Let’s Pick a National Day

Hey there, Bubba it’s your day. Oh, and did you know today is National Rotisserie Chicken Day and Rocky Road Day? Yup. Now Rotisserie Chicken Day is pretty self-explanatory. National Bubba Day is a little muddled. And National Rocky Road Day is wide open to interpretation.

Let’s talk about Rocky Road – not the candy bar or the ice cream but the Rocky Road of life. I know a lot of people, good people who have turned away from God because they see life as hard. If God so loved the world, why is there suffering? That’s a tough one to explain. There are a number of reasons for hardship. That which doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. When faith is tested, and we turn to the Lord our faith is made stronger. Sure, you could survive without turning to God, but then the strong person who emerges might not have that same sense of humility and humanity that comes from walking a difficult path in faith and trusting in God.

Why does God let bad things happen? We’ve all heard it before – free will. Bad things happen when we do nothing. Or when we give in to the self-serving temptations. Sin is never something we do alone. It affects everyone around us. Believe me when I tell you I am not preaching from on high – looking back over my life I see the brokenness of others as a result of the selfish choices I have made.

I’ve heard people say I turned to God, and life didn’t get any easier. God never promised an easy life. But He did promise that whatever difficulties we face, He is with us. In Him there is peace even in the worst of storms. It’s an inner quiet only His presents can bring, if we let Him in.

Sometimes when I think of 9-11, my heart hurts to the point that I can hardly breath. I remember seeing the plane hit the second tower. And later, when the buildings collapsed, I fell to the ground. All I could think about was God. How much that must have hurt Him. The angels in heaven were weeping for us. Satan does exist. And he does whisper. When we listen to evil, evil manifests in ways no human could have conjured up on our own. Demons exist. It would be so much easier if demons looked like demons. Unfortunately, they don’t. That is why we need to reach out to God, ask for the protection of Saint Michael and an army of angels. While the road may be just as rocky no matter the path, the end of the journey is eternal. The choice is ours to make.

Saint Michael the Archangel, 
defend us in battle. 
Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the Devil. 
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, 
and do thou, 
O Prince of the heavenly hosts, 
by the power of God, 
thrust into hell Satan, 
and all the evil spirits, 
who prowl about the world 
seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

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Hey, didn’t somebody say today is Rotisserie Chicken Day? Yeah, Bubba, let’s get to cooking.

Rotisserie Roast Chicken
2 tablespoons Kosher Salt
1 tablespoon Smoked Paprika
1 teaspoon Onion Powder
1 teaspoon dried Thyme
1/2 teaspoon White Pepper
1/2 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
1/2 teaspoon dried Sage
1/2 teaspoon Garlic Powder
3 lb Roasting Chicken
Handful Fresh Same
Handful Fresh Rosemary
1 cup Chicken Stock

In a small bowl whisk together the sale, paprika, onion powder, thyme, white pepper, cayenne pepper, sage and garlic powder. Set the spice blend aside.

Pat the chicken dry inside and out, Rub the entire chicken, inside, outside and under the skin with the seasoning blend. Place the chicken in a gallon-size bag. Refrigerate the bird for at least an hour and up to 24 hours for the spices to flavor the chicken.

About 30 minutes prior to cooking, remove the bird from the refrigerator and let rest to the counter. Heat oven to 450-degrees.

Once the bird has had a chance to warm, stuff fresh sage and rosemary into the cavity. Tuck wings under the breasts, tussle the legs with cooking twine. Place the prepared chicken on a rack in a roasting pan.

Optional: I grow my own Rosemary, so it’s easy to have whatever I need when I need it. I threw some sprigs of Rosemary over the rack in the roasting pan to add additional flavor and aroma.

Roast the chicken in the heated oven for 45 minutes. After about 25 minutes, rotate the pan and add chicken stock to help keep the meat moist. Continue to roast another 20 minutes or until cooked through. Allow the bird to rest for 10 minutes before carving.

Wedge Cut Buttery Potatoes
3 large Baking Potatoes
2 tablespoons Olive Oil
Salt to taste
Black Pepper to taste
4 tablespoons Butter
Parsley Flakes for garnish

Heat oven to 425-degrees. Scrub and dry potatoes. Cut into wedges (about 6 to 8 wedges per potato depending upon size).

Line a baking sheet with foil. Arrange the potato wedges on the prepared baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil. Toss to coat lightly in oil. Season liberally with salt and pepper. Place in the oven to roast for about 40 to 45 minutes, until deeply golden and crisp, turning mid-way through.

Melt butter, stir in parsley flakes. Drizzle roasted potato wedges with butter, toss to coat.

Slice the chicken. Serve with the potato wedges and buttery corn for a deliciously flavorful meal. Gather the family and enjoy.

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The father of orphans and the defender of widows
is God in His holy dwelling.