The Secret Ingredient That Gives Brie Larson’s Chicken Recipe Ultra-Crispy Skin

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Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Gramus is a best-selling novel turned into a television show in 2023. The plot tells the story of Elizabeth Zott, played by Brie Larson, a chemist who turns into a cooking show host. All the recipes in the book sound so irresistible that they have been shared online, too. The crispy Christmas chicken one is a must-try!

How to Get Extra Crispy Chicken

The Christmas chicken recipe is super easy to make and doesn’t require too many ingredients: a whole chicken, a lemon, butter, olive oil, salt, pepper, and one ingredient that makes the chicken super crispy—baking powder.

It’s made with baking soda and an acid and bubbles when it touches liquid. It’s perfect for giving the chicken that golden-brown color and crispy outside.

How to Make the Christmas Chicken

Ingredients:

  • 1 whole chicken, 4 to 5 pounds
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 lemon, zested and quartered
  • 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
  • olive oil, for brushing
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Directions:

  1. Mix salt, baking powder, black pepper, and lemon zest, and season the whole chicken inside and out. Leave it in the refrigerator overnight.
  2. Heat a cast iron skillet in the oven at 425°F (220°C).
  3. Put butter and lemon quarters inside the chicken and tie its legs if you have twine at home. Brush the skin with olive oil.
  4. Once the skillet is hot, place the breast side up. Roast for about 15 minutes, then reduce to 350°F (175°C).
  5. Baste the chicken and roast for 50 more minutes, basting every 15 minutes. The goal is for the meaty part of the leg to reach 155°F (about 70°C). Let rest for 15 minutes.
  6. Skim 4 tablespoons of fat from the pan, transfer the chicken to a cutting board and tilt it so all the juices can fall into the pan. Take out the lemons and squeeze the juice into the pan.
  7. Stir until you get a saucy texture, carve the chicken, and serve!

These 5 Beautiful Places in the UK Are Surely Worth a Visit

The variety in the UK is amazing! It’s incredible that anyone who lives in England, Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland ever travels outside of these countries given their abundance of picturesque landscapes, royal palaces, wild mountain ranges, and some of the most beautiful coastlines in the world. Here are five places in the UK that residents enjoy visiting.

Cornwall County, UK Coastline

Cornwall County, UK Coastline

Many Britons choose to spend their summer vacation in this county on the extreme southwest peninsula of the UK, but not just because it is the sunniest and warmest area. Although hikers adore the desolate, windswept Bodmin Moor, most tourists head straight for the picture-perfect fishing towns along the coast, such as Padstow, Mevagissey, Polperro, and Mousehole (pronounced “muzzle”). In reality, Cornwall offers two distinct coastlines: one along the English Channel and the other along the Atlantic Ocean, which dramatically converge at Land’s End.

Lake District, England

Lake District, England

There are two types of British visitors to Cumbria, a county in northwest England: those seeking luxury and those seeking the complete opposite. Numerous opulent English country manor houses and hotels, including Armathwaite Hall and Brimstone Hotel, are available for the former. The Lake District National Park, which is home to Scafell Pike, England’s tallest peak, is accessible to other tourists.

Brecon Beacons, Wales

Brecon Beacons, Wales

Wales is different from England. The wild areas are wilder, there are fewer people, and the drinks may be better. Wales has the darkest skies in the UK. The Brecon Beacons National Park, which is situated just to the north of the nation’s capital Cardiff, is the International Dark Sky Reserve that is the most accessible. Attractions include Waterfall Country and the remote Llanthony Priory, which also serves as an interesting hotel.

Isle of Skye, Scotland

Isle of Skye, Scotland

Visitors from all over the UK come to the Isle of Skye in the Inner Hebrides of northwest Scotland to see the Old Man of Storr, which is located on the Trotternish peninsula. However, this untamed area, which is full of lochs, waterfalls, and castles, is a photographer’s and outdoor enthusiasts’ paradise. Skye is a Scottish island that is connected to the mainland by a bridge. It is known for its castles Armadale and Dunvegan, Kilt Rock waterfall, and the dinosaur footprints on An Corran Beach.

Pembrokeshire, Southwest Wales

Pembrokeshire, Southwest Wales Although the UK may not be well known for wildlife viewing, Pembrokeshire in southwest Wales has a disproportionate number of seabirds. Between April and July, the massive colony of Atlantic puffins on Skomer Island is the main draw. Dolphins and seals can be spotted elsewhere off the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park from its isolated beaches and coves. If you’d prefer to visit a castle, the little-known Carew, Llawhaden, and Manorbier castles in Pembrokeshire are notably different.

Go to Tenby if all you want to do is unwind by the water. This harbor town, frequented by many Welsh tourists each spring and summer, has four beaches and walls built in the 13th century that house numerous inns, pubs, and shops. Additionally, Beavers Retreat Glamping, which is close to Manorbier, has geodome yurts if you’d prefer something more serene. This is Wales at its most eccentric.