The first week my family moved out to California we went to the local farmers' market. It is awesome! What's even more awesome is there are several fresh markets during the week in the outlying towns nearby. So in the event, I can't make it to my favorite one on Tuesdays, I can hit up the Friday one, or the Monday one, or even if necessary the Sunday market.
Every week holds new produce possibilities, some great deals (especially for California!) and lots of taste-testing for the kids. They look forward to our weekly visit. I try to plan out my meals loosely and then shop at the farmers' market for all our fresh produce needs (minus bananas).
Whatever is in season, economical and looks good is what ends up on our plates for the week!
Every week holds new produce possibilities, some great deals (especially for California!) and lots of taste-testing for the kids. They look forward to our weekly visit. I try to plan out my meals loosely and then shop at the farmers' market for all our fresh produce needs (minus bananas).
Whatever is in season, economical and looks good is what ends up on our plates for the week!
This Meyers lemon called out to me a few farmers' markets ago. So I purchased it. Check out the size of it! That's my hand and I have perfectly normal size hands.
It was beautiful!
And massive!
Side note here: On some of my outdoor runs, I pass by a neighbor that has several trees loaded with lemons. I have desperately longed to pluck a few from the branches. Is it illegal? I suppose. But it's not right to let good fresh lemons go to waste, aye? I haven't found my courage to just knock on the door and ask if I can load my arms up with the citrus yet. One of these days....
It was beautiful!
And massive!
Side note here: On some of my outdoor runs, I pass by a neighbor that has several trees loaded with lemons. I have desperately longed to pluck a few from the branches. Is it illegal? I suppose. But it's not right to let good fresh lemons go to waste, aye? I haven't found my courage to just knock on the door and ask if I can load my arms up with the citrus yet. One of these days....
And this is one of many pictures of the landscape on my run.
Ah.
Fog, ocean, cool weather, sea life....and a little too hilly for my weak legs :)
Ah.
Fog, ocean, cool weather, sea life....and a little too hilly for my weak legs :)
I didn't have a plan of action, so I gathered whatever was in my kitchen already. I like to work with what I have instead of buying obscure ingredients. Because sooner or later, the military will be ordering us to move and I can't take it all with me.
The white wine in our pantry was made with Meyers lemons! How cool is that?
I wish I could say it was intentional on my part.
Borrowing from this recipe, I brined the whole chicken for about 3 hours.
The white wine in our pantry was made with Meyers lemons! How cool is that?
I wish I could say it was intentional on my part.
Borrowing from this recipe, I brined the whole chicken for about 3 hours.
I have never brined before but wow! I am going to do it again! The flavor of the chicken was intensely present in every bite and I attribute it to the brine. And brine is merely time + water + salt! Easy, cheap, do it!
Afterward the chick brined, I dried it off, rubbed olive oil around it, peppered it (no salt) and stuffed with lemon slices and dill. I then squeezed leftover lemon juice on it.
There it is! Ready to roast!
Side note: I did add onion slices around the bird before roasting as we love onions!
Near the end of the roasting, I splashed some white wine into the pan.
Side note: I did add onion slices around the bird before roasting as we love onions!
Near the end of the roasting, I splashed some white wine into the pan.
And complete!
I realize some of the skin is missing.
I may or may not have eaten it before I could take a picture. A childhood memory that carries on.
I realize some of the skin is missing.
I may or may not have eaten it before I could take a picture. A childhood memory that carries on.
Moist, tender, nice lemon and dill tinge coupled with a hint of white wine...yum!
I added a fresh salad with ingredients from the farmers' market to complete the dinner. Fresh corn, cherry tomatoes (the best I've ever tasted!), lemon cucumber (a new variety I had never tried), green onions and mixed salad greens.
As for recipe specifics, I followed the Williams-Sonoma recipe noted above, for the brine and roasting temperatures. Incorporating the wine, lemon and dill were my own ideas.
My awesome, taste-testing hottie endorsed it with ****. Yep, 4 stars!
It's a hit!
A whole chicken is an easy meat to play with flavors. Thankfully everyone in my family eats chicken and then I usually make chicken broth from the leftover carcass so I feel like I get the most bang for my buck.
A great way to be frugal but eat to the max!
-Aly-
My awesome, taste-testing hottie endorsed it with ****. Yep, 4 stars!
It's a hit!
A whole chicken is an easy meat to play with flavors. Thankfully everyone in my family eats chicken and then I usually make chicken broth from the leftover carcass so I feel like I get the most bang for my buck.
A great way to be frugal but eat to the max!
-Aly-