Engagement Chicken

I have been chomping at the bit to write this post.  Ladies, if you are looking to get engaged this post is for you.  Ever heard of engagement chicken?  In 2002 the recipe was published in Glamour magazine but the recipe originated 26 years ago.  The then editor of Glamour passed on a simple chicken recipe to her assistant.  She made the recipe for her boyfriend who then asked her to marry her a month later.  When the editor found out that her recipe inspired three weddings, she dubbed it Engagement Chicken.

I have a friend who tried the recipe on her boyfriend about two months ago and while she is still not engaged, they have recently started talking about their future and might have even picked out babies names for their future children.  Interested now?

Here is what you need:

• 1 whole chicken (approximately 4 pounds)
• 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice, plus 3 whole lemons—including 1 sliced for garnish
• 1 tablespoon kosher or coarse sea salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• Fresh herbs for garnish (4 rosemary sprigs, 4 sage sprigs, 8 thyme sprigs, and 1 bunch fl at-leaf parsley)

1. Position an oven rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat the oven to 400°F. Remove the giblets from the chicken, wash the chicken inside and out with cold water, then let the chicken drain, cavity down, in a colander for 2 minutes.

2. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels. Place the chicken breast-side down in a medium roasting pan fitted with a rack and pour the lemon juice all over the chicken, both inside and out. Season the chicken all over with salt and pepper inside and out.

3. Prick 2 whole lemons three times each in three different places with a fork and place them deep inside the cavity. Chicken cavity size may vary, so if one lemon is partly sticking out, that’s fine. (Tip: If the lemons are stiff, roll them on the countertop with your palm before pricking to get the juices flowing.)

4. Put the chicken in the oven, lower the oven temperature to 350°F, and roast, uncovered, for 15 minutes.

5. Remove the roasting pan from the oven. Using tongs or two wooden spoons, turn the chicken breast- side up. Insert a meat thermometer in the thigh, and return the chicken to the oven and roast for about 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes or until the meat thermometer reads 180°F and the juices run clear when the thigh is pricked with a fork. Continue roasting if necessary. Keep in mind that cooking times in different ovens vary; roasting a chicken at 350°F takes approximately 18-20 minutes per pound, plus an additional 15 minutes.

6. Let the chicken rest for 10 minutes before carving. And here’s the secret: Pour the juices from the roasting pan on top of the sliced chicken— this is the “marry me juice.” Garnish with fresh herbs and lemon slices.

Doesn't it look yummy!

Warning:  Make sure you make it for the man of your dreams because it may lead to happily every after! :)

If any of you have had success with engagement chicken, email me.  I would love to hear your story!  If you are attempting this recipe for your significant other, let me know how it goes!