Roasted Chicken with Potatoes in the oven

Thyme and oregano grows abundant in Greece.  Therefore, it’s very characteristic that these two herbs are used so often in Greek dishes.  If you are ever in Greece and take a walk in the country, outside of the city, you will smell the pine trees but also the thyme and the oregano.  You just won’t get enough of that fragrant smell.  And if you cut a small branch of either oregano or thyme and rub it between your fingers, the aroma will linger till you decide to wash your hands.

 

My mother used to make this dish almost every Sunday, while I was growing up.  I used to love this dish and still do.  The lemon juice and the olive oil make the chicken crispy golden on the outside and juicy inside.  The potatoes turn golden brown and crispy outside but soft and tender inside.  The oregano and thyme just give this dish an altogether different flavor, so delicious that you end up licking your fingers when you are done eating the chicken wings, as I used to and still do.  Nobody can have the chicken wings from this dish.

Enjoy!!!

Roasted Chicken with Potatoes in the oven

12x9 pan (pan measures inside the rim)

Four (4-6) Servings

4 cups potatoes quartered (approximately 6 medium size potatoes)

1 whole chicken (about 3.5lbs)

¼ cup lemon juice (juice of one lemon approximately)

½ tsp oregano

½ tsp thyme

½ tsp ground pepper

½ tsp salt

½ cup olive oil

½ cup water

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Rinse and wash chicken well inside and out.  Set aside.  Peel, wash and quarter the potatoes.  Set the chicken in the middle of an ovenproof pan.  Spread the potatoes around the chicken.  Sprinkle the chicken and the potatoes with the oregano, thyme, pepper and salt.  Drizzle with the olive oil.  Add the water in the pan. 

 The dish before it goes in the oven 

Bake uncovered in a 350 degree oven for 2 hours approximately, or till the chicken is crispy golden and clear juices run out when tested with the fork; the potatoes should be crispy on the outside but soft inside.  Test with a fork for doneness.  

                                          

The dish when it comes out of the oven

It makes a great Sunday meal!!!

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size                             1 serving 14.318oz (405.9g) 

                                              (these calories per serving are approximate for four (4) servings).

Amount Per Serving

            Calories                       620

Calories from Fat                      233

Total Fat                                   25.9g               40%

Saturated Fat                             4.7g                23%

Cholesterol                             198mg                66%

Sodium                                  363mg                15%

Total Carbohydrates                 16.8g                  6%

Dietary Fiber                             2.6g                 10%

Sugars                                     1.4g

Protein                                     76.3g

Spinach Cheese pie (Spanakotyropita)

For my first recipe post, I picked the most difficult of the Greek dishes to make.  But I love Spinach and Cheese pie (Spanakotyropita).  And so does my whole family.  Since I was making it for all of us, I thought it would be nice to post it on my blog.  Enjoy!!!

Spinach Cheese pie (Spanakotyropita)              

52 servings or 1.5 oz each piece approximately

15x10 ovenproof glass pan (pan measures inside the rim)

1 Pkg (16 oz) phyllo dough (Athens brand or any phyllo dough will do)

2 pkg (12 oz each) frozen cut leaf spinach

½ cup green onion chopped

½ cup shallots chopped

1 cup flat leaf parsley chopped

2 tbsps olive oil

16 oz low fat cottage cheese

1 and ½ cups crumbled feta cheese (12 oz)

½ tsp ground pepper

¼ tsp salt

¼ tsp ground nutmeg

4 eggs

¾ cup olive oil (for brushing the phyllo dough sheets between layering)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Defrost the frozen spinach and drain any excess water by squeezing between your hands.  Set aside.  Chop the green onions, shallots, and parsley.  Set aside. In a frying pan, over a hot stove, pour the 2 tbsp of olive oil and sauté the green onions and shallots till transparent.  Add the frozen spinach and parsley.  Heat through.  Turn off the heat and remove the pan from the hot stove. 

            

In a bowl, mix together the low fat cottage cheese, the crumbled feta and the eggs.  Add to the spinach mixture.  Make sure the spinach mixture is cool or the eggs will curdle.  Add the ground pepper, salt and ground nutmeg.  Set aside.

          

Have the ¾-cup olive oil handy with a brush.  Brush the 15x10 pan with olive oil generously.  Open up the package of phyllo dough.  There should be two small packages in the box.  Take the one out and open it up.  Have to work quite fast with phyllo dough since it dries quickly. In order for it not to dry out, cover it with a damp towel.  Take one phyllo dough sheet and place at the bottom of the pan.  Brush with oil. 

       The picture, above, shows with a few phyllo dough sheets already layered and brushed with oil.

Take another phyllo sheet and continue layering at the bottom of the pan brushing with olive oil in between.  Make sure the whole pan is completely covered with some of the phyllo dough extending at the ends of the pan (once the filling is poured in you will be able to fold the excess phyllo dough and hold the filling inside). 

       This picture, above, shows with the one package of phyllo dough layered. 

When you are finished layering the first package of phyllo dough pour the spinach/cheese mixture. 

                    This picture, above, shows with the spinach mixture.

Now fold the ends of the phyllo dough on top of the filling. 

                                    With the ends folded in.

Continue layering with the phyllo dough sheets brushing with olive oil in between the sheets. 

                          Completed with all the phyllo dough sheets

When finished, take a serrated knife and cut the pie into diagonal pieces. 

Place in the oven at 350 degrees and bake for one hour and 45 minutes or until the top is golden brown.  Serve when cool. 

                                  Hot right out of the oven.

ENJOY!!!

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size                             1serving(47.8 g)

Amount Per Serving

            Calories                       93

Calories from Fat                      55

Total Fat                                   6.1g                       9%

Saturated Fat                             1.8g                       9%

Cholesterol                              21mg                       7%

Sodium                                 178mg                       7%

Total Carbohydrates                   6.1g                       2%

Dietary Fiber                             0.5g                       2%

Sugars                                     0.4g

Protein                                     3.6g