Cozy French Roast Chicken

Instructions:

1. 1. Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C).
2. 2. Clean the chicken and pat it dry with paper towels. Make sure to remove any giblets or neck from inside the cavity.
3. 3. Cut the lemon and the garlic in halves. Stuff these, along with the thyme, inside the chicken.
4. 4. Season the chicken on all sides with salt and pepper. Rub the skin with the butter.
5. 5. Tie the legs together with kitchen twine. This promotes even cooking.
6. 6. Roast the chicken in the oven for about 1 hour and 30 minutes, until the juices run clear when you cut between a leg and thigh.
7. 7. Remove the chicken from the oven and let it rest for about 15 minutes before carving.
8. 8. While the chicken is resting, you can make a sauce with the pan juices by adding white wine and chicken stock, reducing it over medium heat.
9. 9. Serve the chicken pieces with some of this gravy.