Apple Roasted Chicken

It's only a couple of weeks until Christmas!! Trying to get our taste buds in the holiday mood (without baking cookies!) I pulled out my Lady and Sons Christmas magazine from last year and happened upon the following recipe (actually the original recipe calls for 2x what I have listed, but I was only cooking for 2 people so I reduced the portions).

Apple Roasted Chicken with Herb Vegetables


Ingredients:
1 whole chicken (4-5lb)
3 red delicious apples
4 carrots
1/2 clove garlic
1 tablespoon rosemary
4 springs thyme
2 tablespoons butter
salt and pepper

Cooking Directions:
1. Take one apple and cut in half. Place chicken in cast iron dutch oven and stuff with halved apple, garlic and rosemary. Tie legs together. Rub butter over entire chicken and cover with salt and pepper. Bake in oven at 400 degrees for 30 minutes.

2. Cut carrots into bite size pieces. Core and slice remaining 2 apples. After 30 minutes take the chicken out of the oven and carefully place carrots, apple slices and thyme around the chicken. Return the dish to the oven and continue cooking 30-45 minutes.

I cannot express to you how juicy and delicious this chicken was!! It was literally melt in your mouth goodness.. The carrots were perfectly tender without being mushy. The apples (though not a favorite of the hubs and mine) were pretty yummy but a tad on the mushy side.

This recipe is perfect for the season. It took a little time (not a quick casserole to stick in the oven) but totally worth the investment. I served it alongside mashed potatoes and it made the perfect December dinner for two! I'm thinking that it might also be good to add some sliced potatoes and onion. But that will be for next time.