From My Kitchen- Caribbean Style Roasted Chicken Recipe

I have been getting so many nagging requests lately about posting my recipes on the blog from friends. I promised to do better this year and will be sharing more of my family favorite recipes and tips. I cooked a whole roasted chicken over the weekend and it was the best I've ever made. I didn't know I would end up sharing the recipe, so I have no step-by-step photos to share-- just the delicious end result. This chicken was full of Caribbean flavor and super juicy and tender.

Ingredients:

1 whole chicken, 5-8 pounds
one handful each of fresh cilantro and Italian parsley
One large green onion
3 cloves of fresh garlic
small piece of hot pepper like habanero or scotch bonnet (optional and highly recommended)
dried seasonings- here are my faves
*1/2 cup Mojo marinade

Helpful items: A large/wide bowl or glass dishware for marinating, a large baking sheet, parchment paper, aluminum foil

What to do:

Start with splitting your whole chicken down the back to remove backbone and excess fat. I prefer this method to get more even cooking and browning. Wash chicken with lime or lemon and pat dry with paper towels.  You will have to apply some pressure to get the breast to flatten a bit. Do not remove skin! Sprinkle chicken on both sides with your dried seasonings to your taste. In a blender or vegetable chopper, grind garlic, herbs, green onion and hot pepper with a small amount of water just enough to make a puree. Pour herb puree and mojo marinade all over, and leave chicken in the fridge for 2 hours or even overnight. Preheat oven at 385 degrees. Place chicken breast side up on pan lined with foil and parchment paper. Bake for around one hour depending on your oven. I use the convection setting on my oven for extra crispiness and deeper browning. If your wings start browning too quickly, you can wrap them loosely with foil and remove in the last 10 minutes of cooking. Let your chicken rest at least 15 minutes before cutting/carving.

Serve with your favorite side dishes. I recommend my favorite Guyanese cook-up rice to make this a real authentic Caribbean meal. My family raves over this chicken and an 8 pound bird was devoured in a couple days with no waste! Don't forget to Pin this recipe for later! Enjoy and thanks for stopping by.

*This post contains affiliate links. I posted the products in case you can't find them locally.  

The Fresh Market's Little Big Meal Program

I wanted to pass along these great deals for those who live near The Fresh Market

Available every day of the month, The Fresh Market offers shoppers convenient, grab-and-go solutions for preparing a home-cooked meal with its “Little Big Meal” program! Shoppers now have the answer to the perennial “What’s for dinner?” question at their fingertips.  With hand-picked ingredients and a simple recipe, Little Big Meal offers a quick and easy wholesome meal for four -- starting at just $10!  Shoppers may simply stop by the “Little Big Meal” display every day of the week to choose from a variety of ingredient options to prepare the perfect feast.

WHO: The Fresh Market, a specialty grocery retailer focused on providing fresh, delicious fare, locally sourced products, convenient meal solutions and an expanding selection of household items in an inviting atmosphere

WHAT/WHEN: January “Little Big Meal” Schedule

Visit your neighborhood The Fresh Market any day of the week in January to pick up the below convenient meal solutions:

January 4-10 – Stir Fry

January 11-17 – Meatloaf 

January 18-24 – Tacos
January 25-31 – Slow Cooker  
WHERE: The Fresh Market’s 177 store locations nationwide

For local store information, please visit: https://www.thefreshmarket.com/all-stores/

MORE INFO: For more information on the “Little Big Meal” program and this month’s options, please visit: http://www.thefreshmarket.com/view-specials/littlebigmeal

Be sure to follow The Fresh Market on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

About The Fresh Market, Inc.

Founded in 1982, The Fresh Market, Inc. is a specialty grocery retailer focused on providing an inviting atmosphere; fresh, delicious fare; convenient meal solutions; an expanding selection of household items; and a variety of products to help its shoppers live a healthy lifestyle. The company operates 177 stores in 24 states across the U.S. For more information, please visit www.thefreshmarket.com or follow along on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Tips to Celebrate Martin Luther King Day

1) Organize your workplace, school or community group. Maximize your impact by organizing a group to serve the community with an activity done at your own location in honor of Martin Luther King Day. Choose a local charity and determine the best way for your group to show support. Ideas include packing snack bags for after school programs, collecting coats and hats for a homeless shelter, planting trees, creating a mentoring program, or writing letters of support to our military abroad.

2) Teach your children. The kids are home from school. Remember, as a Day of Service MLK day is supposed to be "a day on, not a day off." Plan an activity of service and involve your children. Show by your example that volunteerism is important to your family and help to cultivate a new generation of compassionate, community- minded citizens.

3) Raise needed goods. Support a local charity with a drive for the goods they need to serve the community. An online YouGiveGoods drive is the new way to raise food and supplies for charity. You can set up your drive in a matter of minutes and have it underway in time for MLK Day this year. Then invite your online community via email and social media to support your cause by purchasing items that will ship to your selected charity. A YouGiveGoods drive builds up your community as it offers tangible aid to local charity and it provides a welcome opportunity for your friends and family to be part of this year's MLK Day.

4) Spread the message. Use social media (use hashtag #MLKDay) to share MLK's ideals and inspiring words. You will find his words to be stunningly timely and relevant in today's world. Forward this page, talk about what you will do in honor of MLK Day, and encourage your circle of friends to take action to support the community.

