Roast chicken and young love

"You know, under that crusty and cynical exterior is a soft and glooshy romantic."
-- my former colleague and (still) dear friend Helena

Never say I don't do things for young couples in love.

Late Friday I received an email from one of the women I work with. Her brother-in-law entered a contest in his local paper to perform the perfect proposal. The prize is a gorgeous ring. The winner is decided by on-line voting and although he was doing well, he wasn't in first place. Could we please vote for him?

He has absolutely lovely things to say about her: beautiful, hard-working, realistic (and by inference: patient). They've just graduated from uni, bought house and are starting their lives together. Unfortunately the house has turned into a money pit (no matter which way you slice it $60K in repairs is cause to say "ouch.") and a cause for a delayed engagement ring.

What does his perfect proposal include? Asking her father's permission is first and foremost. We hope Daddy says yes. Assuming that happens, proposal day (their anniversary) begins with a dozen roses delivered to her work, followed by a champagne-flowing limo ride to one of London (Ontario's) best restaurants. The table is decorated with her favourite flowers, white orchids. Her boyfriend is no where to be seen...

Then in walks a giant chicken.

The chicken approaches other women at the restaurant. Some laugh (hey, it is London...not a place known for a healthy sense of humour), but they aren't whom le grand poulet's looking for.

Giant chicken approaches the lonely diner, and hands her a card asking if she is the women he is looking for. One hopes she nods "yes."

The chicken hands her another card saying that he has been sent to her by someone very special.

The chicken then hands her a third card saying that he is sorry that he has been such a chicken for so long.

The chicken then hands the young woman a paper bag with a small engagement ring like box inside, with another card which reads "I love you."

The chicken mask comes off, he goes down on one knee and proposes to her.

Gosh...isn't that just so...sweet?

Although Cupid recently decided to bruise my own heart, I couldn't help but let my usually well-hidden glooshy side out for them. So I voted for him.

Normally I don't ask you to do this sort of thing, but I'd really like him to win the contest, the ring and the girl. If you can, please vote for him on this site:
http://www.lfpress.com/perfectproposalvoting/index.php?action=showform&page=proposal&id=65&start=70&n=10&sort=id

You do have to register an email address, but you can check the "please don't email me" ticky box to not be bothered by the newspaper and its partners. You can vote a maximum of once/day per computer (yes, we know people who are voting at home and at work). Voting closes on 6 April, so there's still some time...and I'll let you know if he wins.

In exchange, I offer you a compound butter that's a great baste for roast chicken. Simply mix all the ingredients together and squoosh some between the skin and meat and again on the skin. Sprinkle the skin with salt and pop into a 350F/180C oven. As the butter and chicken fat melt out, slurp the flavourful fats with a baster and baste the chicken (I do this every 10 minutes or so), until the chicken is cooked.


Ginger-Lime-Coriander Compound Butter
3 Tbsp butter
half a thumb ginger, grated
1 clove garlic, minced
2-3 generous pinches black pepper
Zest and juice of half a lime
2 Tbsp finely chopped coriander leaf
0.25 tsp chilli garlic sauce


edit: One of my readers has requested a video of the proposal if he wins the ring...I have forwarded this to the powers that be...

cheers!
jasmine