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1
Preheat oven to 425.
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2
Rinse chicken under cold water then pat dry with paper towels.
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3
Rinse finger potatoes and sit aside.
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4
Season chicken inside and out with salt and pepper.
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5
Smear softened butter over entire chicken.
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6
Place breast side up in 13 x 9 inch (or larger) baking dish.
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7
Insert 1/2 lemon into cavity along with 2 sprigs fresh rosemary and half head of garlic.
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8
Remove leaves off remaining sprigs of rosemary and sprinkle on top of chicken.
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9
Discard stems.
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10
Cover chicken with strips of bacon.
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11
In gallon size storage bag add finger potatoes, extra virgin olive oil, salt and pepper and shake well to coat.
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12
Pour potatoes around chicken.
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13
Cut the remaining 1 1/2 lemons into wedges and the remaining 2 garlic heads in half.
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14
Place lemon wedges and garlic halves around the chicken on top of the potatoes.
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15
Place in oven and bake for 1 hour uncovered.
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16
Remove chicken from oven and remove bacon.
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17
Set bacon aside and return chicken to oven for an additional 30 minutes.
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18
While chicken is in the oven dice the bacon where it's completely cooked discarding the places on each piece where it's still raw and set aside.
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19
After 30 minutes check the chicken.
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20
Don't let the golden color of the chicken fool you into thinking it's done.
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21
Test chicken where the thigh meets the breast and see if the juices run clear.
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22
Remove chicken, garlic and lemon from baking dish to a large platter and tent with foil.
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23
Remove potatoes to a covered serving dish and keep warm.
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24
While chicken is resting take 4 tablespoons of the pan drippings and place in saucepan.
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25
Add chicken broth and diced bacon and bring to a boil on medium high heat.
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26
Reduce by half (approx 6-8 minutes).
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27
If you need to thicken the gravy use the corn starch and ice cold water mixed together to make a slurry and add a little at a time checking for desired consistency.
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28
Remove foil tent and slice chicken.
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29
Place on platter with roasted lemons and garlic heads.
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30
The garlic is soft and makes a nice spread to place on buttered crusty bread.
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31
Pour gravy into gravy boat (or bowl) and serve along side chicken and potatoes.
