Shelly's Recipe

ROAST CHICKEN WITH EASY HOMEMADE GRAVY

Category: Chicken

1 roasting chicken (4-5 lbs)
1 lemon cut in eighths
1 small bunch of thyme
1 head of garlic, unpeeled and cut in half crosswise (optional)

Preheat oven to 425. Rinse chicken and pat dry. Liberally sprinkle inside and out with salt and pepper. Stuff the cavity with lemon, garlic and thyme. Roast for 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 hours. Cover and allow to rest for at least 15 minutes.

Easy Homemade Gravy
4 tbsp (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
2 tbsp flour
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 cup chicken drippings plus chicken stock
1 tbsp Cognac

Melt butter in a small heavy bottom sauce pan over medium low heat. Add flour, salt and pepper. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Add the hot drippings/stock mixture, then the Cognac. Cook until thickened 3-5 minutes.