Here's the Recipe for Glamour's Magical Engagement Chicken

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We've already waxed poetic about our love for story-driven cookbooks and written about how Glamour's 100 Recipes Every Woman Should Know is such a great read, whether or not you're an avid chef. Today, courtesy of the folks at Glamour, we're bringing you the recipe for the magazine's super-famous, super easy-to-make Engagement Chicken—a recipe that's been credited for more than 60 engagements!

Please note: This delicious roast chicken does not necessarily have to be eaten in conjunction with an intention to become engaged. It's also good for when you want to make yourself (and/or someone you love) a simple, delicious meal.

Engagement Chicken
Roast Chicken with Lemon and Herbs
Serves 2 to 4

1 whole chicken (approximately 4 lbs)
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice, plus 3 whole lemons (including 1, sliced, for garnish)
1 tablespoon kosher or coarse sea salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
Fresh herbs, for garnish (4 sprigs rosemary, 4 sprigs sage, 8 sprigs thyme and 1 bunch flat-leaf parsley)

1. Position an oven rack in the upper third of the oven, and preheat the oven to 400°F. Remove the giblets from the chicken, wash it inside and out with cold water, then let the chicken drain, cavity down, in a colander for 2 minutes.

2. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels. Place it breast-side down in a medium roasting pan fitted with a rack, and pour the lemon juice all over the chicken, both inside and out. Season the chicken all over with salt and pepper inside and out.

3. With a fork, prick 2 whole lemons three times each in three different places, and place them deep inside the chicken cavity. Cavity size may vary, so if one lemon is partially sticking out, that’s fine.

4. Put the chicken in the oven, lower the temperature to 350°F, and roast the chicken, uncovered, for 15 minutes.

5. Remove the roasting pan from the oven. Using tongs or two wooden spoons, turn the chicken breast-side up. Insert a meat thermometer into the thigh, and return the chicken to the oven. Roast for about 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes or until the meat thermometer reads 180°F and the juices run clear when the thigh is pricked with a fork. Continue roasting if necessary. Keep in mind that cooking times vary in different ovens; roasting a chicken at 350°F takes approximately 18 to 20 minutes per pound, plus an additional 15 minutes.

6. Let the chicken rest for 10 minutes before carving. And here’s the secret: Pour the juices from the roasting pan on top of the sliced chicken—this is the “marry me juice.” Garnish with lemon slices and fresh herbs.

Recipe Credit:,/b> 100 Recipes Every Woman Should Know: Engagement Chicken and 99 Other Fabulous Dishes to Get You Everything You Want in Life by Cindi Leive and the Editors of Glamour. Copyright (c) 2011. Published by Hyperion. All Rights Reserved.

· 100 Recipes Every Woman Should Know [Amazon]
· Great book alert: Glamour's 100 Recipes Every Woman Should Know [Racked]