Already Married Chicken (Modified Engagement Chicken)

• 3 lbs whole chickens
• 4 medium lemons
• 12 cup fresh lemon juice
• kosher salt (to taste) or sea salt (to taste)
• ground black pepper (to taste)

1. Place rack in upper third of oven and preheat to 425 degrees.
2. Wash chicken inside and out with cold water, remove the giblets, then let the chicken drain, cavity down, in a colander until it reaches room temperature (about 15 min) Pat dry with paper towels.
3. Poke a few holes in each lemon and microwave for 40 seconds (makes the lemons more juicy).
4. Squeeze fresh lemon juice from 2 of the lemons all over the chicken.
5. Prick a few more holes in the full lemons.
6. Place these and two of the halves of the squeezed lemons inside the chicken.
7. Place them deep inside the cavity of the chicken.
8. (Optional) Rub butter on the bottom (not the breast side) of the chicken.
9. Sprinkle salt and pepper all over the chicken, inside and out, and under any parts of the skin which are only loosely attached.
10. Place the chicken BREAST-SIDE down on a rack in a roasting pan, bake for 15 minutes.
11. Remove from oven and turn it breast-side up (use wooden spoons!
12. ); return it to oven for 35 minutes more.
13. (Time based on chicken size, internal temp should be ~180, juices should run clear).
14. Continue baking if necessary.
15. Let chicken cool for a 15 minutes before carving.
16. Serve with juices.
17. Enjoy!

chickens, lemons, lemon juice, kosher salt, ground black pepper

Taken from www.food.com/recipe/already-married-chicken-modified-engagement-chicken-240263 (may not work)