Saturday, November 14, 2015

Lemon Herb Roasted Chicken & An Update on My Absence

Here's a recipe for Lemon Herb Roasted Chicken that I made 3 years ago while I was experimenting with my Herbed Grain Free Stuffing recipe and test-driving it before my first grain free Thanksgiving back in 2012. It's hard to believe this will be my 4th grain-free Thanksgiving. In that post, back in November 2012, I posted about how I made this recipe; but since I was recently asked if I had a roasted chicken recipe (and she couldn't find it on here), I realized that I needed to separate the recipe and post to make it easier to find on its own (since it was originally included with my stuffing recipe). I used a big 7-pound roaster chicken, but you can use whatever size you want, you just may need to increase or decrease the roasting time based on the size chicken you use.

As a side note, you may have noticed that I haven't posted in a couple of weeks. I have been sidelined the last couple of weeks with a very painful tooth issue that unfortunately is still ongoing. If you've never experienced severe tooth pain before, consider yourself lucky...VERY lucky. I used to be in the "no tooth-pain club" but unfortunately I am now a member. For the better part of the last 2 weeks I have been in some type of pain ranging from borderline tolerable to totally intolerable. Here is basically what's going on (for those of you that didn't see my post this past week on Facebook). My tooth pain began two weeks ago Sunday. The earliest I could get in to see the dentist was Thursday. They found an abscess at the base of the root of my back bottom molar along with a hairline crack in the tooth. They started me on antibiotics for 7 days. They tried to get me in to see an endodontist that afternoon, to no avail. I finally got an appointment for the following Wednesday (yes, 6 days later). The pain, swelling and infection spread to my lymph glands on the left side and the pain radiated to my left sinuses and cheek bones, my ear, jaw, etc. You would think that after almost 1 week of antibiotics, that would have cleared the infection by the time my root canal appointment was the following week. It did help my lymph glands but the pain was still unbearable at times. I went for my root canal this past Wednesday; it did not go well.

I was asked on Facebook how I was doing...here is the response I gave someone this morning when asked how I was feeling...

I'm hanging in there. Believe it or not, I'm still in pain, unfortunately. During my root canal Wednesday, they were about 90% done and when they put the meds in the tooth before filling the roots, the meds drained out through the root and wouldn't hold. They said if they finished it, the root canal would not hold because of the abscess at the root (despite being on antibiotics for a week prior). They closed the tooth without finishing the root canal so it is essentially empty; put me on stronger antibiotics for 7 days and told me they have to let the infection and inflammation rest for 14 days (which is the day before Thanksgiving) and they wouldn't be there that day so I have to go back on November 30. I'm just not sure the pain I'm still experiencing now is normal or not? I have a high pain threshold and don't know how much of the pain is the infection or how much is the trauma with all the needles they had to put in my mouth and holding my mouth open for 1 hour (it was the furthest back molar on bottom left). So, today I am trying to get along without pain meds and just Tylenol (can't take NSAIDs). They told me I can't chew on that side and have to be very careful since it's an empty more fragile tooth now. I'll need a crown after they finish. To say I'm frustrated and disappointed is an understatement. But, I will persevere! 

So that is why you haven't seen me around much. I am trying to get back in the swing of things and so sorry that I haven't been able to post the last couple of weeks...particularly with all the yummy Thanksgiving recipes that I have. So, I'm working on a collection now of my Thanksgiving recipes to put together to make it easier for you to find and get ideas. Also, today I worked on a new recipe that will be rolled out next week...you are going to love it! I don't want to jinx myself but I've been functioning pretty well without pain meds today, only regular Tylenol, so I'm hoping that's a good sign. November 30th still seems like a long way off to finish my root canal so hoping that the pain will get better soon. I guess December will be spent working on getting the tooth crowned! Keeping my fingers crossed! Make sure you keep your eyes peeled because I'm putting together a Thanksgiving collection this afternoon. Until then, enjoy the recipe below for Lemon Herb Roasted Chicken that I made almost 3 years ago (11/17/12). Enjoy!


Before roasting


Lemon Herb Roasted Chicken

Ingredients:

6 to 7-pound roaster chicken
2 carrots, cut into chunks
2 celery stalks, including leaves, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 lemon, cut in half
1 small onion, cut in half
2 sprigs of fresh rosemary, divided
Few sprigs fresh thyme, divided (about 1 teaspoon)
About 1/4 cup fresh sage leaves, divided
3 tablespoons olive oil
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

In a large 6 to 7-quart dutch oven, scatter carrots and celery. Place chicken on top. Squeeze lemon halves over top of chicken, then place them inside chicken cavity. Place onion inside cavity along with 1 rosemary sprig, half the thyme and half of the sage leaves. 

Chop the remaining rosemary, thyme and sage. In a small bowl, combine chopped herbs, olive oil, and salt and pepper, to taste. Brush herbed oil over chicken. Cover and cook at 400 degrees F for the first 30 minutes; then reduce heat to 350 degrees F and uncover pot. Cook uncovered at 350 degrees for an additional 1-1/2 hours, or until done. 

