Saturday, September 25, 2010

Dinner tonight

Tonight I am trying Delicata squash!  I've read some rave reviews, so I am excited to try it.  It's roasting in the oven right now at 425, along with one cubed white potato, 1 zucchini, and 1 yellow onion.  We're having it with the thighs and legs of a roast chicken, re-heated from last night's dinner party.

I love roasting a chicken for dinner parties.  For one thing, they are cheap!  I can get two chickens for 10 dollars at Costco.  4 to 5 people can easily get full from 1 large chicken and two sides.  Add three sides and bread and you've got dinner for 6, easily!

Making sauce from the drippings is easy.  First, make sure you throw some carrots, onion and celery under the bird, and a whole head of garlic alongside.  When the bird is done pour a little chicken stock (or water will do in a pinch) over the veggies in the pan and scrape up the tasty brown bits from the bottom of the pan.  Dump the veggies into a sauce pan.  Cut the top off the head of garlic and squeeze the soft cloves into the pan with the stock and veggies.  Add even more broth (you want a lot of sauce, trust me!)...maybe 2 cups or so.

Boil the heck out of the broth and veggies, then when it's reduced by half, strain the veggies out, and add the sauce back to the pan.  Swirl in 1 tablespoon of - yes - butter until it's melted.

You don't even want to know how many calories it is!  It's a bit, although it could be worse...And it's for special occasions, so no worries about the calories!