Showing posts with label Roasting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Roasting. Show all posts

Sunday, October 02, 2011

Roasted Fall Vegetables

Roasted Vegetables and Grilled Chicken Thighs

Throughout the year we enjoy roasted vegetables, but the fall seems to be the best time to enjoy the bounty of seasonal squashes and root vegetables.  This is an incredibly easy, healthy, and quick side dish.  Our kids love  it and I usually make enough for leftovers the following day.

Some vegetable combinations I use include a variety of:

sweet potatoes, peeled and cut in chunks
butternut squash, peeled and cut in chunks
carrots, peeled and cut in chunks,
onions, diced
brussel sprouts
celery
beets
red bell peppers

Beautiful fall vegetables

The vegetables can easily be put in a large roasting pan or on a large cookie sheet with edges, drizzled with olive oil and kosher salt, and roasted at 425 degrees.  In addition to the salt, I season our vegetables with about 1-2 teaspoons (depending on how many vegetables prepared) of a combination of seasonings from Emeril's Baby Bam recipe.  The following Baby Bam recipe is found in Emeril's There's a Chef in My Family cookbook.  Bake vegetables until a fork can be easily inserted into the sweet potatoes and brussel sprouts.  Don't overcook or vegetables will get mushy.  I usually begin checking the veggies after about 20 minutes.  Stir occasionally to rotate the veggies for thorough cooking.

The Baby Bam is easy to make and can be stored in a cute glass jar for future use.  I will often have the kids make it for me.

Stored Baby Bam

Baby Bam

Ingredients
3 tablespoons paprika
2 tablespoons salt
2 tablespoons dried parsley
2 teaspoons onion powder
2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon celery salt
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)

Combine and place in airtight container.


Seasonings Combined

Vegetables drizzled with olive oil, sprinkled with kosher salt and 1-2 teaspoons Baby Bam

Bake vegetables until a fork can be inserted easily into brussel sprouts and sweet potatoes

Enjoy!

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

On The Grill: Roasted Chicken


Roasted Chicken from Costco is a family favorite when we're short on time and want a nutritious, protein-rich main dish that is affordable.  I decided to try roasting a whole chicken on the grill to see how it compared with Costco's chicken.  We may not be buying many Costco chickens in the future.

Roasted Chicken on the BBQ

Heat grill.

Wash the chicken, pat it dry and place in a glass baking dish.



Rub the chicken with Organic Coconut Oil.



After the Coconut Oil, sprinkle with kosher salt, pepper, and Spike seasoning.




Make a foil tray.




Overlap foil and make a seam.

Fold seam twice so juices don't escape.

Open back up and lay flat.


Fold edges up.  My dad taught me this trick.

Place foil on grill.  Set chicken on foil.


Maybe this guy is upside down.

I think he definitely is!!  He's giving me a weird sign with his wings.  Reminds me of a flight attend, "We have rear and side exits." 

I heat the grill on high and then lower to Medium/Low just before I put the chicken on.


Allow to cook for 1 hour 15 minutes or until golden brown.


His wings chilled out.  I wanted them up because I love crispy wings.

This is so yummy!  The meat just falls off the bone.
When you're done with the chicken meat, or most of it, don't throw away the carcass.  Coming up I'll post a wonderful, kid-friendly chicken and rice soup our kids are crazy for!  Today I read about the nutritional value and importance of meat broths and how vital they are to our health.  I'm never going to want to throw a bone away again.  Soup recipe coming up!