Roasted Chicken

Roasted chicken is such a great, classic dish. It's good anytime of the year, and can be paired with almost anything. This is my favorite way to prepare it, because the skin is crispy and the meat is really juicy. You can make it your own by using your favorite herbs and spices, or follow my way and see how you like it :)

Here's what you'll need:

1 whole roasting chicken
1-2 cloves of fresh garlic, minced
the juice from 1/2 of a lemon
1 tbsp of fresh parsley, minced
1 stick of butter, softened
olive oil
salt to taste
pepper to taste

Preheat the oven to 450. Clean and dry the chicken, and place into a roasting pan.

Combine the butter, garlic, lemon juice, parsley, salt, and pepper. Mix until fully incorporated.

Carefully use your hands to separate the skin from the breast of the chicken. Take some of the seasoned butter and carefully push it under the skin, until it is evenly covering the meat. Then take the butter mixture, and coat the outside of the chicken. Drizzle some olive oil over the outside of the chicken. This will help to crisp the skin.

Bake on 450 for 15 minutes, then turn the temperature down to 350 and cook for 20 minutes per pound. Use a meat thermometer to ensure the chicken is done, and then let it rest before cutting and serving. Enjoy!

Bruschetta

Bruschetta is one of my favorite appetizers, and it's so easy to make! It's light, fresh, and a great compliment to any meal. I've had many different variations, but this is one of my favorite ways to eat it. You can also customize this recipe and replace anything you don't like, or add ingredients that I may have left out. I know many people like their bruschetta with fresh parmesan, which I also think is great, however the fresh mozzarella makes it delicious as well! It can be a little pricey, but places like Sam's Club and Costco often have great deals on the cheese.

Here's what you'll need:

4 ripe tomatoes, diced
4-5 leaves of fresh basil, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1tsp of olive oil, plus about an extra 1/4 cup for the bread
1 tbsp of balsamic vinegar
1/2 tsp of salt
1/4 tsp of pepper
1 loaf of french bread
1 package of fresh mozzarella cheese
garlic powder to taste

Chop the tomatoes, basil, and garlic and add to a medium sized bowl. Add the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper. Stir well, until fully incorporated. Taste the mixture to make sure it is seasoned to your liking, and then refrigerate for 1-2 hours.

Start the broiler in your oven. Cut the french bread into thin slices and lay on a cookie sheet. Take a small bowl and add olive oil and garlic powder. Add as much garlic as you want. We really like garlic, so I typically add a couple teaspoons. However, you can add more or less, depending on your taste. Spread the mixture evenly onto the slices of bread.

Broil for several minutes, checking often to prevent the bread from burning. Once the bread has browned, remove from the oven. Cut the mozzarella into thin slices and place it on top of the bread, then add the tomato mixture on top of that. Serve and enjoy!