I have wicked spring fever! It looks like winter is leaving early this year. Obviously this could change but I am really hoping it doesn’t. It is so beautiful out. And it so nice to be out of the windowless office.
A few weeks ago my son mentioned he wanted to cook dinner for us so we had him go through our cookery books to see what he would like to try out. He found a recipe for roast chicken that had a bacon stuffing with seaweed. With the exception of me, no one else would want seaweed and I don’t like roasting birds stuffed. So we brain stormed and came up with our own recipe. We finally had time to do it last night and it was a lot of fun to cook with him.
Preheat the oven to 325F/150C. Place the chicken in a shallow roasting pan. Add water and a bit of sherry to the pan. Coat the chicken with olive oil and season with sea salt and pepper. This chicken was just under 4lbs so we cooked it for an hour and a half.
Cut up 4 rashers of streaky bacon and render it into the skillet. While I was doing this my son was working on his knife skills getting the mushrooms and leeks ready. He’s 11 so I handled the raw meat and he took care of everything else. I was impressed with how he did. 🙂
Drain excess bacon fat then add the leeks and mushrooms to the skillet. Saute until the leeks have softened then add about a cup to a cup and a half of chicken stock and bring to a simmer. Add a couple of tablespoons of cognac and about the same amount of stone ground mustard. Stir well to blend and simmer to reduce by a third or so.
I had my son taste test to see if it was balanced. I have to say he has a really good palette. So I had him adjust the flavours as needed. He did really well with that!
Let the chicken rest for about 10 minutes before carving. We served it with roast potatoes and parsnips.
I really enjoyed spending one on one time with him doing this meal. He’s a neat kid. 🙂
Great adaption to go with your delicious roast chicken. Never too early to get the boys cooking on the stove. They need to know their way around the kitchen. I bet your son was happy about his part in the process.
He had a lot of fun as well. 🙂 I think he’ll take after his dad with skills in the kitchen. Which is a good thing!
Excellent Virginia. these life lessons will stay forever.
I hope so and I hope it’s a lovely memory for him as well.
A gorgeous meal good you are teaching the boys to cook. It’s a skill everyone should know and they certainly have a great teacher.
Good for you! If I had sons they would certainly know how to cook!
Aside from it being fun, it’s a life skill! Don’t want to starve. 😉
I don’t know how more people don’t starve!
It’s amazing how many people are scared of cooking. Most of it is quick and easy (your dreaded phrase!) but can be really good.
That’s exactly why I used to give cooking classes, and tons of demonstrations. I almost think the fancy chefs on tv, back about 15 years ago, scared people even more about home cooking, even tho what chefs do isn’t home cooking.
It did kind of back fire with all the fancy stuff. Such a shame.
What a lovely idea and I wish all mothers would cook with their sons, it makes for good husbands for the rest of us ;)!!
Absolutely! My husband is a fabulous cook. I get spoilt. 😊
11 years old and he wants to cook? That’s great! You two sure did come up with a great dish, too. Mom insisted that my brother and I learn how to cook. She didn’t want us to be helpless husbands. 🙂
Smart mom! My son has loved being in the kitchen for years. It’s easier now that he’s taller so he can handle taking the lead.
Pity not all mothers are like you. I think all children should learn to cook.
It’s a life skill. It’s a shame people don’t spend more time in the kitchen. Aside from being important, it’s fun! 🙂