This holiday time is such a fun time for me! I am not home this year in NY with family and really miss that; but also have my own little family right here to celebrate with! We also have some great friends coming over for dinner tonight too (they also are extended-family-less for the holidays). Last week, I made this new Rosemary-Sage Chicken recipe for our dinner guests. Yes, I do try new recipes for our guests, not perfected ones! Needless to say, it turned out wonderful, or they were just being extremely nice in their compliments. So it's going to be our main meat dish at Christmas Eve dinner tonight too!! I am so excited, and the smells just take over the kitchen!
When the kitchen was full of yummy goodness that made my mouth water, I thought to myself.. I don't know much about this herb, sage.... so before I give you the recipe lets talk a bit about the health benefits of sage! Sage, like most herbs, was used medicinally before it hit the kitchen cabinets. Sage is used in Italian, German, Middle East and English cuisine predominately, however; you'll likely find it in Italian cuisine! In America, it is primarily used in cheeses. Sage has memory and mood boosting effects. The Latin name for sage is Salvis officinalis meaning to save or to cure. Researched has indicated that sage is capable of boosting your mood, helping your concentration and improving memory (Healing Spices, Bharat Aggarwal, Ph.D). Research studies completed confirming its affects:
- UK psychologists concluded that days people took sage, men & women could recall more efficiently and effectively
- Journal of Physiology & Behavior found up to six hours after taking sage people felt calmer and more content. Sage may block cholinesterase, an enzyme that destroys acetylcholine (neurotransimitter that plays a role in memory, attention & alertness).
- Journal of Psychopharmacology found that sage could improve brain memory of older adults; possibly reversing a deterioration in memory& Therapeutics found promising results in patients with Alzheimers.
- Beyond the brain, sage may be helpful for that nagging sore throat, heart disease, psoriasis, eczema and dermatitis, cancer, diabetes, herpes, and ulcers.
Rosemary-Sage Chicken
3 lb free range chicken legs (organic, I recommend US Wellness Meats or your local organic farmer)
ground black pepper
dried rosemary
dried sage
1/4 Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 TBS fresh squeezed lemon juice
1. Preheat oven on broil
2. lay chicken legs out, let thaw (if frozen), and pat dry with a towel
3. season the chicken all over with ground pepper (I use a pepper grinder)
4. cook chicken in glass pan under broiler for 30-40 minutes, watch closely and turn over often. Once internal chicken temp reaches 160* remove from oven
5. Meanwhile, combine all other ingredients liberally in food processor and combine
6. Pour over chicken, cover with tin foil, and let it cool for 10 minutes with seasonings spooned on top
This recipe is that simple and oh so delicious!