Since I have had enough requests for MEAT lately, I thought I would post the easiest recipe for roasted chicken with a twist.
This will probably be the only time I will have a picture of raw meat on this blog, too! :}
My son has convinced me that roasted chicken is the way to go. It is easy and one little baak baak chicken can go a LONG way...maybe toooooo long if you ask me.
If you have a hectic day on the agenda, this will take a bit of planning {soaking the chicken in kosher salt overnight}, but other than that, the smells of your home come dinner time is sure to please everybody!!
Gyro Roasted Chicken
Lisa Pearson
1 whole free-range, organic chicken 4-6 lbs.{also available at TRADER JOE'S...more expensive but worth it!}OR 4 large skinless, boneless chicken breasts.
4 cloves of garlic
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1/2 cup plain yogurt
2 Tbsp. oregano
a few sprigs of thyme...I use ALOT
salt and pepper
1 lemon, sliced
*Soak chicken in kosher salt overnight.
*Rinse thoroughly with cold water.
*Pat dry with paper towels.
*Place garlic, oil, yogurt, and oregano into blender and blend away!
*Place chicken in roasting pan with the breast side up.
*Stuff thyme between skin and breast.
*Sprinkle with sea salt and freshly ground pepper and place lemon slices on top and in the cavity.
Place in preheated 425* oven for 20 minutes. Reduce the heat to 350* and bake for about 1 1/2 hrs. Chicken is done when thermometer reads 170-180* {test near hip joint near thigh}. Cover and let sit at least 10 minutes. {thank you to my hubby and Caleb for teaching me this!}
It sounds a bit complicated, but once you do it once, it will take minutes to do! PROMISE! If I can roast a chicken without burning the house down...anybody can do it.
ANYHOO, this is how our dinner will be prepped for tonight:
Chicken is marinating in the yogurt sauce in the roaster pan for the day...did that this am.
Before company arrives, the table will be set, the GREEK SALAD with balsamic vinaigrette will be made...and the TZATZIKI sauce will be made also. If you don't wanna make the sauces or dressings, TRADER JOE'S has really good ones, but I have a cucumber that needs to be used and I have the rest of the ingredients, too...so I will just make them.
Flatbread is also available from TRADER JOE's...so that is it. Just serve the chicken on a platter and let everybody make their own Greek sandwiches!!
For a Greek salad: simply add thin slices of red onion, cucumber chunks, pepperoncini peppers, Kalamata olives. grape tomatoes, feta cheese and falafel crumbles and slices of chicken. EASY PEASY for a company's comin' for dinner kinda day! Served with toasted pita bread on the side.
A Greek "taco bar" is another great option for a party. You can provide the meat and delegate the toppings and pita bread/flatbread out.
...and it is a fantastic dinner to take to someone in need.
Look at our darling grand baby!! She was literally climbing up me to get her legs back to kicking in the water. She is just the best little bundle of love and wiggles...
