Herb Roasted Chicken

When cooking poultry, removing the skin is much more healthy than eating it. However, leaving the skin on during roasting helps keep the meat moist. Remove the skin when carving or leave it on your plate.

Ingredients:
1/4 cup snipped fresh herbs (such as basil, rosemary, marjoram, or sage) or 4 teaspoons dried mixed herbs, crushed
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
One, 3-pound whole broiler-fryer chicken
2 cups 1/2-inch-long carrot pieces
1 cup pearl onions, peeled
2 teaspoons olive oil
One, 10-ounce package frozen peas, thawed
Fresh rosemary (optional)

Directions:
For herb rub, combine the herbs, salt, and pepper. Rinse chicken; pat dry with paper towels. Loosen skin on chicken breast. Using your fingers, carefully spread half of the herb rub under the skin. Skewer neck skin to back; tie legs to tail. Twist wings under back.

Place chicken, breast side up, on a rack in a shallow roasting pan. If desired, insert a meat thermometer into center of an inside thigh muscle. Roast, uncovered, in a 375 degree oven for 30 minutes.

In a 1-1/2-quart casserole combine carrots and onions. Toss with the remaining herb rub and the olive oil. Cover; place in oven. Roast about 45 minutes more or until chicken is no longer pink, juices run clear (the meat thermometer, if using, should register 180 degrees F), and vegetables are tender, adding peas to the casserole the last 15 minutes of roasting. If desired, garnish with fresh rosemary.

Recipe makes six servings.

Nutrition Facts per Serving:
Calories 293
Total Fat 14g
Saturated Fat 4g
Cholesterol 79mg
Protein 27g
Total Carbohydrate 13g
Dietary Fiber 4g
Sodium 230mg
Dietary Exchanges: Fruit 1.9, Fat 0.3, Sugar 0.1