Country Baked Chicken

📝 Ingredients

• 1 whole 5 -7 pound roasting chicken
• 2 quarts of water
• ½ cup brown sugar
• ½ cup kosher salt
• 12 black peppercorns
• 1 whole bunch of fresh thyme
• 4 whole unpeeled garlic cloves, smashed
• 2 quarts ice
• 2 teaspoons salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• 2 teaspoons dried thyme
• 2 teaspoons dried sage
• 1 tablespoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• ¼ teaspoon onion powder
• Pinch of cayenne
• chicken scraps (back, wings, neck)
• 5 chicken feet (optional)
• ½ medium onion
• 2 celery stalks, left whole
• 3 medium carrots, cut in half
• 2 quarts cold water
• 5 back peppercorns
• 2 garlic cloves, smashed
• ½ bunch parsley stems
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 pounds carrots, peeled and cut into bite sized pieces
• 1 pound onions, cut in wedges
• 1 ½ pounds medium-sized new red potatoes, peels on and cut in quarters
• 2 stalks celery, cut into 2 inch pieces
• ½ stick plus 3 tablespoons butter, divided
• 2 ounces flour
• 4 ounces sour cream (½ cup)
• ½ teaspoon gravy flavor color (such as Kitchen Bouquet)
• Pinch of dried thyme
• Salt and pepper to taste

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1The day prior to serving, remove the gizzard bag from the chicken and save the neck but discard the organs. With a pair of kitchen shears, cut out the back bone of the chicken and reserve. With a sharp boning knife, cut off each leg quarter and separate the leg from the thigh. Do this for both sides. Remove keel bone that separates the two breast halves and set aside with back and neck. Remove each whole wing and set aside with back, neck and keel bone. Cut each breast half in half again so you end up with eight pieces. (Place chicken scraps in the refrigerator overnight)
2. 2In a 4 quart stock pot place water, brown sugar, salt, peppercorns, thyme and garlic and bring to a boil. Boil for 5 minutes and remove from heat to cool. (If you place your pot in a sink full of ice water, it will cool quickly). Add ice to cooled brine and combine iced brine and chicken parts in a large container (large enough to hold everything and the chicken should be covered with the brine). Place in the refrigerator overnight.
3. 3Combine spices for spice rub, seal in a zip lock bag and set aside for later.
4. 4Four hours before you want to serve, or the day before, place chicken scraps in a 6 quart stock pot along with optional chicken feet, onion, celery, carrots, cold water, peppercorns, garlic parsley and salt. Slowly bring to a boil, skim off any foam that floats to the top, reduce to a simmer and simmer for three hours. Discard solids and return stock to pot.
5. 5Add carrots, onions, new red potatoes and celery to stock. Bring to a boil then simmer covered 20 minutes. It is OK if the stock does not cover the vegetables.
6. 6Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
7. 7Strain out vegetables and place in a roasting pan around the outside edge of the pan. Reserve the stock for the country gravy.
8. 8Remove chicken from the brine, rinse and place on a cutting board. Discard the brine. Pat chicken dry with paper towels.
9. 9Melt the three tablespoons of butter and brush over chicken (skin side up). Take reserved spice rub and sprinkle all over top of chicken pieces.
10. 10Place legs and thighs in center of roasting pan and roast with vegetables uncovered for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and add breast portions and return to oven and cook for 30-45 minutes or until a probe thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the breast reaches 140 degrees.
11. 11Turn the oven to broil and broil for about 5 minutes to crisp up skin.
12. 12Remove chicken to platter and let rest for 15 minutes with a sheet of foil loosely covering the top.
13. 13Reheat oven back to 425 degrees.
14. 14Spread vegetables out flat in the roasting pan and return to oven to brown (10-15 minutes).
15. 15While the vegetables are browning, heat the stock back up to a low boil (there should be about one pint (2 cups) of stock). Melt the ½ stick of butter in a 2 quart sauce pan and add flour. Cook over medium heat for 3-5 minutes or until raw flour smell is gone. Add stock to butter/four mixture one third at a time whipping each time. Once all stock is in, add sour cream, gravy color, thyme and salt and pepper to taste. Reserve the gravy for serving.
16. 16If vegetables need more browning, broil for a few minutes.
17. 17To serve, place chicken portion on the plate with roasted vegetables and potatoes and serve country gravy on the side.