Start With A Meat Night

As I mentioned yesterday, all this week I plan on giving you some tips on getting the most out of a whole chicken.  Because this is a multi-step process that I do over the course of a few days, I would like to break the posts down in the same steps in which I cook the chicken.

First, I purchase the chicken.  I try to buy a five pound bird to feed my family of four for seven days.  You may decide to go bigger, smaller, or buy a couple.  The average price of a whole chicken in my area is $0.89 per pound.  Though the prices in your area may be higher, they will still probably be the best value, on average.

Depending on the brand of chicken you buy, the cavity of the bird should contain its gizzards and heart.  Many people throw this away.  Why?  You paid for it, you should use it.  Throw them in a bag and put the bag in the freezer.  I'll get to that meal later this week.

Now preheat the oven to 325 degrees.  Run the bird under cold tap water to rinse off most of the blood.  Place it in a 13" x 9" glass pan.  I put the bird breast side down so the juices accumulate in the breast meat, which makes the meat more tender and less dry.  Then pour 2 to 3 tablespoons of olive oil over the chicken.  Season it all over.  I prefer plain salt and pepper, but rosemary, basil, or parsley taste good too.  Be sure to season the inside cavity of the chicken as well to help the meat absorb more of the flavor.  Then bake it in the oven for 20 minutes per pound (a five pound chicken would cook for 90 minutes) or until the meat reaches 180 degrees with a heat thermometer and the juices run clear.

The first night is our "meat" night.  Usually I use meat as a condiment, but once the chicken is cooked, we will have a straight meat, potatoes, and vegetable meal.  Go ahead and eat your favorite part, whether it is the breast, leg, or wing.  Just be sure to stick to a standard 3 ounce serving or you will never make the chicken last all seven nights.

Tomorrow, I'll talk about carving up the chicken and give you one of my favorite recipes for making your chicken last: Chicken and Biscuits with Gravy!

http://www.diva-living.com/