Herb-roasted Chicken

Total Time: 2 hrs 10 mins Preparation Time: 40 mins Cook Time: 1 hr 30 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 1 (3 -3 1/2 lb) roasting chickens
• 1/2 cup kosher salt
• 1 quart water
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• 2 garlic cloves, minced (or 1 tsp. jarred minced garlic)
• 1 teaspoon dried basil, crushed
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground sage
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme, crushed
• 1/4 teaspoon lemon-pepper seasoning or 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

Recipe

• 1 place chicken in a 1 gallon zip-lock type bag. pour 1/2 cup kosher salt over chicken. carefully pour 1 quart water over chicken and seal bag.
• 2 gently mix the salt/water solution to cover chicken. place sealed bag on a paper towel in the refrigerator and leave for 30 minutes. (this is called brining.).
• 3 remove chicken from bag and rinse under cold water. pat chicken dry.
• 4 preheat oven to 375°f
• 5 in a small bowl, stir together basil, salt (1/2 tsp.), sage, thyme, and lemon pepper (or pepper).
• 6 in another small bowl, melt butter. add minced garlic to butter and mix together.
• 7 remove neck and giblets from chicken. place chicken, breast side down, on a rack in a shallow roasting pan. use a basting brush to paint garlic butter onto the chicken skin. sprinkle part of the herbs over the butter.
• 8 turn chicken over and repeat with remaining butter and herbs.
• 9 roast, uncovered, for 1.25 - 1.5 hours, or until drumsticks move easily in the sockets and a meat thermometer registers 180°f
• 10 serve and enjoy!