There is no question that my love language is culinary. Sick in bed? I'll bring over pho! Just had a baby? I'll be over with a pan of Brown Butter Pumpkin Mac and Cheese. But to me, there is no food more potent with love than a freshly roasted whole chicken with herbs and garlic.

As it roasts, its heavenly scent fills your kitchen, wafting down the halls (and perhaps even into the apartment next door), letting everyone know that something special is being cooked. It's simple, but the very definition of wholesome, and goes with just about anything. 

This isn't the first chicken I've roasted, but it may be the simplest preparation. Here, I blend the classic French dried herb combination, Herbes de Provence (a mixture of savory, marjoram, rosemary, thyme, oregano and lavender) with chopped garlic, salt and pepper, and slather it thickly over a beautiful whole chicken.

 

 

The herb-garlic mixture does double duty, creating a crust that helps hold moisture in, while also infusing the chicken with all that herbaceous, herbal flavor.   

The product is a wonderfully juicy, rustic chicken that should be served with simple sides that complement, but don't overwhelm it. Roasted potatoes, a creamy but simply flavored risotto or sauteed cannellini beans would be a great option, along with something sturdy and green, like massaged kale or roasted rapini.

So, instead of chocolate or roses, consider giving a freshly roasted chicken this Valentines Day. Not only does it kind of look like a heart, but you can't make soup broth out of leftover chocolates and roses.