Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Engagement Chicken- It Really Works!

Quite a few yeas ago, before I was even dating my husband I read an article in Glamour magazine about "Engagement Chicken". It claimed that all of the staffers at the magazine who had made the chicken for their boyfriends wound up engaged a short time later. So, being a red-blooded-wanting-to-get-married girl, I ripped the page out. A short time later, I found myself on a ski vacation with my then-boyfriend-now-husband. We were in a ski town and were planning to eat in. I pulled out this recipe and started making a roast chicken (never showing him the page). I'm pretty sure he was building a fire or some other non-kitchen related activity. The chicken was a hit, we talked about the possibility of getting married and what we would name our children (so far only our first daughter's name has stayed the same!), and our relationship was set.

engagement chicken recipe


Imagine my surprise when I opened one of my favorite cookbooks, Barefoot Contessa Back to Basics  to find this same recipe, with her tweaks, in it! Here it is for you to enjoy. I'm pretty sure that part of the reason it "works" is that in this day and age (oh my, I sound WAY older than 32 right now!) women need to show a softer side, like cooking, to appeal to a man. I think it was this recipe and my individual chocolate souffles that went a long way towards making my never-thought-of-marriage-we-are-in-grad-school boyfriend into a husband at the ripe old age of 25.

I use an organic kosher chicken that I get from trader Joe's. The kosher chickens have been slated as part of the process, which effectively makes them brined, so they are extra delicious. Ina Garten, the Barefoot COntessa, even recommends a kosher Turkey for Thanksgiving for this very reason.

making roast engagement chicken with kids

Cut up 1-2 lemons, squeeze the juice over the chicken and stuff the lemons into the chicken cavity and around the sides. Add vegetables of your choice around the chicken, I like onions and carrots, but small potatoes, are good too. Drizzle olive oil over the top of everything, and sprinkle with kosher salt. You can also add pepper, but ever since my first pregnancy I can't stand pepper in anything.

chicken drizzled with lemon and olive oil surrounded by onions

I served it with roasted asparagus and broccoli. I like any meanls where everythign is on the oven all together:)




Roast at 400 for about an hour, the chicken is done when the juices run clear (you can try cutting it right at the thigh, NOT on the breast as pictured, but I was nursing so my husband was checking it for me). If the chicken or veggies start to burn, just cover everything loosely with foil and keep on cooking. Let the chicken rest for 10 minutes before carving so the juices redistribute.



I also made an extra dish of cut up chicken pieces since I was serving so many people.

Oh, and that night we took a great picture of me, two of my sisters, my grandma, and my daughter on our deck. And by "great" I mean that we were all in it, not that one of my sister's had her eyes closed and that the lighting if off and it's blurry, but you get the idea.


Here's the view at night, just for the heck of it.




Enjoy!


Jessica

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15 comments:

Simply LKJ said...

I remember that article! I have Ina's cookbook as well, but did not realize it is in there. My hubby cooked ME Chicken Divan when we were dating. To this day it is of my favorites (even our girls know the story). What a great pic of everyone. Those are the ones you truly cherish...all the generations together.

Erika . . . with a K said...

This looks delicous! I also love any meal where everything cooks together!

Michelle {Jarrah Jungle} said...

Righto the chicken is defrosting right now for me to cook this for my boyfriend tomorrow night! Engagement talk may be slipped into the conversation when I gush about the name of the dish and how tradition has it ... well you know the rest ;)
I love a dinner I can put the veggies in the oven at the same time too, I just wish I had a bigger oven sometimes!

Unknown said...

This looks delish. Your view is killer. I love your stories. That's a mighty fine trifecta!

I'll be coming back to pin when I'm not mobile!!

Amy@BuffaloRoam said...

I'm not exaggerating when I say this made my mouth drooly! Looks sooo good! Had to pin it.

That view is amazing. I would never go inside. Except to admire my antlers sometimes... ;)

Linda @ it all started with paint said...

That looks delicious Jessica! I'm definitely pinning (not because I need to get engaged; I've been married for 18 years) but because I've been meaning to make a roaster chicken for the family for ages ... and then forget!

And thanks for the Trader's Joe tip. I have one right around the corner ...

:)

Linda

P.S. Your family is lovely ... eyes closed and blurry picture and all!

Gina said...

That looks so yummy! Cute story behind it too.

Jessica said...

Good to know about kosher prepared chicken! looks delicious:) Sweet family photo too:)

Amy of While Wearing Heels said...

The chicken looks delicious and the view looks amazing!

Laura@Elegant Nest said...

This is definately a recipe that our whole family would love...must try it! Love your story...the way to a man's heart is through his stomach...as the old saying goes! Ha! Love your view too...I think any dinner would be delicious on your outdoor deck!!

Ashley@AttemptsAtDomestication said...

That chicken looks delicious! I'm definitely going to have to try it!

And your view is absolutely amazingly gorgeous!

Karah @ thespacebetweenblog said...

That view is To. Die. For! Seriously!! And too funny about the chicken, I first heard about it from Howard Stern's wife ... she said she cooked it for him and it worked. I'm totally sharing this on facebook and pinning. :)

Tiffany @ {Living Savvy} said...

I love this recipe! I didn't make it until I was married, but it was a huge hit at a dinner party!

amber wallace said...

I have been wanting to make this for years but always put it off. Upped my urge to go for it!

nicolette {momnivores dilemma} said...

No wonder my DH is in love with me...I make that once a week!

:)

Have a great 4th, Jessica...
N

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