LEMON CHICKEN WITH GARLIC AND THYME

LEMON  CHICKEN  WITH  GARLIC  AND  THYME:         EUROPE

INGREDIENTS:        ( serves 4 )

1  large chicken, whole
4 - 6  lemons
Olive oil
1  bunch thyme
Salt and freshly ground pepper
1-2  tbs  honey
4  shallots
2  fresh garlic bulbs

METHOD:

• Wash the chicken and pat dry. Halve and squeeze one lemon. Slice one lemon and mix with a little olive oil, half of the thyme, salt and pepper.
• Stuff the chicken with the sliced lemon and thyme mixture. Tie the chicken's legs together.
• Mix the lemon juice with the honey, 1 tbs oil, salt and pepper and brush the chicken with the mixture. Halve the remaining lemons and put into an oiled roasting dish.
• Peel and halve the shallots, halve the garlic bulbs and put both into the dish. Place the chicken in the dish, scatter the rest of the thyme on top of the chicken and bake in a preheated oven ( 180c ) for about 1 hour. Serve with Yorkshire puddings and gravy.

TIPS :To get the most accurate temperature reading, insert the instant- read thermometer in the thickest part of the thigh, toward the interior rather than the exterior  of the bird. Make sure you don't touch the bone with the tip of the thermometer or you'll get a higher reading.