot with 12 cups of water.
Now I’m STOCKED up! . . .
I also made a quick pot pie creation with some leftover breast meat that I put aside. I started by putting a pie crust at the bottom of a pan (I had a dry mix that you just add water to)
After I baked it, I added a mixture of vegetables, chicken and chicken gravy (also made from the drippings) and seasoned with some herbs de provence
Then I added ANOTHER pie crust on top and cooked until the crust was browning.
Not great, but not bad considering. It made a good lunch to pack for class!
Ill definitely be roasting another chicken in the near future. Hopefully I can come up with some other dishes. Also, I will only buy an organic chicken for now on. The meat is so much more tender and I you wont be getting all that garbage in your system!
Happy Valentines Day!
Have you ever made something that stretched into a bunch of meals?
My Date
Its been 3 weeks today since this sickness knocked me down! I can hardly believe that I am still not better! Of course its not as bad as it was but I really just cant wait to feel like myself again.
Thursdays are shaping up to be my favorite day. It’s the only day I don’t have school or work and it also means I get to actually COOK!!
This special Thursday, I have a date with this guy . . . 
If you know me, you know I love me some roasted chicken. In fact, its always what I request for my birthday dinners (NOT pork roast MOM!).
Today, I am going to roast one on my own for the very first time! I kind of cheated a little bit and got a easy way out chicken with the timer in it and all, but I am still a little nervous. I really wanted to find an organic chicken to do this with but I don’t even know where to find one!
Does anybody know a good place to get organic and or local meats in NJ?
I also already hit my first obstacle . . . I don’t have a roasting pan!! As far as I am concerned, a roasting pan just keeps the bird from cooking in the juices or cooking unevenly. So, all I have to do is find some way to raise the bird a little bit.
Done!
I am so cool 
I have a lot of prep work and other errands to do before I get to cooking but I am really excited for date night dinners to resume with my other date . . . .
He’s such a pretty princess isn’t he?
Have you ever roasted a chicken before? How’d it go?