          

12 comments:

Melissa said...

Oh, wow. How awful! I'm so sorry for the tooth misery. Hang in there!

Charlotte Moore said...

Oh my goodness what an ordeal. It sounds very painful indeed. I just got my crown put on Wednesday but I had no pain or any problems. I sure hope you can get this cleared up soon. A root canal scares me. YIKES!! It is very understandable why you have not been posting. No worries!!

Peg said...

OMG GG!!! I wondered why you hadn't posted anything since Halloween. You poor girl--what an awful ordeal!

Hopefully all will turn out fine in the end but so sorry to hear about your difficult path to wellness.

Please take care and let us know how you are doing.

Hugs,

Peg

CyberSis said...

Hi GGC,

Thanks for re-posting this lovely recipe, but what are you doing at the computer and in the kitchen? Glad that you found a little relief today ... hope it keeps up. Take care of yourself and don't over-do ... all this can wait. Feel better *soon*! :-)

905lovestostamp said...

I am SO SORRY to hear of your ongoing pain and dental problems. Unfortunately I've been in that club that has had significant dental problems since a car accident 25 years ago, with lots of crowns and now those crowns are failing and I'm into implants. One abscess was so bad that my jaw locked, and the infection went systemic (the antibiotics weren't strong enough), and I ended going to the hospital via ambulance at the advice of our Canadian tele-health service. Was in the hospital on IV antibiotics for a few days, and eventually when my jaw unlocked then the tooth had to be removed, the root canal just wouldn't work. Now I'm dealing with 3 teeth extracted within the last month and have had a partial plate made so I can chew for the 8 to 10 months this process will take until I have the 2 new implants and a spacer in. Had something similar 2 years ago just above... It's NO FUN!!! I am so very sorry.

Do try ice for the inflammation under your jaw--just a suggestion, obviously I am no medical or dental professional. There are other medications that can be prescribed for pain other than Nsaids that are not narcotics, like Toradol that is much stronger than Nsaids, I don't think Toradol is an Nsaid... And likely there are others. If you are in pain, do call your dentist or endodontist, whoever did the surgery. And ask about icing--that helped with the swelling and it was soothing for me.

Of course these are my experiences, and this may not help you. Feel free to contact me by e-mail too if you like...

Your recipes are SO fantastic!!! I have to say in the last month I've totally fallen off the wheat-free bandwagon because of eating soft food, and I really want to get back on!!! Only you recipes give me hope that I'll be able to do it long-term. I want to make your biscuits soon, when I'm feeling a little better, cannot wait!!!

HOPING you will be feeling MUCH BETTER SOON!!!

You're in my thoughts and my prayers.

Joanne

Debbie Lou said...

You have been through quite an ordeal. I hope it is resolved soon. Take care of yourself...don't worry about posting...we will survive.

BarbP said...

Oh my, Ayla, you poor thing! Tooth pain is horrible, I agree. And yes, I HAD been worrying about what had happened to you, so thanks for the update. I do hope you will continue to feel better. How awful, especially with your Thanksgiving coming up!

unter der laterne said...

Ayla, so sorry about your ordeal . It just sounds terrible ! Hopefully the worst is over! I recommend that you eat a lot of yogurt after all the antibiotics .

I wish tht you could stay home and rest ! Do not worry about posting new recipes, we have so much to choose from!

Big hug ! Barbara.

Amy said...

I'm so sorry! I live in the Atlanta area. If you want to get a second opinion I have a great dentist in Tucker. I had a root canal several months ago. It to had gotten very infected...because I kept putting it off until it was unbearable...never do that again! Any way they told me it can take up to a year for it to be completely pain free. So, pain afterward is not, unfortunately, uncommon. Again, so sorry you are having to deal with this. Hang in there!

unter der laterne said...

Ayla, here is what I do after I brush my teeth . I use drops of Myrrh om my tongue and immediately take a small sip of water and swoosh this around in my mouth for 3 minutes . Make sure that you do not intake too much water, just a very small amount I do it to prevent inflammation and bacteria . It really disinfects your mouth. Good luck Ayla !

http://www.doterratools.com/documents/Myrrh_Essential_Oil_Product_Information_Page.pdf

unter der laterne said...

Ayla I hope that you are doing better ! Did you read my previous post(above) ?

Gourmet Girl Cooks said...

Hi Melissa, Charlotte, Peg, CyberSis, Joanne, Debbie Lou, BarbP, Barbara, & Amy,

Thanks so much for all of the kind words, concern, care and advice. I am doing better and just waiting for the remainder of my procedure on November 30. I'm sticking to soft foods only that don't require much chewing since I have a fragile and hollow tooth now that I don't want to break or shatter accidentally. I just want you to know I've read your messages, advice and concern and appreciate it more than you know.

Thanks. <3