YCL! December 2013 | Page 6

Christmas roast dinner Cooking a chicken is pretty simple! When I do mine, I rub it all over in olive oil, and then put it in the tray upside down with tin foil over the top. Half way through cooking time I turn it over (If I have loads of time where I'm doing nothing else, I might turn it multiple times as it helps keep the juices in so it’s moist). Towards the end of the cooking time, I remove the tin foil to allow the top to go nice and crispy. Most chickens from supermarkets will tell you inside how long you need to cook that particular chicken for and at what temperature. You are supposed to leave meat to rest for 10mins before carving, but I never do. When working timings out, I work out first the time I want it and the time it takes things to cook. Put your chicken in and prepare all your veg and potatoes - they're more time consuming than you think! Work backwards in times, such as if you want it for 2pm and the chicken takes 2 hours, then put in the oven at 12, if the potatoes take 30mins, then they go in at 1.30 etc. 5.