GREEK ROASTED CHICKEN & POTATOES

GREEK ROASTED CHICKEN & POTATOES

Serves 3-4

Approx 2 hours 

 INGREDIENTS

Whole Chicken (5-6 lbs.) [brining preferred but optional]

Olive Oil (approx. 1/2 c.)

Lg. Lemons (2-3)

Lg. Onion

White Potatoes, washed and cubed [peeling optional; thin-skinned potatoes preferred]

Garlic (3-4 cloves) or Garlic Powder  (2 tblsp.)

Fresh Mint/Oregano/Thyme/Rosemary*  (approx 1/3 c.)  or 

Dried Mint/Oregano/Thyme/Rosemary (approx 2 tblsp.) 

McCormick Greek Seasoning (approx. 2 tblsp.)

Butter (2 tblsp.)

Salt and Pepper (acc. to taste)

* if using fresh rosemary, use 2-3  6" sprigs, strip the leaves to combine w/other herbs but 

   leave one sprig intact 

Oil roasting pan well, or use whatever technique you use to prevent sticking; pre-heat oven to  450 degrees.  

Cut lemons and onion in half; slice the garlic cloves.  In clean chicken cavity: drizzle olive oil; sprinkle all seasonings (if using fresh herbs - insert 1-2 garlic cloves, sliced, and the full rosemary sprig); squeeze 1/2 lemon, insert both pieces of onion and the squeezed lemon shell in cavity.  [Everytime you use a lemon, see if the shell will fit in the chicken cavity]

Gently lift skin over breast and carefully insert half of remaining herbs (garlic and green), the butter (cut into small pieces, and squeeze lemon into the underskin area.  Massage under skin across breast and into the thighs [now pull your minds out of the gutter, dlisters.  i know you people.]  Put the lemon shell in the cavity.

Turn chicken breast down in pan; drizzle well with olive oil, season with salt n pepper.  Roast approx 10-15 min at 450, just until fully brown.  Flip that bitch.  Roast another 10-15 min. just until fully brown.  Remove from oven; put foil tent over breast, foil the wing tips, etc.

Reduce heat to 300-325 degrees.  Surround the chicken with the cubed potatoes, which have been mixed with the remaining herbs, and salted and peppered to taste.   Drizzle with remaining olive oil.  Return to oven for another 1 - 1 1/2 hours, periodically basting.

Serve with warm crusty bread and salad; onion lovers can be served the onion in the cavity.   Blue and white tableware nicely support the Greek theme.  :-D