Rub that Bird the Right Way

This delicious rub only has three ingredients. I made this for the first time around November. People keep asking for it. So many people have asked for it in the last few months, that I have had it once a week for the past three weeks.

Spicy Bird Rub Recipe:
The first time I made it for Mel I used a 3 lb. whole chicken. I stirred 3 tablespoons olive oil, 1 tablespoon chili powder, and 1 tablespoon cumin powder. I basted it on the chicken and slow cooked it covered for three hours on 325 degrees in my favortie stone bowl. I uncovered it and cooked it for a half and hour. The skin looked black. The chicken melted off the bones as Mel carved it.

For Christmas, I doubled the rub for a 6 lb turkey breast. My family loved it. Usually, they ask Mel to cook the turkey. I expected them to be disappointed that I had cook the turkey this year, but they weren't.

In the past three weeks, I have made it three more time. My cousin invited us over for dinner and asked me to bring that recipe, so I made it with a whole chicken again. Due to a snow storm, we couldn't go, so Mel transformed my chicken into tacos. This recipe makes the chicken so tasty that the tacos didn't need any other seasonings. I had to buy another whole chicken for when we rescheduled the cancelled dinner and my cousin and her husband ate almost the whole chicken. Tonight, I made it for the recipe party (mentioned in the previous post). Everyone loved it.

It's so simple that people are shocked when I tell them what goes into the rub.

When I'm ready to eat this again, I think I'm going to change it up and baste it onto fish or tofu.

Happy Cooking,
Ellen

Event Review: Recipe Party

A recipe party? A simple idea turned into a wonderful party. Everyone made a dish and brought copies of the recipe. A pitch-in with a purpose.

We all lined up to dish out the twenty dishes onto our plates to taste each one. We sat and chatted as we savored each taste. The dishes ranged from soups, salads, casseroles, turkey (my recipe to be discussed in another entry), bbq pork, appetizers and of course, desserts. Chocolate was had by all.

The party is simple to organize.
1) Invite 10 friends to bring a dish, copies of their recipes and a friend.
2) Set up a place for the food and the people.
3) Provide plates, eating utensils, and drinks.
4) Eat and socialize with all the great cooks attending your party.
5) Gather the recipes.

I highly recommmend this type of party. It also can be fun to add a theme to the food. One woman tonight suggested a summer dessert party in her backyard when it gets warmer. Mel suggested a picnic/cookout theme at a park or in someone's yard. Think of the possibilities - vegetarian, international, chili or soup, or more. Since casseroles are making a come back, I think that would be a great recipe party idea.

Food is a great way to bring people together. I enjoyed making new friends over this dinner. The only thing I think could have made it better was shuffling some cards and chatting over a game after dinner.

For the cookbook authors, this would be a great way to promote a cookbook with some adjustments to the way the party is organized.

Cook, Eat and Be Happy,
Ellen