Cooking chicken on a lazy Sunday afternoon

I found a good video on You tube and learned how to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQ9KzML_CFw truss a chicken. The rest of the process I learned from working at Henry's Family Restaurant when I was just a teenager.

Part one: I pulled some carrots and onions from our garden this morning. Chopped them up and poured them into the bottom of a pan (amazing aroma from the fresh vegetables). Then added celery that we bought from the grocery store. Put a little water in the bottom of the pan. Add the chicken and cover in foil.

Part two: This chicken was 4.75 lbs so I put it into the oven at 375 for about an hour and a half. Then I pulled the foil off and rubbed the outside with butter, salt and pepper. Place it back in the oven for another 20-30 minutes. A total cooking time of 2 hours. The temperature ended up at a little over 180 which is definitely done for poultry. I pulled it out of the pan and started working around the chicken with a chef knife.

Part three: I spent some time cutting away the legs, thighs, breasts etc until I had removed all of the meat from the chicken. Placed it into a Tupperware container and then into the fridge to cool down. So for about $4.50 I've got enough pre-cooked chicken to last the whole week. Bam!!

Have a good week, -Jeremy and Ellen