MONDAY RECIPE POST - ROAST CHICKEN

I found this recipe by Ina Garten over at the Food Network here.  There is also a video that shows how to make it.

Perfect Roast Chicken - 8 servings

Our meal was on the table in just over two hours, from preparation to table.

1 (5 to 6 pound) roasting chicken

Kosher Salt

Freshly ground black pepper

1 large bunch fresh thyme, plus 20 sprigs

1 lemon, halved

1 head garlic, cut in half crosswise

2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) butter, melted

1 large yellow onion, thickly sliced

4 carrots cut into 2-inch chunks

1 bulb of fennel, tops removed, and cut into wedges

Olive oil

 

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.

Remove the chicken giblets. Rinse the chicken inside and out, and then pat the outside dry.

Liberally salt and pepper the inside of the chicken. 

Stuff the cavity with the bunch of thyme, both halves of lemon, and all the garlic.

Brush the outside of the chicken with the butter and sprinkle again with salt and pepper. Tie the legs together with kitchen string and tuck the wing tips under the body of the chicken.

Place the onions, carrots, and fennel in a roasting pan. Toss with salt, pepper, 20 sprigs of thyme, and olive oil. Spread around the bottom of the roasting pan and place the chicken on top.

Roast the chicken for 1-1/2 hours, or until the juices run clear when you cut between a leg and thigh.

Remove the chicken and vegetables to a platter and cover with aluminum foil for about 20 minutes. 

Slice the chicken onto a platter and serve it with the vegetables.

This was a great meal.  I have been a fan of Ina Garten, and watched her show on the food channel for many years.  I have also purchased a few of her recipe books at various times.  Whenever I have tried any of her recipes, they have turned out well.

We made a few changes.  I had no fresh thyme so dried thyme was sprinkled into the cavity, and over the veggies.

I didn't have a fennel bulb but we had the potatoes, carrots and onion.  If you enjoy those three vegetables, it is a great combination for this dish but you can obviously use your favorites.

Our chicken was smaller and took less time to cook.  

We have leftovers and we thought a chicken salad tomorrow would be nice.  

Thanks for looking and have a great week.

THE UNITED STATES CAPITOL

I have been busy going through our ornaments and have packed them away for next year.  There was one of the United States Capitol.   I bought it several years ago when we took a relative who was visiting at the time.  

I felt the need to share it today.  This isn’t meant to be anything political.  Like many of us, no matter which camp we pitch our tent in, what happened there a few weeks ago saddened me greatly. 

I hold it sacred having been there many times during my married life, and each time learning more of its history.  

I thought I would share some of that history of how the Dome came to be.  The following is printed on the back of the box.  

“The United States Capitol Dome may be the most famous building in the nation. It is a fitting adornment for the building it crowns, so familiar and dignified, that it seems surprising that its design and construction came late in the Capitol’s architectural evolution. On December 16th, 1854, Architect of the Capitol Extension, Thomas U. Walter, hung in his office a drawing of the Capitol as it would appear once the extensions were finished, but without the existing wooden copper-covered Bulfinch dome.  Instead the drawing showed a new much larger cast-iron dome with columns, pilasters, brackets, scores of windows and a crowning statue. While it was only a suggestion of what a new dome might look like, the drawing caused an immediate sensation among congressmen and senators who visited office.  Within 10 weeks, without committee hearings and after little debate, the House of Representatives appropriated $100,000 to begin construction of a new Capitol Dome.  The Senate agreed a few days later, and President Franklin Pierce signed the legislation on March 3rd, 1855.

The marble used for this ornament was taken from the steps to the wing occupied by the House of Representatives.  From 1865, when they were installed, until 1995, more than 9,000 members of Congress trod these east front steps, leaving footprints of history. Having become dangerously worn and uneven, the steps were removed in 1995, and the U.S. Capitol Historical Society has been permitted to use a portion of the removed marble, which is crushed to a fine powder and combined with resin, to create this memento. 

Congress chartered The United States Capitol Society to educate the public about the nation’s history of the Capitol and Congress.  The funds from this purchase support educational programs as scholarly seminars and publications.  Your purchase also allows the Society to acquire and donate items to the collection of Capitol art, artifacts and historical documents.  Your membership in and patronage of the Society is appreciated.”

I had forgotten about the little piece of the Capitol hanging on our tree, and I feel blessed to have it there.  

Thank you for stopping by.  I wish you all peace and a very happy and healthy weekend and week ahead. 

TEACH ME...

 

(photo from Pixabay)

A quote I learned recently when looking and reading how the design came together for our new First Lady's Inaugural gown.  I look forward to seeing it at the Smithsonian National History Museum in Washington DC one day, where it will be on display with all the other First Ladies Gowns.  (The post I shared about our last visit to that exhibit can be seen here if you missed it.)

This wonderful quote is hand-embroidered in the gown's lining.  Mrs. Biden is a teacher and still intends to teach even now. The quote struck me as very profound and reads as follows:

"Tell me and I forget.  Teach me and I remember.  Involve me and I learn."

From Founding Father, Benjamin Franklin.

A FEW FLOWERS FOR YOU

All my photos are from my 2016.  With everything going on in our world, I hope these bring a smile to you today.  

There are all kinds of names for purple Asters.  I couldn't fit these with one particular name.  Therefore I am naming them 'Purple Asters'.

Licoris radiata 'Fire Engine'

Chelone lyonii 'Turtlehead'

Helianthus Sunflower

BIRD PHOTOS TAKEN BY ONE OF THE FAMILY

Gregg and I always enjoy getting photos from his sister.  She lives near the ocean and there is a lot of wildlife in her area.  She took many photos of birds.

She said a long time ago that I could put any of them on my blog.  Today, as you can see, I framed two.  She is very kind letting me share these, especially as we are unable to travel right now.  Her photos are bringing us both a lot of smiles.

I will be putting together another post soon. These are shared with many thanks to my sister-in-law.

Thanks for looking and enjoy your day.