Roasted Chicken and Root Vegetables Made Magic

If there was ever a perfect tavern-style meal, it'd be this one.

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So, funny story, but I actually got the idea for this recipe because I had nothing in the fridge that looked like a possible dinner-to-be.

Some bruised apples, a few carrots that I needed to get rid of, a couple onions—that's all I had for vegetables. And the first time I tried this, I had nothing but chicken thighs, so I was just riffing off someone's idea to bake the chicken on top of it. It turned out delicious, of course—especially with the typical spices you might find in a sweet and caramelized thing like roasted apples and onions and carrots—but I thought a better application of this would be with a whole chicken.

I don't think I need to say what my conclusion was.

Now, I have a cast iron Dutch oven that I both bake my bread in and do things like this in. (And while the clean-up in a cast iron pot is a little annoying, I gotta say, having my next sourdough loaf be vaguely flavored with leftover chicken fat and cinnamon is a type of holiness I have not quite experienced anywhere else in terms of savory baked goods.) But if you don't have a cast iron pot, a ceramic one will do just fine too; you just want to be able to cover your chicken so it cooks evenly with all the steam inside.

But as this is a pretty customizable recipe, you can also mix other root vegetables in! Maybe you want to toss some potatoes right in there with the vegetables rather than make them separately, or add other sweet roots like beets! Whatever you do, you know you're in for a hearty meal—and with this one, the apple, carrot, and nutmeg work together to make this a meal to strengthen your bond with your loved ones and invite growth, healing, and luck.

Magic in Sausage & Peppers

With these three ingredients, apple, carrot, and nutmeg, you've got plenty of healing energy (with immortality and healing from the apple, healing from the nutmeg), as well as fertility from carrot, love from apple, and fidelity and luck from the nutmeg, all wrapped up together.

The energies of Mars, Jupiter, and Venus come together here, along with fire and water, to both spark your passions, boost your energy, and attract the right things to you. Of course, it'll also help you stabilize and grow your relationship with your lover, if that's what you choose, as these items are talented in inspiring fidelity, love, and lust, as well. Whether you're just trying to get some loving undertones to an empowering dish, or spice up your relationship, this meal will bring a cozy feeling that's perfect for the cooler months of the year.

Roasted Chicken and Root Vegetables

Prep time: 30 minutes

Cook time: 105 minutes

Makes 3-4 Servings

Ingredients:

5 pound	Whole Chicken, gizzards removed
3 Medium	Apples, peeled & diced
2 Large	Onions, sliced
5 Medium	Carrots, peeled & chopped
5 Cloves	Garlic, peeled
1/2 Tbsp	Cinnamon, some for veg, some for chicken
1 tsp	Nutmeg
3 Large Sprigs	Thyme
Olive Oil	For Drizzling
Salt & Pepper	To Taste

*Note: cook time depends on the weight of the chicken! It's 20min per pound, with the last 30min being uncovered. Cook to an internal temperature of 165 at its thickest!

Directions:

• Chop your vegetables & apples. & put in a bowl Set aside 1/4 of an apple & onion.

• Drizzle olive oil in bowl, then add cinnamon, thyme, & nutmeg. Mix well.

• Put your cold Dutch oven in the oven and preheat to 425.

• Pat chicken dry & stuff with onion, garlic, thyme, apple, & optional cinnamon stick & star anise.

• Tie legs closed with butcher's twine, then put olive oil, salt, pepper, cinnamon, & nutmeg on top & rub it in.

• Add veggies to Dutch oven, then nestle chicken in and cover, cooking 1 hr 15min covered, 30min uncovered.

• Serve with potatoes or bread.

I adore this meal. It makes me feel like my kitchen is a cute little Dungeons & Dragons tavern, and with a good piece of bread on the side of the rich vegetables and juicy chicken, it's also hearty, filling, and so very satisfying. Give it a try!