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McCalls Classic Roast Chicken with Gravy

Classic Roast Chicken with Gravy

Besure the butter is softened so it combines thoroughly with the herbs.

Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 5 ounces meat and about 1/4 cup gravy)

Ingredients

Chicken:

1 (3 3/4-pound) whole roasting chicken

1 tablespoon butter, softened

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon dried thyme

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

1/2 teaspoon dried rubbed sage

1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

2 carrots, peeled and halved

4 stalks celery, halved

1 onion, quartered

Gravy:

1/2 cup dry white wine

1 1/2 cups fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

3 tablespoons water

1/4 teaspoon salt

Preparation

Preheat oven to 375°.

To prepare chicken, remove and discard giblets and neck from chicken; trim excess fat. Starting at neck cavity, loosen skin from breasts and drumsticks by inserting fingers, gently pushing between skin and meat.

Combine butter and next 5 ingredients (through pepper) in a small bowl. Rub seasoning mixture under loosened skin and over breasts and drumsticks. Tie ends of legs together with twine. Lift wing tips up and over back; tuck under chicken. Place carrots, celery, and onion in a single layer in a roasting pan. Place chicken, breast side up, on top of vegetables.

Bake at 375° for 40 minutes.

Increase oven temperature to 450°, and bake an additional 20 minutes or until a thermometer inserted in the meaty part of thigh registers 170°. Using tongs or insulated rubber gloves, remove chicken from pan, tilting slightly to drain juices. Let stand 15 minutes. Remove vegetables from pan with a slotted spoon; reserve.

To prepare gravy, place a zip-top plastic bag in a 2-cup glass measure. Pour wine into bag; add drippings from pan. Let stand 2 minutes (fat will rise to the top). Seal bag; carefully snip off bottom corner of bag. Drain drippings into measuring cup, stopping before fat layer reaches opening; discard fat.

Return vegetables to pan. Add wine mixture and broth to pan; cook 10 minutes over medium heat, scraping pan to loosen browned bits. Remove vegetables from pan using a slotted spoon; discard. Combine flour and water in a small bowl, stirring with a whisk to form a slurry; add slurry and 1/4 teaspoon salt to pan, stirring constantly. Simmer 1 minute or until slightly thick.

Remove skin from chicken; discard. Carve chicken, and serve with gravy.

Nutritional Information
Calories:287 (39% from fat)
Fat:12.4g (sat 4.4g,mono 4.3g,poly 2.3g)
Protein:37g
Carbohydrate:4.4g
Fiber:0.9g
Cholesterol:114mg
Iron:2.4mg
Sodium:721mg
Calcium:35mg