Lemon baked chicken

Here is an easy to bake chicken dish that is NOT over powered by flavoring. It uses garlic and fresh lemon to enhance the taste. Also a quick to put together recipe for mashed roasted sweet potato.

Just in time for a break from typical holiday fare!

Ingredients:

¼ cup good olive oil
3 tablespoons minced garlic (9 cloves)
1/3 cup chicken stock
1 tablespoon grated lemon zest (2 lemons)
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
1½ teaspoons dried oregano
1 teaspoon minced fresh thyme leaves
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
4 – 6 chicken thighs about 2 lbs
1 lemon
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3 large sweet potatoes

½ cup non-fat creamer

3 tbs brown sugar

3 tbs maple syrup

3 tbs butter

pinch of salt + pepper

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Scrub the potatoes and place on foil lined pan.

Let roast for 45 to 55 minutes or until a light sticky juice starts to come out. Remove and let cool to the touch.

While cooling:

Warm the olive oil in a small saucepan over medium-low heat, add the garlic, and cook for just 1 minute but don't allow the garlic to turn brown. Off the heat, add the Stock, lemon zest, lemon juice, oregano, thyme, and 1 teaspoon salt and pour into a 9 by 12-inch baking dish.

Pat the chicken dry and place them skin side up over the sauce. Brush with olive oil and sprinkle them liberally with salt and pepper. Cut the lemon in 8 wedges and tuck it among the pieces of chicken.

Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, depending on the size of the chicken, until the chicken is done and the skin is lightly browned. You want 155 to 160 degrees

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Back to the sweet potatoes:

slice them down the middle lengthwise and spoon out the insides into a large bowl.

In a small bowl mix the butter with the sugar and syrup. If you like add some oregano and a bit of thyme to the mix.

Pour the creamer into the sweet potatoes and mix in the sugar mix. Use a hand masher to mix well and get the consistency you want. Place in a covered microwave casserole, then reheat for about 2 minutes when chicken is done.

If the chicken isn't browned enough by the end of 45 minutes, put it under the broiler for 2 minutes.

This step is important!

Cover the pan tightly with aluminum foil and allow to rest for

10 minutes. 

Sprinkle with salt and serve hot with the pan juices.
This will finish the cooking and draw flavor back into the chicken.

While that rests, re-heat the sweet potatoes and do a side green vegetable to balance the meal.

The lemon- garlic sauce really enhances the natural great taste of the chicken.

Make sure and let the chicken rest for 10 minutes-- the juices absorb into the chicken for maximum flavor! You want it to reach 165 degrees.

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Have a wonderful meal!

socialslave

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