Herb Basted Chicken With Pearl Barley Bacon And Root Vegetable Pilaf Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Place the chicken on a rimmed baking pan.
• In a small bowl, stir to combine the olive oil, chopped rosemary, thyme, sage, red pepper flakes, grated garlic, lemon zest, 1 tablespoon salt and 2 teaspoons black pepper. Rub the chicken all over with half of the herb oil, being sure to spread some under the skin of the breasts and thighs to season the flesh. Stuff the cavity with the rosemary, thyme and sage sprigs, the bay leaves, 1/2 lemon and garlic head halves.
• Place the rutabaga, carrots and turnips in a large bowl. Toss to coat with the remaining herb oil. Scatter the vegetables around the chicken and transfer to the oven. Roast until the vegetables are tender and the chicken is cooked through, with an instant-read thermometer inserted at the thickest point of the thigh reading 160 degrees F, about 1 hour 15 minutes. Let rest 10 minutes before carving. Serve with the vegetables.

Steps:

• Pat the chickens dry inside and out. Generously season the skin and cavity of each with salt and pepper. Refrigerate, uncovered, at least 4 hours and up to overnight to dry out the skin.
• Let the chickens stand at room temperature for 30 minutes before roasting. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Mash the butter with the chopped thyme and rosemary in a small bowl. Gently slide your fingers under the skin on the breasts and legs of each chicken to loosen . Scoop some of the herbed butter with a spoon, slide the spoon under the skin on one chicken and hold the skin in place while you remove the spoon. Smooth the skin to distribute the butter; repeat with more butter if needed. Repeat with the second chicken and remaining herbed butter.
• Squeeze the juice of a lemon half into the cavity of each chicken, then stuff the lemon half inside. Stuff 3 cloves garlic, 1/2 onion, 1 thyme sprig and 1/2 rosemary sprig into each chicken cavity. Tie the legs together with twine. Put the chickens on a baking sheet next to each other.
• Toss the parsnip, potato, squash, olive oil and a large pinch of salt in a bowl, then add the vegetables to the baking sheet, scattering them around the chickens. Roast until the chickens are golden brown and a instant-read thermometer registers 165 degrees F, about 1 hour. Transfer the chicken and vegetables to platters and let rest about 10 minutes before carving.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a small nonstick skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp. Using a slotted spoon, remove to paper towels to drain. Cool, then refrigerate. , Drain skillet, reserving 2 teaspoons drippings. In drippings, saute barley, onion and mushrooms until barley is lightly browned and vegetables are tender. , Transfer to a 1-1/2-qt. baking dish coated with cooking spray. Stir in broth and pepper. Cover and bake 1 hour. , Stir in bacon; bake 5-10 minutes or until barley is tender and liquid is absorbed.