Sunday, December 14, 2008

A Rare Sight
Aside



Last night at our favourite table by the fish tank we were enjoying our duck (not Peking – the fish’s eyes are quite enough) my own eyes kept wandering to a table by the door. There were seven young men – quite ordinary in appearance – they could have been a lifeboat crew, dressed in uncoordinated jeans and sweaters. As the evening wore on we were having fun and eating and drinking and my interest in the young men grew. They also were eating and drinking but they were talking quietly amongst themselves. In other words their behaviour was impeccable- no yobbishness. no noise or raucous laughter and there were seven of them. The magnificent seven my son dubbed them.
After a glass or two of wine – I determined to have a word on my way out, but – to the family’s relief, they left before us.


You can’t have too many good, tried and trusted recipes at this time of year so – although I may have mentioned this one before – it bears repeating.

Roast chicken with lemon, garlic and thyme.

Chicken 1.5 kg
2 lemons quartered
2 heads of garlic, broken into unpeeled cloves
A bunch of fresh thyme
1 teaspoon salt
Freshly ground black pepper


Rinse chicken well, removing any giblets. Pat dry with kitchen paper and place in non stick roasting tin. (Mine stick so I added a little olive oil).
Push the lemons, garlic and thyme in to the chest side of the chicken. Not as easy as it sounds, but persevere. Sprinkle the salt and pepper over the chicken and rub it in with your fingers. Roast for 1 hour 25 minutes.

My French Grandson say even his Maman can’t do chicken like Grandma. It is really moist and tasty and because the garlic cloves are not peeled they just impart a subtle flavour. We had it for lunch today.

13 comments:

apprentice said...

Chicken sounds delicious. Like my turkey, I do a fruit based stuffing and the meat is always moist.

We don't give the majority of young people enough credit do we?

Ms Scarlet said...

Goodness! Seven young men, I think my eyes would have been wandering as well.
Sx

Ms Scarlet said...

Hello Pat, I tried to leave a comment about the nice young men and wandering eyes, but I'm having bother with blogger today and I was taken to a strange screen and told off.
Sx

Unknown said...

Sounds good! We've got lamb this year! YIPPEE!!!!!!!!

Zed said...

I'm wondering what to cook for the kids this year and I am tempted to roast a chicken. Thanks for the recipe as I'm not very good at roasts. Roasting a spud is generally a disaster....

Pat said...

Anna: I like the sound of a fruit stuffing.

Scarlet : when I discover the person responsible for telling you off I promise they will be dealt with severely and kneeling on peas is a strong possibility.

John.g: I love lamb with apple jelly and onion sauce - a lovely meal. Wish you were closer.

kenju said...

I'm going to try that chicken!! It sounds delicious.

I might have told the young men something, too, and my family would have been mortified.

Anonymous said...

I am going to try that one

Pat said...

Judy: I think we are a great embarrassment to the family at times:} Tough!

Lom: hope you enjoy it.

Zed: I'm no great cook these days and preparing vegetables can be a night mare. My easy way with roast pots: peel and cut into an even size if necessary. boil in salted water for 15 mins and put in hot oil in oven for the last half hour of chicken. Give the odd baste and there you have it.

OldLady Of The Hills said...

Oh My Lordy, that Chicken sounds scrumptious, Pat...It made my mouth water and it is only 8:30 in the morning here....lol!

I so wish you HAD been able to speak with those young men....It would be fun to know what their connection to each other is/are, etc....!

Pat said...

Naomi: I did try to find out from the Chinese ladies who surrounded me as I was leaving. But from all the smiles and nods and thank you's I think they had no idea of what I was saying.

rashbre said...

& loving your increasingly inventive labels ;-)

Pat said...

Rashbre: I almost always forget - then and have to do them in a hurry.