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Menu and Recipes

   Menu
   Day 1
   Day 2
   Day 3
   Day 4
   Day 5
   Day 6
   Shopping List


lemon chicken
Roast Chicken with Lemon 

lyonaise potatoes
Potatoes Lyonaise

cauliflower
Cauliflower with Butter and Herbs

Menu Plan for the week of Oct. 18, 2013: Day 2 Recipes

Roast Chicken with Lemon
Potatoes Lyonaise
Cauliflower with Butter and Herbs

Cooking time:  80 minutes for menu (30 min. break)    Cooking schedule: see below for instructions

      This is the easiest (and one of the best) Roast Chicken recipes you'll find anywhere.

Roast Chicken with Lemon                    Preparation time: 10 minutes - cooking 80 minutes
  
This is the easiest chicken recipe I have ever seen; and also one of the best.  The skin puffs up, away from the chicken which is rather interesting. The chicken  is moist, tender and lightly flavored with lemon.  The gravy is excellent!

1 whole roasting chicken
2 small lemons, preferably thin-skinned and juicy
     for a thicker sauce:
1 cup (8oz, 240ml) chicken stock
1 - 2 tbs cornstarch (maizena)

Clean the chicken.  Roll the lemons on the counter with your hand a few times, pressing lightly.  With a toothpick prick the lemons all over, 20 - 25 times.  Put the lemons inside the chicken.  With kitchen string (or whatever) tie the legs together.  Twist the wing tips around so they are tucked under the back, supporting the chicken.  (If you don't do these last two it won't affect the recipe - only the appearance.)  Do not salt, butter, oil or anything else. 
Put breast side down in a roasting pan and roast at 350F for 30 minutes. 
Turn the chicken over and roast for 30 minutes. 
Turn the oven to 400F and roast for 20 - 25 more minutes.  Skin should be golden brown and puffy.  Remove, let rest for 5 - 10 minutes, then carve and serve with pan juices. 
For a thicker sauce/gravy:  Pour 1/2 cup chicken stock into the roasting pan.  Scrape up any brown bits and pour it all into a small saucepan.  Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.  Dissolve 1 tbs cornstarch in 1/2 cup chicken stock.  Slowly pour into saucepan, stirring until clear and thickened to your liking.  Serve with chicken.

Potatoes Lyonaise                                                       Preparation and cooking time:   40 minutes
    These are incredibly easy and delicious, and pair well with flavorful fish and chicken.  They absorb the chicken stock at the end, giving them a bit of a syrupy glaze.   

2 medium potatoes
1 medium onion
1 clove garlic
2 tsp butter
2 tsp olive oil
1/4 cup (2oz, 60ml) chicken stock

Peel onion, cut in half and slice thinly.  Peel and chop garlic.  Sauté onion and garlic in medium nonstick skillet in 2 tsp butter until lightly golden, about 10 minutes.  Cut potatoes in quarters lengthwise, then slice thinly.
Remove onions and garlic from pan.  Add 2 tsp oil, potatoes and sauté until golden, turning often with spatula, about 20 minutes.  When potatoes are golden, return onion and garlic to pan, add chicken stock, cover and simmer until stock is absorbed, 5 - 10 minutes.  Serve.

Cauliflower with Butter & Herbs                       Preparation and cooking time: 30 minutes
    Often, simple is best!  The first time I tasted cauliflower (my mother never fixed it) I was convinced it tasted just like sweet corn.  Plain, with butter, is still my favorite way to eat it.

1/3 head cauliflower   enough for 2 persons
2 tbs butter
1 tsp dried basil

Cut cauliflower into pieces, put into a steamer and steam over water for 15 - 20 minutes until fork-tender.  Remove and drain water from pan.  In same pan melt butter.  Add herbs, sauté lightly. Pour over cauliflower and serve - adding salt & pepper if desired.

Cooking Schedule: 80 minutes for menu
Assemble all food, utensils and serving dishes
Utensils: measuring cups, spoons, knives,
roasting pan, medium saucepan, steamer basket, lid,
medium skillet / lid, foil, small saucepan

Turn oven on, 350F (175C)
Prepare chicken
Roll lemons, prick all over, put inside chicken
Tie chicken, place breast side down, roast
      30 minute break
Back?  Turn chicken, continue roasting
      15 minute break
Back? Cut cauliflower
Slice onion for potatoes, sauté
Mince garlic, add to onion, sauté

Remove onions, garlic, add potatoes, sauté
Increase oven 400F (200C)
Turn potatoes
Steam cauliflower
        Wee break while stuff cooks
Turn potatoes
Remove chicken, tent with foil
Keep drippings warm in small saucepan
Add stock for thicker sauce
Add stock to potatoes, cover, cook
Carve chicken
Dissolve cornstarch if using; Finish sauce
Remove cauliflower, melt butter
Add herbs to butter, pour over cauliflower
Finish all and serve

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