Roast chicken

[ket]

I want to roast a whole chicken today but i don't want to cook an ordinary roast, however i'm not keen on cooking that involves too much preperation. Can anyone give me a GOOD, SIMPLE recipie that tastes wonderful? Oh yes what you think.... roast potatoes or mash(i'm thinking roast because i could put the potatoes in with the chicken)?

[woofgang]

 Beat together 8 oz butter, juice of two lemons, and your choice of herbs (I like sage and thyme) OR about two cloves of garlic skinned and chopped or pulverised or the processed equivalent of your choice.

Take your chicken and slide your hand between the skin and the flesh of the bird over the breasts to make  large pockets, then push in the butter mix and distribute it evenly over bothe breasts. Roast as usual. Allow to relax in a warm place for 20 to 30 mins after cooking time and before carving. Reserve the pan juices and butter that pours out as you carve to make gravy or just serve "as is"

Nice with roasties or mash

[ket]

Thanks woofgang. I'm off to tesco now to get some thyme!

 

xx

[andyjevs]

Roast spuds for me....small and crispy ones. I always sprinkle mixed dried herbs onto my roast spuds too...tastes lovely

[ket]

I normally do that too andy. I'll do roast then and some mixed veggies.

[woofgang]

let me know how it went

[hotchoc]

if you cut up a whole lemon into quarters and put them into the cavity you end up with a really moist chicken with just a hint of lemon. mmmm. roast everytime for me - i sometimes sprinkle an oxo cube over the top. they go crispy and it adds flavour.

[snapdharlich]

You can get some really good cajun mixes already to go on from the supermarket.  Just mix it up well with Olive oil and Garlic. Also keep basting - A good tip if you have a proper baster with a pump at one end, when you pick up the juices in the pan, puncture the chicken with the baster and baste inside the skin too. Yum Yum

[ann_h]

I like to use lime as a subtle alternative to lemon with the whole butter and garlic thing.Chop them and put inside the chicken with a little water. Cook at only Gas 3 for about 4-5 hours.

 

A spanish version uses quartered red sweet peppers and apples - they use golden delicious as they are properly ripe over there, unlike the nasty French things here, so I generally substitute something like Gala.  Arrange the fruit around the bird instead of the spuds, and baste the chicken over with the juices regularly.

I'm hungry now......

[ket]

Thanks everyone, got some great ideas from you! i'll try them over the next few weeks.

Woofgang - It turned out quite good. I used one lemon only and sage because i couldn't find thyme.

Cheers all.

xx

[bikeress]

Stuff the cavity with parsley and grated ginger....hmmmm