Project Roasting, accomplished!

I've long held this crazy fear of roasting a whole chicken. I know to all those seasoned cooks out there, roasting a chicken is probably a standard part of Cooking 101, but to me it was a new culinary experience. I was intimidated by the entire process, from pulling the disgusting gizzard gunk out of the raw bird to ensuring that the meat was cooked all the way through without drying it out.

Before
After
On Sunday night, I donned my down-home cooking gloves and tackled the fowl with confidence. After a healthy salt & peppering and olive oil rub, I popped that baby in the oven and waited for the magic to happen. The timer went off 90 minutes later, and what went in to the oven as a pasty, raw hunk of Salmonella emerged beautiful, golden, crispy and fragrant. Paired with mashed potatoes, skillet corn and cucumber salad, we sat down to a delicious dinner. I no longer fear the roast chicken!

Dinner is served!