JAMIESHOMECOOKINGSKILLS.COM

One of the most important things to master when you’re cooking a roast dinner is the timing. This handy time guide will walk you through the order in which you should prepare and cook the different elements. If things go according to plan, everything should be ready at the same time. Print off a copy of this plan so you can mark each stage off as you go. Look at the clock before you start so you know exactly what time each stage should be completed by.

The following recipes can all be cooked together to give you a beautiful roast chicken dinner:

• Perfect roast chicken • Roast potatoes, parsnips and carrots • Buttered spinach • A consistently good gravy • Bread sauce • Stewed fruit crumble

To make life easier, get all your ingredients and equipment out so you’re not searching for things while you’re trying to cook. If you find yourself with a few free minutes, lay the table so you can serve up easily at the end.

LOOK AT THE NEXT PAGE FOR THE HANDY TIME GUIDE.

Recipe © Jamie Oliver. Photography © David Loftus / Matt Russell.

JAMIESHOMECOOKINGSKILLS.COM

Recipe © Jamie Oliver. Photography © David Loftus / Matt Russell.

TO BEGIN ...

1) Perfect roast chicken: Get your chicken out of the fridge so it can come up to room temperature. Preheat the oven to 240º/475ºF/gas 9. 2) Stewed fruit crumble: Prepare and cook your stewed fruit. Cover it then put it to one side for later.

30 MINUTES ...

3) Perfect roast chicken: Follow the rest of the section ‘To prepare your chicken’.

40 MINUTES ...

4) Perfect roast chicken: Put your chicken tray in the oven and reduce the temperature as instructed.5) Roast potatoes, parsnips and carrots: Prepare your potatoes, parsnips and carrots so they are ready to go into the oven. 6) Stewed fruit crumble: Make your crumble mixture and assemble your mini crumbles.

1 HOUR, 15 MINUTES ...

7) Roast potatoes, parsnips and carrots: Put your tray of potatoes, parsnips and carrots in the oven.8) Perfect roast chicken: While you’re there, take the roasting tray of chicken out of the oven. Baste the chicken then return the tray to the oven.9) Bread sauce: Make your bread sauce. When you’re done, turn the heat off and pop a lid on the pan so it stays warm. 10) Buttered spinach: Put the ingredients for the buttered spinach by the hob for later.

2 HOURS ...

11) Perfect roast chicken: Take your chicken out of the oven and follow the instructions in the recipe to check that it’s cooked through. If so, move it to a board or a plate, cover it with tin foil and leave it to rest.12) A consistently good gravy: Start on your gravy.

2 HOURS, 15 MINUTES ...

13) Roast potatoes, parsnips and carrots: Check your potatoes, parsnips and carrots. If they’re done, take them out of the oven. If they aren’t cooked, leave them in for a few more minutes. 14) A consistently good gravy: Check on the consistency of your gravy. If you’re happy with it, sieve it now. 15) Buttered spinach: Cook your buttered spinach. 16) Take everything to the table.17) Perfect roast chicken: Carve your chicken.18) Stewed fruit crumble: Reduce your oven temperature to 180ºC/350ºF/gas 4. About 15 to 20 minutes before you’re ready to eat dessert, pop your crumbles in the oven to cook.

CONGRATULATIONS, YOU HAVE JUST MADE A WHOLE ROAST DINNER. ENJOY!