Mom's Smart Chicken

I don't know about your Mom but mine is into quality food. She really likes this new (to her) Smart Chicken.

Mom says to use Organic, Airchilled, SmartChicken for this recipe. (She does not work for them as far as I know)

You can of course use your favorite chicken for this recipe.

INGREDIENTS:

1. Whole Hen 3 - 3 1/2 Lb

2. Big Onion - cut in half. slice into rings and make a layer of rings in the bottom of the bird roaster. Place the other half of the onion in the bird cavity.

3. Fresh Thyme - Put 10-12 stems with leaves inside of chicken, and save 2-3 stems with leaves. Only leaves go on the outside, later.

4. Sea Salt - (regular salt if you are not near the sea, Kosher if you are Jewish :)).

5. Black Pepper - to taste (white pepper is ok too)

6. Expellar-Pressed Canola Oil - 2 tbsp

7. Butter-2 tbsp. melted

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Clean Bird: remove the giblets/ neck, etc. (rinse inside and out with cold water and pat dry, the outside).

2. Stuff Bird: put salt, pepper, thyme, and onion inside the bird. For TURKEY add fresh sage.

You can also add either an apple OR 1 lemon and 1 orange, washed and quartered. If you do this, leave the fruit peeling on the fruit for maximum flavor. The fruit also adds moisture and the flavor is delicious!

3. Melt Butter and mix with Canola oil, rub ALL OVER the outside of the bird.

4. Place onions in rings in bottom of bird-roaster

5. Place bird on onion rings.

6. Cover and cook 1 hour on 350 degrees Farenheit.

7. Remove cover.

8. Cook for another 45-mins to 1 hour on 350 degrees until golden brown and the juices run clear when pierced with cooking fork between the leg and the body of the bird.

9. Remove bird roaster from oven and bird from bird roaster, place on platter.

10. Pour carmelized onion/butter/oil/chicken broth into sauce pan (for making gravy).

11. Skim fat off of removed mixture.

12. Make gravy by: making a runny paste of flour and water bring broth and onions to boil, slowly pouring in the flour/water, STIRRING constantly with whisk until smooth and as thick as you want your gravy to be. If too thick, add more chicken broth (canned). Taste and adjust to suit preferences.

Be careful not to add too much flour/water mixture because it thickens more as it continues to boil.

EAT:

Once the gravy and side dishes are done...

Grasp hands and ask God to bless your food.
Eat your yummy work and share it with others.

Potential side dishes:

- Herb-Roasted Potatoes
- Saffron Rice
- Texmati, organic brown rice
- Green salad or some other green veggie
- Cornbread dressing