1. Preheat oven to 350 F degrees
2. Remove giblets from thawed chicken and rinse.
3. Dry chicken and lightly salt and pepper the chicken.
4. Place chicken in roasting pan, cover and roast in preheated oven.
5. Roast whole chicken for 20 minutes per pound, plus an additional 15 minutes.  Chicken should be cooked to 165 degrees F.

Roasting a chicken can be as simple as the above directions or can be dressed up with the following ideas:

• Make a traditional bread stuffing and stuff the cavity of the chicken prior to roasting
• Stuff the cavity with thyme, pieces of lemon and garlic.
• Season the outside by brushing butter on the chicken, sprinkle salt and pepper and rosemary
• Make it a one pot supper.  Add chopped potatoes, carrots, onions in roasting pan with the chicken, toss in your favorite cooking oil and season.