CAPON RECIPES RECIPES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 475 degrees F. Remove neck giblets and discard. Sprinkle the capon with the salt and pepper. Place the garlic head, rosemary, thyme, and butter in the cavity of the capon; tie the legs together with kitchen twine and place on a rack in a roasting pan. Pour 2 cups water in the bottom of the pan and roast for 20 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F and continue to roast. Baste with pan drippings every 30 minutes until a thermometer inserted between body and thigh (avoid touching the bone) reaches 167 degrees F and the bird's juices run clear -- about 3 1/2 hours. Remove the bird from the oven; remove the garlic and herbs from the cavity and reserve if making gravy.

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large pan and cook the onion for 8-10 mins until starting to caramelise (or for longer if you have time – the sweeter the better). Add the garlic for the final 2 mins of cooking time.
• Tip in the mixed veg, tomatoes, capers and raisins. Season well and simmer, uncovered, for 10 mins, or until you have a rich sauce.
• Meanwhile, boil the kettle. Pour the kettleful of water into a large pan with a little salt and bring back to the boil. Add the pasta and cook until tender with a little bite, then drain, reserving some of the pasta water. Tip the pasta into the sauce, adding a splash of pasta water if it needs loosening. Scatter with the basil leaves and parmesan, if you like, and serve straight from the pan