Sweet and Spicy Chicken

I don't know how many times I've decided on a dinner prepartion and discovered I didn't have the necessary ingredient. Barbecued chicken comes to mind! No matter how many bottles of barbecue sauce I remember seeing in the cupboard, they aren't there when I want/need them. Here is a way around the missing sauce that still produces a sweet and spicy main course. Who knows, you may even want to give up the tomato version after this.

Sweet and Spicy Chicken

2 chickens cut into serving pieces (or just thighs, legs, etc. whatever is on sale!)
1/2 cup melted butter
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup dijon mustard
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Good pinch of chili flakes
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
Salt to taste

Combine all the ingredients except for the chicken. Brown the chicken in a bit of oil in a frying pan. You aren't cooking it, just giving it a nice golden glow. Place the chicken pieces in a large baking dish. Pour the sauce over the chicken, turning a few times to make sure every piece has a coating.

Bake at 350 degrees for approximately an hour - depending on the size of your chicken pieces. Basting the chicken every 15 minutes really incorporates the tastes.

Ideas . . .

You can tuck in chunks of peeled, slice carrots with the chicken as the flavor of the sauce goes well with this vegetable.

Have some hot, buttered rice ready to serve with this dish.

A sprinkling of finely chopped, green onion over each serving is good.