Roasted Chicken with Lemons and Thyme

I found this in the Melaleuca magazine November 2010 p.49

"Paprika, lemon and thyme lend this simple roast chicken traditional Sephardic flavor. Substitute oregano for thyme, if desired. Garnish with fresh lemon slices or roasted lemon wedges. To roast, add lemons to the roasting rack during the last 20 minutes of cooking time.

You'll need:
6 pound roasting chicken
2 tsp Hungarian paprika
2 tbsp chopped fresh thyme
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
2 lemons
cooking spray
1 tsp olive oil
2 tbsp all purpose flour
1/2 cup dry white wine (such as sauvignon blanc)
1 cup fat free, less-sodium chicken broth
1 tsbp fresh lemon juice
2 tsp sugar
lemon slices (optional)
Thyme sprigs (optional)

Preheat oven to 425
Remove and discard giblets and neck from chicken. Trim excess fat. Starting at the neck loosen skin from breast and drumsticks by inserting fingers, gently pushing between skin and meat.

Combine paprika, 1 tablespoon thyme, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp pepper, rub under loosened skin
Thinly slice 1 lemon, arrange slices under skin. Cut remaining lemon into quarters, place lemon quarters inside chicken cavity. Add remaining thyme to chicken cavity.

Place chicken on the rack of a broiler pan or roasting pan coated with cooking spray. Brush oil over skin. cover with aluminum foil. Back 425 for 30 minutes.

uncover and bake 50 minutes or until thermometer read 165


Transfer chicken to cutting board. Cover with foil and let stand 15 minutes before carving.

GRAVY
Place a plastic bag in a 2 cup glass measure. Pour drippings into bag let stand 10 minutes. Fat will rise to the top.  Seal bag, snip off corner of bag. Drain drippings into measuring cup stopping before fat layer reaches opening. Discard fat.

Place drippings on stove top over medium heat. Sprinkle flour into pan.  Add wine bring to boil.  Stir constantly with whisk.  Add drippings, broth juice, sugar, pepper, salt to pan. stir constantly with whisk until thickened. remove from heat.

Remove skin and lemon slices from chicken. remove lemon wedges from cavity - discard.  Carve chicken, arrange on serving platter. Serve with gravy.