Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Skillet Roasted Chicken & Fried Sweet Potatoes

I have been having a hard time juggling both of my blogs but for now I will say I am going to to better at it until I figure out what to do. Should I combine both of them? Keep them seperate? I'm torn really. What do you think I should do? Any suggestions?
Enough with the questions. Let's get to why you are really here today. I am going to take a guess and say.....Skillet Roasted Chicken and Fried Sweet Potatoes. Did I get it right? I know! I'm good like that.

This is what we had for dinner last night. I am not a roasting expert but I have to say that the chicken was enjoying itself in all the butter and herbs while I prepared it. I was reading a recipe where they roasted their chicken in a cast iron pan. All I had was this skillet and yes I think it was a little small for the chicken but I wanted to see if it had any effect on the flavor. I don't think it did but I'm glad I tried it. The clean up was a breeze too.
So here is what I did. I bathed the bird and dried it. I lightly oiled my skillet with olive oil.  I then combined a 1/4 cup of softened butter with 2 tsp. dried thyme and 3 tsp. minced garlic. Using my fingers I smothered the chicken under the skin with the butter mixture and then used the remaining butter to cover the whole outside of the bird. Sprinkled it with coarse salt and pepper. I tied up the legs and placed the bird breast side up in my skillet. I forgot to tuck the wings. I don't think it really cared. :)


My oven was preheated to 450 degrees and I roasted it for 30 minutes at that temperature. I then reduced the heat to 350 degrees and continued to roast for 1 hour and 15 minutes. Turning and basting the bird a few times as well. Check the chicken temperature with a meat thermometer. Once it is at 180 degrees it is done.
Remove it from the oven and let it stand about 10 minutes. Remove from skillet to serving tray and cover loosly with foil.



On to the Fried Sweet Potatoes....

I wanted to do something a little different than my normal fried sweet potatoes with sugar and butter. I have been using Agave Nectar for a while because of the Low Glycemic Index. We like it with our pancakes and waffles when I add a little maple flavor to it so I decided to try it on the potatoes.

I peeled and sliced 4 potatoes. (Slice them thin for quicker cooking time)

I then melted 1 Tablespoon of butter over medium/high heat and placed a single layer of potatoes in the pan. I drizzled the potatoes with the Agave Nectar and cooked them for about 3 minutes on each side.





Once they were done I transfered them to my plate and sprinkled with cinnamon, drizzled honey and a pat of butter. YUM!!!!



Of coure we have to have our greens so I just steamed a little broccoli for that and Voila!!! Dinner is served.

The chicken turned out perfectly seasoned and juicy. The potatoes were just as yummy with the hint of honey added at the end. A very good dinner if I do say so myself.

Below are the ingredients needed for the chicken and potatoes if you would like to try it.

Enjoy!

Roasted Chicken 
  450 degrees for 30 minutes then 350 degrees for 1 hour or until done.

1 4-5 lb. whole chicken
1/4 cup softened butter
2 tsp. dried thyme
3 tsp. minced garlic
coarse salt and pepper
Roasting pan or Cast Iron Skillet


Fried Sweet Potatoes
Medium High Heat cooking in single layers

4 sweet potatoes (peeled and thinly sliced)
6 Tbs. butter  softened
Agave nectar (I added maple flavor to my whole bottle. About 3-4 tsp.)
Honey
Cinnamon

23 comments:

  1. Darling this chicken looks amazingly delicious, I will try it and will let you know.
    Love & Hugs
    Duchess

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  2. MMMM... I made Thanksgiving dinner last night for dinner. I know, it isn't TG, but YUM!

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  3. I know what we are having for dinner next time I have a whole chicken! Looks good Cookie Girl!

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  4. I too think that is an awesome looking chicken. Thank you for a great step-by-step to raosting the perfect chicken.

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  5. Popping by through SITS!

    This looks great! I'm always looking for new ways to make chicken as my husband loves it! Thanks for the idea!

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  6. oh wow. that looks delish. especially the sweet potatoes. girl. i might even make that tonight. i'll let you know if i do! because i know you totally want to know.

    yes you do. yes you do! well. imna tell you anyway. if i remember. and if i make it. all that typing's got me tired now. maybe i'll just do take out.

    thanks for the recipe!

    also. i'll have to check out your other blog. and then. i'll let you know if you should combine them or keep them separate. as if my opinion is like gold.

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  7. ok. i cooked my first ever whole chicken. and fried sweet potatoes for the first time, too. all inspired by you. so. thanks! (i even blogged about it.)

    also. one blog would make things nice and convenient.

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  8. Oh my gosh that looks and sounds delicious!!! I will definitely be trying those sweet potatoes! They are my daughter's favorite! Yummy!!

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  9. This looks like the perfect meal to me! Your chicken is scrumptious!!

    I know what you mean about the 2 blog thing. I tried a while ago and gave up! Maybe you can find a way to combine them. :)

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  10. oh yum - and that's a good idea to cut the sweet potatoes like chips - I bet that's yummy - I still have sweet potatoes I need to use. Think I'll be making those very soon!

    Thanks for visiting me today! :)

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  11. Wow! That looks great! Wish I could pull that plate off my screen and eat it! ;-)

    Thanks for visiting me on my SITS day!

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  12. I don't see how you juggle blogs!!! I have a hard enough time keeping up with one. I think you could very easily combine them.. they are great!!! What a delish looking dinner :)

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  13. Hey Sprout...Hope to see you at www.myladydujour.com I have some art of mine there on todays post
    and
    at www.adivashammer.com I have some lovely flowers with poetry.

    Are you watching the game today?
    If so, Have fun!

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  14. That looks delicious! I can't wait to try it.

    Thanks for dropping by my blog. If you ever do come to LA, don't forget your umbrella/shield. :)

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  15. Darling thanks so much for visiting me regularly and for the sweet and caring comments you leave behind. I treasure our friendship and wanted to wish you a lovely weekend and a love filled Valentine’s Day.

    Love & Hugs
    Duchess

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  16. That looks SO good!

    Returning the visit from SITS and following you now- I an always use some more good recipes!

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  17. That looks so delicious!

    I just stopped by to thank you for visiting my blog on my SITS day. Come back soon!

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  18. Just stopping by to thank you for visiting me on my SITS day and leaving me some blog love! Everyone was so sweet and I really enjoyed the day!

    Blessings,
    LMM

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  19. I never thought of roasting in a cast iron skillet. Genius!! Your dinner looks sooo delicious, can't wait to try it!

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  20. Oh this is my favorite meal. Basically I love sweet potato, but I don't like them in sweet. So I have them in savory dish mostly. I can see that your sweet potato is kinda sweet. But I think it would be okay for me because the chicken is already in savory. This is great. Thanks for sharing the recipe :)
    How to Make Sweet Potato Fries

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