Thursday, October 8, 2015

Honey-Lacquered Chicken with Lemon and Rosemary


I love when a recipe saves your culinary spirit.  After a couple of flops in the new-recipe-department last week, I was feeling a little low and upset about wasted time and ingredients.  Luckily, I found this recipe that saved me from a three strike failure. This easy-to-make roasted chicken is perfect for a cool, autumn evening.


The original recipe uses small, whole chickens but I used some large, locally-raised, antibiotic-free chicken legs instead because we love chicken legs. Since I wasn't stuffing whole birds with the lemon, garlic and rosemary, I placed them on the baking pan underneath the chicken legs.


The chicken parts are brushed with a honey/lemon/balsamic mixture and roasted in a hot oven to produce the beautiful lacquered skin and then finished at a lower temperature.  Chicken is so versatile that any side dish you like would be wonderful.  Roasted potatoes, squash, or grilled eggplant, which is what we had.  I found this beautiful, Italian eggplant at the Farmers' Market, which we sliced, brushed with olive oil, seasoned with some Italian herbs and grilled. 


So far, fall has been kind to us and I still have quite a few things blooming in the garden.  These photos were all taken in the past several days.


Two of my favorite fall-blooming flowers are the Colchicums, or autumn crocus, in the first photo along with Japanese Anemone and Tricyrtis or toad lily, above, with some favorite dahlias.   

How is Fall in your area?  Although the trees are changing color, we are behind in both color change and leaf drop compared to last year.

Honey-Lacquered Chicken with Lemon and Rosemary

*Please see My Notes below

1/4 cup plus 1 teaspoon honey
2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar or glaze
Whole chicken legs
Salt and Pepper
6 small rosemary sprigs
3 garlic cloves, sliced
1/3 of a lemon, cut into slices

Preheat the oven to 450°. 

Rinse with cool water and dry chicken with paper toweling.

In a small bowl, combine the honey, lemon juice and balsamic. Scatter the rosemary sprigs, garlic and lemon slices over a baking sheet. Set the chickens pieces on top of them. Brush two-thirds of the honey glaze over the chickens and season lightly with salt and pepper. Roast in the middle of the hot oven for 20-30 minutes, checking after 20 minutes. 

Reduce the oven temperature to 325°. Rotate the pan and brush with the remaining glaze. Roast the chicken for about 30-40 minutes longer, until the juices run clear when the thighs are pierced, basting with the pan juices at least twice. Remove from oven and let rest for 10 minutes before carving, and serve.

My Notes: I halved the glaze ingredients and used four whole chicken legs to serve two people.  The original recipe calls for soy sauce instead of balsamic vinegar and uses whole chickens which are stuffed with the garlic, rosemary and lemon.  Use 3 large sprigs of rosemary, 3 quartered garlic cloves, and 1/3 lemon if using whole chickens.  Increase roasting time if you are using whole chickens.

Recipe Adapted from Food and Wine

78 comments:

  1. I know we would love that chicken. Love the crispy skin. Glad you scored a winner with this Susan.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sounds so good.
    Beautiful flower mosaics. Just a few blooms left on some of my potted plants.
    Enjoy your evening.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hope the weather keeps the flower-power going, Glenda! Thank you!

      Delete
  3. Geesh your pics are amazing!
    Summer is hanging on by a thread every afternoon here..such a Fall!
    Cool very cool in the morning..but wow..brilliance and warmth every aft.♥

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Monique :) Chilly today but a nice, nice weekend ahead. I'm enjoying every minute I can outside!

      Delete
  4. Chix looks very good as do the flower shots

    ReplyDelete
  5. Fabulous! Wish I had one right now:@) Happy Fall!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Beautiful mahogany color on those legs! You always have beautiful plants, Susan. We have sort of cooled down a little bit, but still no tree color in our area, yet. My giant zinnias are still full of buds.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I wish I had better luck with zinnias here. They always get mildew-y. Must be the humidity from Lake Michigan. Thank you, Marigene!

