Is the idea of another holiday ham horrendous in your mind?

Is Tom turkey trashing your idea of  a terrific main course?

Is your prime rib way past it’s prime?

If the answer to any of these questions is yes, read along and have an open mind to doing it differently this holiday season. Did you ever think of taking a daily staple and elevating to a whole other level. Doing so changes how you see that entree and makes it anything but common. After all, isn’t everything from gift giving to party planning over the top at the holidays? My joy in the kitchen, during this time of family and friend celebrations, comes from taking an assuming Roaster and transforming it into a delicacy that you will want on your holiday table every year!

I introduce to you………Lemon Herbal Chicken and Friends

Ingredients

1 (4 to 5 pound) roasting chicken

1/2 medium yellow onion, quartered

Extra virgin olive oil

Kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper

1 lemon, quartered

1 package, Good Seasons Garlic and Heb Salad Dressing Mix

2 sprigs of fresh rosemary

4 sprigs of fresh thyme

2 stalk of celery diced and the leaves chopped

6 cups (3/4 inch) bread cubes (i artisan baquette or any other crusty boule type of bread) The Friends

Method 

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F

Take the giblets out of the chicken and wash thoroughly inside and out. Pat dry with paper towels.  Mix 3/4 of the Good Seasonings packet with 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil. With your fingers separate the skin of the chicken from the meat. Do not separate completely only to create a pouch. Rub your oil/seasoning mixture all over the meat of the chicken underneath the skin. Afterwards do the same on the outside of the skin. Sprinkle the unused portion of the Good Seasoning packet over the top of the bird.

Salt and pepper the cavity of the chicken as well as on top. Place the lemon, rosemary, thyme, celery, onions, and celery leaves inside the chicken. Tie the legs together with kitchen string and tuck the wing tips under the body of the chicken.

Roast for 1  1/4  to  1  1/2 hours, or until the juices run clear when you cut between the leg and the thigh.

Here’s where the friends (and they are so good they will be your best friends when all is said and done) come in!

Heat a large saute pan with 2 to 3 tablespoons  of extra virgin olive oil until very hot. Lower the heat to medium-low and saute the bread cubes, tosing frequently, until browned well, 10-12 minutes.  If they are looking dry add more olive oil. Sprinkle the toasted gems with kosher salt and pepper to taste.  Place the croutons on a serving platter. Deconstruct the chicken (and it will be hard to do because it’s so picture perfect and golden brown and that you wont want to mess with it.) You heard me. Remove, whole and in tact, the leg thigh quarters. Slice the breast. Remove the celery, onion, and lemon from the bird and place on top of the croutons. Remove the rosemary and thyme and use them to garnish the sides of your platter. Place the chicken on top of the croutons and vegetables. Now pour all of the pan juices over the chicken and croutons. This step is essential. Do NOT skip it. The croutons soak up all of that lemony, herbal goodness and completes this bird’s transformation.

Once you’ve tried this you’ll never go back to the mundane. They simply are not good enough for your celebrations any longer.

Happy Holidays

Holiday Chicken and Friends