Chicken with Peeps® and Jelly Bean Stuffing

We love this recipe it is so easy and now is the best time make it. Peeps are on sale and frankly we think that stale Peeps have a more sophisticated texture. Like most of our recipes we suggest you avoid JellyBellys®, because of the pesticides needed to grow such an over bred bean. Good old Jelly Beans do just fine. I use a real maple syrup to make the gravy but some feel this is too sweet.

Ingredients
3 ½ lb Roasting Chicken (look for one near the expiration date)
6 Peeps (yellow or blue, after Easter to get the stale ones)
2 large handfuls of Jelly Beans
4oz. Maple Syrup
1tbs butter (unsalted)
Salt
Pepper
Spices that might go with chicken i.e. Rosemary, Thyme, Cinnamon, Mustard …


Pre-heat oven to 350°
Clean and blow dry Chicken, remember WASH YOUR HANDS after handling raw chicken. Using a very sharp knife carefully cut open the tail of the peeps using a single horizontal slice. Stuff each peep with one or two beans, (I choose randomly; my wife likes to pick out the purple ones for the gravy.) Because of the delicate flesh of the peeps I find that kitchen twine is too cumbersome and use a common office stapler to close each peep. Pack the peeps into the chicken cavity tightly, I use my hand but some people like to use the back of a wooden spoon for this.

Season the chicken with salt, pepper and other things. Then close the chicken with kitchen twine. Place chicken in a roasting pan lined with foil. Place on middle rack and roast for 90 minutes or until flames shoot from the bird’s rear.

Our simple Jelly Bean and Syrup gravy. In a deep saucier melt butter and sauté the jelly beans until they just begin to smoke. Remove from heat and add Maple Syrup remember to continue to stir until all the jelly beans have dissolved. You can reheat the gravy in the microwave.

After the bird has rested and the smoke has cleared from the kitchen, carve and plate the chicken garnish with chocolate eggs and serve immediately.

This entrée goes well with a fruit cup with heavy sauce, canned peaches or both. We also like to have a platter of donuts.

Almost any sweet German Riesling is an excellent compliment.

Bon AppaPeeps!™