      Delete
  7. Your fall-blooming flowers are delightful! Makes me want to plant something new in my garden and will check out the Colchicums and Tricyrtis. The foliage at our camp is at peak but not outstanding like in years past. It's been very dry and a lot of leaves fell off before they turned color. Our apple orchards are having a good year. The chicken looks wonderful!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You would especially love the autumn crocus, Debbie! The Tricyrtis, while beautiful up close, has very small flowers. Thank you :)

      Delete
  8. The chicken looks so delicious! With rosemary, lemon and garlic, sounds so flavourful! You have such beautiful blooms in your garden!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Joyce! It is a perfect combination of flavors for roasted chicken.

      Delete
  9. This looks like a perfect autumn meal, Susan! i like using balsalmic vinegar instead of soy sauce as it means less salt in the chicken.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is delicious, Pat! I know you're enjoying a gorgeous autumn from the pics I've seen on Facebook :)

      Delete
  10. That chicken is glorious, but those crocus even more so! How lucky you are. I really wish I'd put in more bulbs! Love this!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Check your garden centers, Abbe! They still may have colchicum bulbs to plant for next year ;) Thanks!

      Delete
  11. Beautiful flower collage!!
    Those roasted chicken look amazing, Susan. Must try that glaze with some chicken wings too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Angie! I hope this weather lasts for a few more weeks :) I think the glaze would be delicious on chicken wings too.

      Delete
  12. This is beautiful I Susan and I'm sure full of flavor. Don't you just hate it when you have a few bad recipes or flops in a row? this one looks like a winner though.

    ReplyDelete
  13. What a nice and comforting dish. You can't go wrong with lemon and rosemary in my book. I need to look into the crocus you mentioned. I didn't know it existed and my husband loves crocus.
    Sam

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So true :) I hope you find some colchicum bulbs, Sam. I love seeing something new in the garden at this time of year. Thanks!

      Delete
  14. Very simple. Very pretty. Big score. It's still fun to experiment. When people learn that I cook, and write about cooking, they have high expectations. I hate to disappoint, but I do more often than I want!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Rosemary :) Yes, this was so simple and a big win!

      Delete
  15. Wow this is gorgeous! Definitely pinning this for a lovely Sunday dinner :)

    Sues

    ReplyDelete
  16. I know this chicken would be a hit at our house! Great flavors!

    ReplyDelete
  17. So pretty and sounds delicious. I hate wasting ingredients too but my husband always says that you have to expect that but the wonderful recipes are worth it. This one looks definitely worth it!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Your chicken looks delicious and you have made a great recovery. I must put it on my to-do list. I feel your pain when it comes to recipe failures. I have had several and I always take it personal. I feel somewhat better when cooks better than I am tell that they are not always as successful. I thought it was just me. And, there is many a time I have made something really good, but it doesn't photograph well and I know I could not convince anyone that it is really good. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Madonna! Underdone in the center and not photogenic - that was two of the problems :)

      Delete
  19. WOW, that is the most beautiful chicken and I think you need to print the eggplant on canvas. I would pay to see what you consider a kitchen flop, as I've never seen anything here that's not praiseworthy!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much, Renee! You are very kind :) I thought the eggplant was so pretty too!

      Delete
  20. What a beautiful fall recipe. Looks delicious! The leaves have started to change here in the Hudson Valley. I spent a little time in the Adirondaks last week and it was just spectacular! Have a good week.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Lynn! I'll bet the Adirondaks were gorgeous. We're getting more color here each day.

      Delete
  21. Recipe fails are the worst, but you look like you hit it out of the park with this one!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know you don't eat meat, Joanne, so I appreciate the comment :) Thanks!

      Delete
  22. My stomach is actually rumbling right now. This looks so tasty!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Your chicken looks delicious, Susan! Lots of good flavors there. I've had that happen more than once with new recipes and it's great this one delivered a tasty dish. That eggplant is gorgeous and so are the flowers. That autumn crocus is a new one to me, very pretty. Our weather is about the same as yours. Definitely a little chilly today and only a few leaves down, and a little color.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Pam! Definitely a beautiful past couple of days here with more leaves changing by the day.

      Delete
  24. Wow this chicken looks fantastic! I want to lick my fingers and I haven't even had some yet! Very nice :) And your photos are perfection. You have a wonderful eye :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was finger-licking good :) Thanks so much for the compliment, Tricia!

