Lemon Garlic Chicken with Smashed Potatoes

A whole chicken roasted with garlic, lemon and herbs, and served with creamy, garlic smashed potatoes.

Ingredients:

• 1 roasting chicken, washed and patted dry
• 1 whole head garlic
• 1 large lemon
• Extra virgin olive oil for rubbing on skin of chicken
• Salt and pepper for sprinkling
• Handful fresh thyme and parsley sprigs (can substitute fresh sage or rosemary springs)
• 4-5 medium potatoes for smashing (use new, gold or red for colorful and flavorful skins)
• 2 Tbsp butter
• 1 Tbsp cream or milk
• 1 Tbsp sour cream (optional)
• 2 Tbsp cream cheese (optional)
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Rub chicken with olive oil inside and out. Stuff chicken with fresh thyme and parsley (or alternate herb) sprigs, whole head of garlic and half of lemon. Squeeze other half of lemon over bird and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake in a 350-degree oven for 20 minutes per pound. When chicken is almost done, boil potatoes. They will take less time to cook if cut in quarters. Either leave the skin on or peel it off. While they are boiling, remove chicken from oven and remove herbs and garlic and lemon. Discard lemon and herb sprigs, but keep the head of garlic handy. Cover chicken with tin foil loosely and let sit until the potato dish is done. When potatoes are very tender, drain and return to pot. Add butter, milk or cream, salt, pepper and sour cream and cream cheese if you are using them. (If you are not using the sour cream or cream cheese, you will need to increase the amount of milk and butter to accommodate) Take at least 4-5 cloves off head of garlic and squeeze roasted garlic out of its papery skin into potatoes. Smash with a potato masher or fork until smooth. Add butter or milk to reach desired consistency.

Number of Servings: 4

Notes from the Cook: To make lower fat smashed potatoes, use fat free half and half, skim milk, fat free sour cream, and low fat cream cheese to drastically reduce the fat and calorie content. Serve with a green vegetable or green salad for a perfect meal. This meal is great winter, spring, summer or fall.