If you're still at a loss and you still don't know where to begin a healthier eating plan, start with a chicken. Roasting a chicken on the weekends is something that I have done for a long time. We usually eat the chicken for dinner then I package up the leftovers for sandwiches, tacos, salads and casseroles that we eat throughout the week. Grilled chicken is such a great source of protein and if it's already cooked and in the refrigerator, it's a super easy weeknight meal.
Bourbon Smoked Chicken
2 quarts water
9 Tablespoons bourbon
1/4 cup brown sugar
3 Tablespoons salt
2 quarts ice water
1 Tablespoon black peppercorns
3 bay leaves
3 garlic cloves
1 onion, quartered
1 apple, quartered
1 lemon, quartered
1 four pound chicken
1 Tablespoon butter
Combine 2 quarts water, 1/2 bourbon, sugar and salt a large pot. Bring to a boil. Add ice water and stir until dissolved. Add next 7 ingredients.
Add chicken to brine. Cover and refrigerate for 18 hours.
Remove from brine. Pat chicken dry and place in a grill pan. I put mine on a sittin' chicken stand.
I put the fruit and onions around the chicken in the bottom of the pan. Not sure if it added any flavor but it was worth a shot.
Combine butter with 1 Tablespoon bourbon and baste chicken while it cooks.
Smoke chicken until breast meat reaches 165 degrees and the skin is golden brown.
I would have liked to see the outside of the bird get a little darker but I was afraid of drying out the meat if I left it on the grill any longer. The chicken turned out really moist and flavorful. I couldn't taste the bourbon but other than that - a delicious chicken.
What healthy change are you going to make in your eating habits this week? Send me a comment and let me know.
Ciao!
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