First of all, I’d like to apologize for my extended absence! My trip back to my parents’ house meant I was spending as much time as possible shopping with my mom or planning my dear friend’s wedding. I also played gift shopper, baker, and wrapper. My parents made up the slave driving with a new digital camera though! It’s fantastic, and I can finally share pictures of my baked goods that are not taken by my phone.

Thanks to awesome parents, boyfriend’s parents, friends, and other family members, I’m also the proud owner of a cast iron skillet, springform pan, new bakeware, stacking cooling racks, candy and meat thermometers, a subscription to a cooking magazine, and more! Thanks everyone!

I just got back to my apartment, meaning I’ve actually been cooking myself and have had the time to photograph it all. So, my first meal back was lemon garlic butter chicken legs and mashed potatoes. At some point over the break I read a recipe that inspired this… but for the life of me I can’t find it! If I do, I’ll let you know.

On to the recipe! It’s an easy one! Begin by slicing a lemon thinly. Please avoid getting lemon juice in cuts, it hurts. Cut four of the slices in half.

Combined softened butter and minced garlic in a microwave safe bowl and microwave on medium heat until the butter has melted. Add garlic salt and mix. This smells divine, enjoy it please.

Loosen the skin on the drumsticks. Tuck the two sliced lemon halves under the skin of each drumstick, somewhat evenly spaced. Place any remaining lemon slices in the bottom of a small baking dish.

Using a pastry brush, spread the garlic butter over the drum sticks. Season them liberally with lemon pepper and Italian seasoning and place in the baking dish over the lemons. Pour any remaining butter over the drumsticks. Mmmm.

Bake at 400 degrees for 40 minutes. I broiled mine for just a minute at the very end to get the skin golden and crispy. Upon boyfriend’s request, we had mashed potatoes as well, although I think it would be great to throw potatoes, onions, and carrots into the pan with the chicken and let them roast. Divine.

I hope everyone had a fabulous holiday! Enjoy New Years this week, too. Any big plans or exciting recipe ideas?

Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken

Ingredients
4 chicken drumsticks
1 lemon
1/4 cup of butter, softened
1 tsp minced garlic
1/2 tsp garlic salt
1 1/2 tsp (appx) Italian seasoning
1 tsp (appx) lemon pepper

Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Slice the lemon into thin pieces and cut four of the slices in half. Combine softened butter and minced garlic in a microwave safe bowl and microwave on medium heat until melted. Add the garlic salt and combine. Loosen the skin on the drumsticks and slide the halved lemon slices under the skin, evenly spaced, two halves per drumstick. Arrange the remaining lemon slices in the bottom of a glass baking dish. Using a pastry brush spread the garlic butter over the drumsticks. Liberally season the drumsticks with Italian seasoning and lemon pepper. Arrange the drumsticks over the lemon slices and pour any remaining garlic butter over the drumsticks. Bake for 40 minutes in the preheated oven. If you like crispier skin, broil for a minute or so or until golden.