Split Roasted Chicken with Herbed Butter (pages 184-185)

I almost didn't try this recipe as I am hooked on the walk-away roast chicken (page 181) but I am glad I did.  I bought a 2-pack of whole chicken at Costco for a total of $8 but the chicken tasted like a million dollars! 

Some preparation tips:

• Kitchen shears are the only way to go for removing the backbone  They also work great for cutting the chicken into pieces after it is cooked.
• Use the backbone and the other organs to make the chicken broth for the sauce.  It is far superior to the canned stuff for this recipe. 
• This recipe is easy to double.  Because the chicken is flattened, you can fit two chickens in one oven without a problem.  One batch of sauce is sufficient for two chickens. 

The bottom line:  An easy, impressive and economical way to feed a crowd.