Well, winter has been over for a while, and the planet is looking greener every day, but this photo reminds me of the fact that we all have choices to make and paths to choose in life.
One of the choices we can make is to eat healthfully, but it's not easy when you're busy. So, I hope someone else does the cooking this Mother's Day. I'd like to share a very simple recipe for 40 garlic clove chicken.
A good friend of mine introduced me to this recipe. She and her mother are great cooks! There are many recipes out there for 40 garlic clove chicken, but I never really used an "official" recipe for this classic dish. Actually when I asked my friend if she still had the original recipe, she said that she had "tweaked" it and placed lemon wedges inside the cavity of the chicken! That's really what makes this chicken so juicy and tasty. I always find myself making minor changes to recipes as well. Here's the recipe:
Ingredients:
1- 6 to 8 pound whole chicken (preferably organic)
1 organic lemon
assorted spices, like thyme, sage, and rosemary
1/4 cup olive oil
2 - 3 bulbs of garlic, chop off top only (do not peel) and separate cloves
2 cups chicken broth, preferably organic
Okay, so I put about 1/4 cup of olive oil in a small bowl and add spices like thyme, sage, and rosemary and brush it all over the outside of the chicken (after I've washed out the inside). Then I separate 2 to 3 bulbs of garlic. You don't have to remove the skin, but I usually cut off the top part, and the garlic will separate itself from the skin during cooking. You place the cut up lemon (I try to use an organic one, because otherwise the peel has a lot of pesticides) inside the cavity, along with some of the garlic cloves. Then I place the remaining garlic cloves around the chicken and in the roasting pan. I also add about 2 cups of chicken broth to the pan as well.
Bake at 350 degrees, and keeping basting (with butter or olive oil) until fully cooked. Discard lemon, but keep garlic (should easily separate from skin) and place in bowl. Garlic can be used to spread on bread (it's a great alternative to butter) or to make garlic mashed potatoes! Here's what it looks like when it's done:
I hope you enjoy this simple recipe. I don't know how close it is to my friend's version, but I want to thank her for introducing it to me in the first place!
Anyway, I hope you're able to kick back and relax this weekend. Try to enjoy a really great meal with your family. Happy Mother's Day!
