Baking a whole chicken

I cut up one onion and one potato (regular or sweet) and place them on the bottom of a baking dish. Then I place 4 to 5 cloves of garlic peeled but whole inside the cleaned out cavity of the whole chicken. I buy my chicken when they are sale for $.99 a pound at Fred Meyer's or recently Safeway had them for $.79 a pound. Check around your area for the cheapest deal. 

Chicken is bottom down.

Then I place the whole chicken on top of the veggies. Either season the top with seasoning or sometimes I leave it naked. Then I put the lid on top, place in a 425 degree preheated oven. Bake for 1 hour, then take cover off and bake 45 more minutes.

Open oven and then grab a utensil to help flip the chicken so the other side is up. Bake for another 45 minutes. Once the chicken is done (check and see if there is any pink inside).

Let it cool or rest (like chefs say) for about 15 minutes. Either eat while warm or like me- I take all the meat off the bones and place in a refrigerator container and save for about 3 days. We use it for salads and sandwiches.

After bones have been picked clean, I take the bones and place them in a small saucepan top with enough water to cover the bones.  

 

Place on the stove and boil for about 20 minutes. Then I let it rest (ha, ha) and drain the juice off and pick the bones clean. Place in a Tupperware container and freeze for later use.

**UPDATE: Fred Meyer the week of May 4 - 10 is having whole chicken fryer's on sale for $.88 a pound (limit 3). This is a great time to stock up - especially if you have a freezer. You bet I will be at Fred Meyer tomorrow to buy my fryers.