Winner Winner...(Chicken Dinner)

F.Y.I. I didn't post it on here until now, but after using Random Number Generator, Jennifer from It's Not Easy To Be Green won the Yoreganics Giveaway. Enjoy!

I also won on Sunday...

I got to roast my first free range bird. (Okay, it was my first ever roasted bird in general, too.) This time the power did NOT go out, thank goodness, even though it did start flickering while we ate.

I was so nervous about roasting my first pastured bird that I actually e-mailed Hillacres Pride, the farm from which it came, and asked for directions. Well, how cool are they that they sent me some!

And here are the summarized directions... straight from Hillacres Pride Farm.

HOW TO ROAST A PASTURED CHICKEN

• If frozen, defrost the bird slowly. Yes, two full days in the refrigerator.
• Wash the bird, and clean up any last minute issues with the bird's cavity and neck.
• Dry the bird inside and out AND preheat the oven to 300 degrees.
• Place the bird into a roasting pan and rack.
• Season the bird with fresh herbs, salt, pepper, garlic, and/or paprika, etc. Stuff the cavity to your liking with lemon slices, garlic, onion, carrots, etc.
• "Tuck the legs under the fat flap or tie them up, and then dress the outside of the bird with olive oil or butter and salt and pepper. You can also dust with other ground spices, from a South Asian mix to humble paprika."
• "Put the bird in the preheated oven and forget about it for 2 hours."
• Basting optional.
• The bird is finished when the leg bones are flexible and the thigh juices run
clear after puncture with a sharp knife.

Option 1: For crispier skin, turn the heat to 400 degrees for the last 20 minutes of cooking time. Remove the bird from the oven and allow it to rest for 20 minutes before carving.
Option 2: Place potatoes and other root vegetables in the roasting pan with the bird.

Feeding Roasted Chicken to Baby

The chicken was really juicy, and it gave us two very full meals (one roasted chicken, one chicken salad with apples, grapes, and onions). Gabriel tried his first chicken, too-- I actually chewed it a tiny bit before giving it to him (Is that creepy and bird-like? Oh well.). He loved it!

He also loves NOT napping. It has been a rough struggle trying to get him to nap even twenty minutes per day. I would be okay with his wakefulness, but he gets so cranky and sleepy that it is imperative he get on the nap train. He really fights me on it-- temper tantrums and all.

Would you ever guess this little angel face gets so angry?