First recipe.
My favorite, thus the best way to roast chicken.
What you'll need:
One whole chicken, 4-6 pounds
1 large onion, cut into relatively large chunks
Carrots, as many as you like. I use baby carrots.
3/4 stick(about 6 Tbsp) butterSalt, to taste. I use about 1tsp
Pepper, to taste. I use about 1/2tsp
Dried crushed thyme. I use 1/2-3/4tsp
1/2 cup chicken stock(optional) If you like delicious chickeny liquid, do this
Dutch oven, pot with lid, pan with foil. Point is you need to cover it for a portion of the cook.
Meat thermometer
How to:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F-Remove gut/giblet package from the chicken if it has one. Put the chicken on a baking sheet or cutting board with towels underneath. Nobody likes raw chicken juice on the counter.
-Dice onion into large pieces. If you are using whole carrots cut into large chunks. If using baby carrots, move to next step.
-Place about half of the onions and carrots on the bottom of your preferred cooking vessel and add the chicken stock(optional).
-Put 3Tbsp butter(in thirds) into the bird cavity along with half the salt/pepper/thyme. Also put a few pieces of the onion and carrot in there.
-Truss the chicken if you like. Definitely fold back the wing tips
-Smear the remaining butter on the outside of the chicken. It puts the butter on the chicken.
-Season the outside of the bird with the remaining salt/pepper/thyme
-Put chicken into your preferred cooking vessel and add remaining onion/carrots around it
-Put a lid on it. COVER the chicken and roast in the 400 degree oven for about 1 hour and 15 minutes, basting occasionally. After this time uncover the chicken and roast an additional 30ish minutes still basting occasionally. Get that skin crispy. After those 30ish minutes, use your thermometer and make sure it's at 165 degrees in the thigh.
-Let that sucker rest for at least 15 minutes. Like juicy chicken? Do the rest.
-Carve however you like and put those onions/carrots and buttery juice left in the preferred cooking vessel on some rice or potatoes.
-Exclaim aloud how delicious this is and share the recipe with friends, foes, family, everyone.