      Delete
  25. the simplest recipes are the best, three ingredients, chicken, lemon, rosemary, smell and taste guaranteed!Have a nice weekend, a warm hug from windy Trieste !

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree, simple and delicious works for me. Thank you, Chiara. Windy here too :) Warm hugs!

      Delete
  26. Love this chicken Susan and the pictures look wonderful, how beautiful dear !

    ReplyDelete
  27. Hi Susan, your chicken looks amazing, I love baking with honey, love the stickiness.

    Your garden flowers look so beautiful, here in Phoenix not much has changed plant wise. Take care, Cheri

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I forget how different it is in some parts of the country, Cheri. Thanks so much!

      Delete
  28. Wow, that chicken is tempting me. You're not kidding when you say laquered! Your flowers are beautiful too!

    ReplyDelete
  29. love the honesty of this post I often mess up in the kitchen :-) looks tasty

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, I've had plenty of flops in the kitchen, Rebecca. I never post those :) Thank you!

      Delete
  30. This looks wonderful and for once I have all the ingredients at hand. I'm going to try it immediately.
    Amalia
    xo

    ReplyDelete
  31. I love chicken done this way...can't wait to try it! I have an old recipe called Chucks chicken wings that is a family favorite...I use the marinade on whole legs as well, But I think this one will beat it out, simpler to make as well. It looks fabulous, Susan!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Now I need to check out Chuck's Chicken Wings :) Thanks so much, Barbara!

      Delete
  32. Delicious looking chicken, Susan! Congrats!!! It looks amazing. Lovely photo shoot...those flowers! So beautiful!
    Sending you big hugs!

    ReplyDelete
  33. What a great looking chicken packed with aromas. I love cooking with honey! I love its aftertaste in meals!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think this is the first time I've made chicken with honey and I loved it! Thank you, Katerina!

      Delete
  34. This chicken looks indeed so pretty...perfect color and great flavors Susan...
    Thanks for sharing all the pretty flowers.
    I hope you are enjoying your week :)

    ReplyDelete
  35. First of all, I am shocked that you were ever so close to striking out! I love chicken dishes and this one sounds so flavorful.

    (I am sorry that you are also having troubles. This makes three of us that I know of. )

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. More times that I care to admit :) Thank you, Vee! I think I may need a new fan for my computer, it keeps shutting itself off :( I've been using my husband's laptop in the meanwhile.

      Delete
  36. I love rustic, simple dishes like this, sometimes they are the best!

    ReplyDelete
  37. I'm having the same problem with new recipes, Susan. I'm going to stick with the recipes from blogger friends I can count one. I love crispy chicken skin and can't wait to try your recipe. I'm always looking for new recipes and can't wait to try this. How wonderful to still have beautiful flowers in your garden. Our summer was so hot that my yard was burned up by the first of September.

    ReplyDelete
  38. I'm having the same problem with new recipes, Susan. I'm going to stick with the recipes from blogger friends I can count one. I love crispy chicken skin and can't wait to try your recipe. I'm always looking for new recipes and can't wait to try this. How wonderful to still have beautiful flowers in your garden. Our summer was so hot that my yard was burned up by the first of September.

    ReplyDelete
  39. You've definitely got me at the honey+lemon+balsamic mixture, the chicken skin looks so crispy and so delicious!

    ReplyDelete
  40. Your Chicken looks amazing! Your photos are always so beautiful and love your garden blooms! I think I will have to send you photos of mine so you can tell me the names of mine. Happy fall ! Xo Anna

    ReplyDelete
  41. Oh, this recipe looks so fabulous. I love the skin color! Wow, I can almost smell those ingredients roasting away.
    Definitely need to get a toad lily plant - what a gorgeous flower! We have been having a lovely fall too. Makes me very happy to have sunny fall days and to keep harvesting in the garden.

    ReplyDelete
  42. Receta maravillosa amo el pollo sus fotos fantásticas,abrazos.

    ReplyDelete
  43. I can't imagine you had a flop, let alone flops in the kitchen. But yes, when that happens, a delicious success is just what the Dr. ordered. This chicken sounds incredible. Love these types of recipes.

    ReplyDelete

I appreciate your comment!