Monday, April 5, 2010

Easter Celebrations

We had a great Easter Day yesterday - thanks for all your best wishes, and for your own lovely Easter Posts. We went to church in the morning, gardened/played in the garden in the afternoon, and ate together in the evening, continuing an ongoing family game of 'Taboo' between courses.We ate the first strawberries of the year (French) with shortbread made to Sumea's recipe, for pudding.
On the table was a vintage embroidered cloth and a tulip, rescued from the soil, where it was found dry and drooping after having been knocked over by the dog. Our own little Easter resurrection!
The main course came from a recipe I found in Sherri's House Beautiful Magazine.
It was so simple but yummy that I've copied it here for you - I hope you enjoy it!
STUFFED CHICKEN WITH COGNAC
j
Serves 4 to 8
j
1 whole organic chicken
3 apples of your choice
1 cup chicken broth/stock
3/4 cup prunes
5 shallots, peeled
10 cloves garlic, peeled
1 cup good Cognac
j
Season chicken with salt and pepper. Cut apples into wedges. Stuff apples, prunes, shallots, and garlic cloves into the cavity of the chicken, and place some around the chicken. Band the chicken with cooking string to secure legs and wings. Pour broth over chicken.
j
Pat some butter over the body of the chicken and roast at 350 degrees (180°C) for 40 minutes. Remove pan from oven and carefully pour Cognac over the body of the chicken. Return pan to oven and keep roasting, basting occasionally, about another 50 minutes or until chicken is done.

16 comments:

JuanitaTortilla said...

Hi Floss, that roast chicken looks really delicious... in fact, I can smell it from here :D

Hope you've had a lovely Easter celebration with your boys!

Elderberry-Rob said...

What a lovely spread. We had lots of singing and clapping and even a bit of jigging about in church (to 'he has risen') and daffodils to take home, Sunday dinner and rum and coke in the conservatory (not the kids ha ha).

magsmcc said...

Lots of festivity here too! Lent was deep and rich and yesterday pulled it all together- I was quite sad to see it end! But our new rector had installed a Christ is Risen candle to be lit every week from now to Pentecost, and I'm looking for a devotional book to read now as we wait for the Spirit! Any ideas?

Sarah - Red Gingham said...

That sounds like a lovely day. Those strawberries look so delish and so red! Did they taste as good as they look? Sounds like the weather is improving over in France if you managed to get into the garden.

Elizabethd said...

What a super recipe, thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed your day.

sarah-jane down the lane said...

Ooh Floss how yummy and how nice to see a snippet of your Easter festivities, I cant help but think of Chocolat..... Hmm I might have to dig out the Dvd come to think of it!

Happy Easter,

Sarah x

Cape Cod Rambling Rose said...

Your dinner looks lovely! Glad you had a joyous Easter!

maryannlucy said...

What a lovely celebratory meal. Happy Easter x

silverpebble said...

Oh it's lovely to see your delicious Easter eats Floss. That chicken looks absolutely mouthwatering! I hope you've had a joyful weekend x

Lola Nova said...

Sounds as though you had a lovely holiday, thank you for sharing the pictures of your festivities as well as the recipe!

Michela said...

Even your Easter trees look vintage and so charming!!!
We ate strawberries too..not sure from where they came though ;-)

Kissed by an Angel said...

What a delightful day and a wonderful meal!
xxxx

Sherri B. said...

So pleased you found something you could use from the magazine, I am taking my mother out today and we will hit the senior center in Portland that Lola blogged about today. It will be the first day of the great egg cup hunt brought on by your Fench magazine that you sent me. I will keep you posted. Thanks again.

Emma said...

I've just found your blog and LOVE LOVE LOVE it! So pretty!
I really love the fabric eggs on your Easter tree- did you buy or make them? If you made them then how? They are very lovely indeed, and would add a bit of variety to my Easter tree which only has painted eggs on it!
From Emma
:)
(the-j-team@hotmail.co.uk)

Anonymous said...

such a delectable post. i am really chuffed you tried my (actualy my friend betty's) shortbread.
looks like you all had a splendid easter.
sorry to be a bit belated with my good wishes - had sick animals to attend to. thankfully, they are fit and well again now.

have a fabulous rest of the week, it's still spring so i think it's good to carry the celebrations on :o)

xxx

sumea

Serenata said...

What a perfect Easter Sunday - family, good times and lovely food!