5) Commit to service in 2017. Use Martin Luther King's example to plan a 2017 where you take action. If you are unable to volunteer on January 16, simply spend some time researching, choose your charity, make that phone call and find out how you can best serve them in the future. Charities need help all year long!

Nursery Design Trends in 2017

If you are expecting a new baby and are currently trying to figure out a nursery theme or even find a starting place, check out the infographic below. It has a lot of great ideas as far as choosing colors and patterns. Get inspired!

Nursery Design Trends for 2017 by 76th & Newbury

The Detox Dream: Simple Ways To Look And Feel Fabulous

Have you overdone it over the festive period or are you desperate to stick to a New Year’s resolution and get healthy in 2017? If so, you’ve come to the right place. At this time of year, the word detox tends to get bandied around, as well as look to undo the indulgence of the last few weeks, and get back on an even keel. You don’t have to go into overdrive and eat nothing but juice for the next few months, but it is helpful to treat your body to some much-needed TLC. Here are some simple ways you can embrace detoxing in a healthy way, and ensure you look and feel fabulous in the months ahead.

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Rest

You’ve had a week off, but you probably feel like that you could do with a month-long vacation afterwards. Even if you don’t work over the festive period, it tends to be a busy time, and before you know it, those hotly anticipated days off have been and gone. If you’ve had a hectic few weeks, take time to chill out, and rest. January, with its long, dark nights, is the perfect time to cozy up, enjoy some nights in, and try and catch up on lost sleep. Try and get into an effective sleep routine, which ensures that you get enough sleep every night. If you have children, you probably try your hardest to get them to bed on time, so apply the same level of commitment to your own sleep regime. If you need eight hours every night and you’re up at 6 am or work, aim to head up to bed at 10 pm. Some nights won’t go to plan, but if you get used to a timetable, you should find it much easier to get the sleep you need. 

If you have trouble switching off, do something relaxing before you go to bed. Read a book, do some coloring or run yourself a bubble bath. Anything you find enjoyable that doesn’t require you to concentrate too much should work a treat. 

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Take a break from drinking

The festive season is probably the most heavy duty when it comes to alcohol consumption. Even if you don’t usually drink much, you may find that your intake soars during the holidays. Drinking excessively takes its toll on your liver, and it can also lead to dehydration and sluggishness. If you feel like you’ve partied too hard, or you’ve drunk too much, try and take a break from alcohol. Many people attempt dry January every year. If you don’t want to give up alcohol altogether, this is fine. Just make sure that you take it steady and stick to the recommended weekly intake of 14 units. 

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Cleanse your body and mind

Have you been feeling stressed of late? Have the last few weeks finally caught up with you? Do you feel tired or are you under the weather? If so, why not take steps to cleanse your mind and body? Take some time out to recharge your batteries, and avoid making plans for a couple of weeks. Spend your weekends relaxing, and leave work at the office. 

There are lots of ways you can detox. If you search online, you’ll come up with all kinds of weird and wonderful suggestions. You can try techniques for size, or stick to simple methods that work well for most people. One of the easiest things you can do is cut out sugary, caffeinated drinks and drink water, green tea and lemon-infused hot water. These fluids are natural cleansers, which will clean your body and rid you of toxins without you having to endure awful tastes or grueling diets. If you’re interested in finding out more about the benefits of drinking lemon water, take a look at www.thealternativedaily.com/lemon-remedies/. 

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Eat the right foods

Have you spent the last few weeks grazing on buffet leftovers or demolishing boxes of chocolates? Most of us indulge at Christmas, and the New Year is the perfect time to get back to your normal eating habits, and try and embrace a healthy diet. Your diet is so important for all aspects of your health, and eating well really doesn’t have to boring. There are loads of great recipes and cookbooks out there, and you can try a whole range of different foods. You don’t have to survive on salads for the next three months. It’s hugely beneficial to include a broad spectrum of fruit and vegetables in your diet. These foods are packed with essential nutrients, and the more you can eat, the better. It’s also advisable to think about the way you cook and prepare food. Grilling, baking, and roasting are better for you than frying. If you are frying food, use coconut or olive oil, rather than sunflower or vegetable oil. If you’re looking for more simple healthy eating tips, it’s worth visiting http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/HealthyLiving/HealthyEating/Nutrition/Tips-for-Eating-Healthy_UCM_457979_Article.jsp#.WG4kGPmLTIU. 

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Get moving

Exercising is a powerful waste disposal method, which enables you to remove toxins and cleanse your body from the inside out. Sweating is designed to cool us down when we get hot, but it’s also a means of removing toxins through the skin. Exercise also boosts circulation and kidney function. The kidneys are your body’s filters, so they play an important role in detoxing. When you hear the word exercise, you may be filled with dread at the thought of even stepping into a gym. The goods news is that you don’t have to lift weights or run for miles on a treadmill to get in shape. There are hundreds of different activities you can try. Join a tennis club or offer to walk your neighbor’s dog every day. Try martial arts or enroll in a trampolining class. As long as your heart’s pumping and your muscles are working, you’re on the right track. 

It’s that time of year when we all feel the need to undo a bit of overindulgence and give detoxing a go. If you’re keen to get in shape, boost your energy levels, and recover from the last few weeks, take these suggestions on board. Hopefully, you’ll be looking and feeling fantastic in no time at all.