Poulet Roti Tout Simple (Simple Roast Chicken)

Ingredients

• 1 4-to-5-pound chicken
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 2 whole garlic cloves
• peeled
• 1 bay leaf
• crumbled
• 2 onions
• peeled and cut in half
• 2 tomatoes cut into quarters
• 4 ounces margarine cut into small pieces or 3 ounces butter mixed with 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
• 4 potatoes
• peeled and cut in two

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Stuff the cavity of the chicken with the thyme, garlic and bay leaf.
3. Do not truss the chicken.
4. Place the chicken in a Pyrex baking dish, breast side up.
5. Distribute onions, tomatoes and margarine or butter and oil around and on top of the chicken.
6. Add salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
7. Roast the chicken in the preheated oven for 45 minutes or so, basting every now and then.
8. Turn the bird breast side down.
9. Add the potatoes and mix well with the juices in the pan.
10. Add more margarine or butter - 1 or 2 ounces, if necessary.
11. Lower the heat to 350 degrees.
12. Cook another 45 minutes, basting occasionally.
13. Serve.
14. The skin should be very, very crisp.
15. The chicken may be garnished with the potatoes.