Sneaking Greens on the Mister...

Or in other words...springing a new recipe for roasted chicken on him! I did that on Monday evening.  I like to collect recipe books, online recipes, and from other cooks everywhere.  I have plenty in my collection.  So Sunday, while planning shopping and cooking for the week, I grabbed The Quilter's Kitchen by Jennifer Chiaverini and scanned the book for something refreshing during our sweltering Spring Midwest weather.  Roast Chicken with Cilantro and Orange seemed perfect!  It was well received and here is the recipe:

1 bunch cilantro, leaves chopped, stems discarded
3 garlic cloves
2 shallots, halved
2 tsp. kosher salt
1 tsp. black pepper
1 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
Zest and juice of 1 orange
1/3 cup olive oil
Two 3-pound chickens, necks and giblets removed
1 orange, quartered

Place the cilantro, garlic, shallots, salt, pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes, if using, in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade and pulse until everything is chopped. Add the orange zest and juice and pulse again.  While the processor is running, slowly add the olive oil.
Rinse the chickens in cold water until the water runs clear.  Place each chicken in a large resealable plastic bag and add half the maridnade.  Be sure the cilantro-orange mixture gets into all the cavities.  Refrigerate at least 2 hours and up to overnight.  Turn the bag occasionally.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Place the chickens on a roasting pan and put 2 orange quarters in the cavity of each chicken.
Transfer to the oven and roast until the juices run clear, about 1 hour 15 minutes.  Let rest 10 minutes and serve.

Ok, for the two of us I used only one chicken and two cloves of garlic and one shallot.  The mister liked the taste and while he didn't collard greens, he did have cilantro flavoring used in this way for the first time...other than salsa.  I have leftovers for chicken salad for lunch today that will be served over salad greens...YuM!! 
I don't know about anyone else, but my eating habits change with the weather.  I love fresh fruits and veggies, salads, cottage cheese-anything chilled and easily tossed together for the summer-time weather.  I also love to bake and eat heavier foods as well as roasts, stews and soups in the cold weather.  I hope to share all of my favorites here!  I have a hankering to make a blueberry pie very soon even though the blueberries won't be ripe for a little while.  I'll have to grab a couple of bags of frozen blueberries from the store(and some vanilla ice cream to top it with).  I do have rhubarb to use from the yarden presently.  That is a favorite for the Mister, I do not care for it.  I'll make that up this week and share a recipe from my Mother-in-law!

In crafting news, another row added to the granny project, another to add today.  I've completed two scarves for the mission.  Also cast-on for a Baktus 'scarf'. I will have pics of these new projects to share tomorrow!  For now, there is laundry and other chores to keep me busy until the Mister gets home from work and then we are off to town to get...tada!: a new toaster oven...=]  Big time fun...at least I think so cause this is one practical Country Crafter...