Roasted Chicken and Plums for Martha Monday

This weeks assignment comes from Brette, the mastermind behind  Martha Mondays. If you want to join in, or are interested in what we are doing, she has  all the info! This week she picked Roasted Chicken with Plums. I was eager to try this dish and got on it right away. But… 

 

 

 

 

 

I was a little disappointed. The chicken came out fantastic. Juicy and flavorful. But those plums. Man, were they tart. I cant blame the misfortune of the tart plums on Martha, So I’m thinking of blaming Trader Joe’s. That’s were I bought them.

 

So I’m sure this would be tasty with some sweet, ripe, juicy plums, I just didn’t have any. Maybe next time I’ll try peaches.  But, did I tell you the chicken was really good?

Stay tune for Martha Monday next week. I get to pick the assignment! Want a little hint? It’s a craft!

Roasted Chicken and Plums

Serves 12

• 2 whole chickens (about 4 lbs each)
• sea salt
• 10 sprigs rosemary
• 3 lbs small plums
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1 oz (2 tbsp) unsalted butter, cut into small pieces

Preheat oven to 450. Season chickens with salt. Stuff each cavity with 2 sprigs rosemary. Tie legs together with kitchen twine. Place each chicken in an ovenproof skillet (preferably cast iron) and place 2 sprigs rosemary around each chicken. Alternatively you can also roast the chickens together in a roasting pan. Toss plums with honey in a large bowl.

Roast chickens for 20 min. Remove from oven, and scatter some of the plums around the chickens. Return to oven and roast for 20 min more. Spread remaining plums on a rimmed baking sheet, dot with butter, and top with remaining 2 sprigs rosemary. Transfer to oven. Continue to roast chickens until an instant read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh reads 165. Meanwhile roast plums until soft and brown around edges about 25 min. Let chickens rest for 10 min before serving.

Note I only used one chicken as I have only 3 to feed. I also tossed my plums in after 20 minutes of roasting the chicken and left them till the chicken was cooked. I didn’t use the butter.