I'm often looking for meals that can be completed without hours of prep, but that will also deliver in the nutrition area. Canned soups, frozen dinners, and boxed-a-ronis are out for various reasons, but mostly because they are empty calories. By keeping to a nutrient-dense traditional foods diet, I know we are getting the nutrition we need to maintain and/or heal our bodies. However, it's often thought that keeping such a diet necessarily requires long and labor intensive hours in the kitchen. I will admit that I spend more time in the kitchen since getting married and becoming the main chef in the house, but I mostly think this is due to the fact that I like being in there. I love to experiment, try out recipes, throw eggs on the floor, and in general make a mess for my husband to clean up (Our rule: I cook, he cleans! Hehehe!). Now I've gotten off topic. My main point: eating a healthy traditional foods diet, does not mean never stepping outside the kitchen. Today I have a new recipe to prove it.
Since I was a little girl I have been enjoying this meal; my mom would prepare it to the delight of the entire family. It's just delicious! It uses everyday ingredients, can be adjusted to seasonal vegetable availability, and the best part is that the entire meal fits into one pan! Easy peasy with no more than 15 minutes of prep!
Garlic Roasted Chicken & Veggies
Ingredients
4 T. butter (or more)
6 chicken leg/thigh quarters
24 garlic cloves, unpeeled
A variety of vegetables to fill the pan
Sea Salt to taste
1/4 cup Grade B maple syrup or honey
Instructions
1. Melt butter in a large roasting pan in the oven at 400 degrees.
2. Meanwhile, cut chicken leg/thighs apart at joints. Cut vegetables into bite-sized pieces.
3. Remove pan from oven when the butter is melted. Carefully tip pan to coat the entire bottom with the melted butter.
4. Place chicken pieces, and harder vegetables (potatoes, carrots, etc) if using, and garlic into the pan. Turn ingredients to coat with melted butter. Leave chicken skin-side up. Then sprinkle with 1 teaspoon of sea salt.
5. Place pan in oven and cook for 40 minutes. Remove pan from oven, and baste chicken and vegetables.
6. Add softer vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, etc.) to pan and coat chicken and veggies with honey.
7. Put pan back into the oven for 20 minutes more. Then, remove from oven and enjoy!
This was shared at The Healthy Home Economist's Monday Mania.
