Easy mid-week roast chicken

So Zoe's coming round to talk over the new project, PJ... you'll want good food, something that'll go well with your favourite White Burgundy, but can't waste time in the kitchen? Try this mid-week roast chicken, and have some good leftovers for tomorrow... oh, and there's no heavy carbs so you won't be napping afterwards!

• One chicken (take note of the weight!)
• A packet of bread sauce mix
• Some vegetables:
  Leeks
  Carrots
  Red onion
  Celery

Firstly, heat the oven to 190C.

Get that chicken in a roasting tin, remove any string, and do a quick light smear of butter and then season. Get it in the oven. You'll be cooking it for 20 mins per 450g plus 20 mins.

Based on the assumption you'll have bought a chicken around the 1.35kg mark, the chicken will take an hour and 20 mins to cook.

Chop your veg into one inch cubes - don't measure them, it's just an estimate. You programmers are too precise sometimes! :) And put them in another tin or tray. Lightly drissle with olive oil, mix around. Put to one side.

After 30 mins come back and baste the chicken. Pop the vegetables in the oven on the shelf below the chicken. (This'll only take a couple of minutes and will no doubt give you chance to think of an answer to Zoe's last question!)

After another 30 mins baste the chicken and stir round the vegetables. If the veg looked done, take them out and cover with foil... otherwise pop them back in.

20 minutes later, nip in and take the chicken out of the oven. Check the veg. Stir if necessary.

Get Zoe to gather plates, etc. Take the chicken from the pan (tipping out the juices as you go)and put on that big plate and cover with foil to keep warm.

Get Zoe to follow the bread sauce packet instructions. Meanwhile, spoon the fat from the chicken juices, and put those juices in a small pan with a splash of your wine (yes, you can spare a little). Simmer till reduced to about half, whilst you be all manly and carve the chicken.

Put a heap of vegetables on each plate with the chicken, a dollop of bread sauce, and some of those chicken juices. Shut up and eat, and await Zoe's comments of amazement!

[Feel free to bring me sandwiches to work tomorrow.]