How to Roast a Chicken

Roasted chicken is a delicious way to bring your family together for a meal. Most poultry can be prepared this way including turkey and the recipe can be modified for small hens to larger sized Thanksgiving turkeys.

How to prepare the chicken

Start with a small sized hen. Most hens come already cleaned and ready to put in the oven but be sure to remove the giblet bag from the inside of the hen. Take one small lemon and poke several holes in the lemon using a fork. Be sure to stab the lemon in different areas to allow the juices to escape and keep the fruit from exploding. Place the whole lemon (unpeeled) inside the cavity of the bird.

Next select fresh herbs from your local market such as rosemary and thyme. Wash the herbs thoroughly and stuff the herbs inside the bird around the lemon. Coat the skin of the hen lightly with fresh melted butter. The butter with give the hen a golden color when its done and will add flavor. Place the whole bird into a large baking pan and cover the pan with aluminum foil to keep the meat moist. Cook for about 40 minutes at 325 degrees.

How to Brown the outside of the bird

When the bird is completely cooked, remove the foil. Recoat the chicken with melted butter and cook for an additional 15 minutes at 400 degrees to brown the skin. Remember to keep an eye on the chicken during this step to avoid overcooking the inside or burning the outside.

Easy Step By Step Instructions For Roasting a Chicken

• Clean and thaw the chicken completely through.
• Using a fork, stab holes around the outside of a lemon through the skin.
• Place the lemon and your choice of fresh herbs inside the cavity of the chicken.
• Coat the skin of the chicken with butter and place breast side up into a baking or roasting pan. Wrap with aluminum foil before placing in the oven at 325 degrees.
• Allow to cook to about 40 minutes or to 180 degrees.
• When the chicken is cooked, recoat the skin with butter and place back in the oven at 400 degrees for 10-15 minutes.

Warnings, Advice, and Suggestions When Roasting a Chicken

Chicken dries out very quickly so be sure to keep a close eye on the bird as it is cooking. Along the same lines, undercooked chicken is very dangerous and can make you and your family very ill. Make sure the poultry is completely thawed before you start cooking and use a thermometer to determine when the meat is cooked (180 is the government standard for cooked chicken).

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How to Create a Thanksgiving Centerpiece

When Thanksgiving rolls around, your children can help create a fun Thanksgiving Centerpiece. Thanksgiving is often the first holiday that really reflects the fall and changing weather, and certain style of accessories, such as pinecone decorations are traditional at this time of year. This Thanksgiving, let your children help you create the perfect pinecone Thanksgiving centerpiece.

Gather Pinecones

The changing weather of the fall often causes many pinecones to fall in yards or nearby wooded areas. Send your children with a basket out into the yard to gather pinecones. If you live in an area without pine trees, you can also buy pinecones from various stores. Try to find unscented pinecones if you elect to buy your own.

Gather Supplies

Your next step is to gather supplies for your centerpiece project. You’ll need a large candle, a wide ribbon, a strip of cardboard, tape, hot glue and glue gun, and your pinecones.

Create the Ring

Your Thanksgiving centerpiece will be a pinecone candle ring, so you’ll first create the ring using the strip of stiff cardboard. Wrap the strip of cardboard into a circle and secure it tightly with tape. Then, use the hot glue to affix the pinecones around the ring careful to cover the cardboard completely. When the pinecone circle is complete, glue the ribbon flat around the outside edge to give you pinecone ring a bit of extra color. For extra flair, twist the ribbon as you glue it in place or affix a large bow with the ends arranged as a runner along the table top.

Place the Candle

Place the centerpiece on the table and put the candle in the center. Light the candle, and enjoy one of the best family holidays.

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