What's in my oven?

I admit I think about food all day. Things like what am I going to make or where am I going to eat? Today, I so wanted it to feel like Autumn. It's been hot and I just wanted to trick my mind into believing that it was a cooler time of year. I decided what better way than to make something with cinnamon, ginger, anise, cloves, and nutmeg? Remember, you don't have to go out and buy each spice. Just pick up some Chinese five-spice powder as it has everything you'll need and it will save you money. When I make this chicken the whole house smells like pumpkin and cinnamon, things that your senses tell you it's autumn. When someone walks into my house the first thing they ask is "Are you making a pumpkin pie?" I'll admit that this recipe is not my own but I have tweaked it a bit.

Here is the star of the show.



Turn the chicken over and cut it straight down the spine. Make sure you have a sharp knife.





Open the chicken then rinse and pat dry.


Rub the chicken with the Chinese 5-spice mixture.

Massage the chicken well making sure you've spread rub all over it.

Make the glaze.


Bake the chicken in an oven @ 375 degrees breast side up for 15 minutes. Then glaze the chicken and turn it breast side down baking it for 15 minutes. Glaze it again and turn chicken over breast side up. Finish cooking while basting every 15 minutes until the chicken's internal temperature reads 165 degrees on the thermometer.




Viola! The chicken is done, the house smells good and I can't wait to eat.




5-Spice Rub

1/2 cup of five spice powder
1 tablespoon of ground ginger
Combine both ingredients and mix well


Glaze
1 cup of Hoisin sauce
1/4 cup rice vinegar
2 tablespoons of brown sugar
1 tsp red pepper flakes ( optional)

Combine all ingredients and cook for 5 minutes