Chicken Baked over Mushroom Dressing

http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/chicken_baked_over_mushroom_dressing.html

From EatingWell:  November/December 2008

Roasting a chicken on top of a three-mushroom stuffing keeps it moist and juicy. This is a comfy treat any winter night.

4 servings, 3 ounces chicken & about 1 cup dressing each | Active Time: 1 hour | Total Time: 2 hours

Ingredients

• 1 4 1/2-pound chicken
• 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
• 1 1/2 teaspoons freshly ground pepper, divided
• 1 teaspoon salt, divided
• 3 large leeks, white and light green parts only, thinly sliced
• 4 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 large red bell pepper, chopped
• 3 cups sliced cremini mushrooms, (about 8 ounces)
• 2 cups chopped portobello mushroom caps, (about 2 small), gills removed if desired (see Tip)
• 2 cups sliced shiitake mushroom caps, (4 1/2 ounces with stems)
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage
• 5 cups stale whole-wheat bread cubes, (1-inch; see Tip)
• 1 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. Remove giblets (if included) from chicken and trim any excess skin. Loosen the skin over the breast and thigh meat and rub thyme, 1 teaspoon pepper and 3/4 teaspoon salt under the skin. Tuck wing tips under and tie legs together with kitchen string. Place breast-side down in a 9-by-13-inch baking pan. Roast the chicken for 45 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, place sliced leeks in a colander; rinse and drain well. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add leeks and cook, stirring often, until softened, about 2 minutes. Add bell pepper; cook for 1 minute. Add cremini, portobello and shiitake mushrooms and cook, stirring often, until the mushrooms release their liquid and it evaporates to a glaze, about 7 minutes. Stir in rosemary, sage and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon pepper and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Transfer the mixture to a large bowl. Stir in bread and broth.
4. Remove the chicken from the pan. Skim or blot any fat from the pan juices. Add the bread mixture to the roasting pan and spread in an even layer.
5. Place the chicken, breast-side up, on top of the dressing. Return to the oven and continue roasting until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh without touching bone registers 165°F, about 45 minutes more. Transfer the chicken to a cutting board; let rest for 10 minutes before removing the string and carving. Serve the chicken with the dressing.

Nutrition

Per serving : 368 Calories; 11 g Fat; 2 g Sat; 5 g Mono; 77 mg Cholesterol; 32 g Carbohydrates; 35 g Protein; 6 g Fiber; 725 mg Sodium; 798 mg Potassium

1 1/2 Carbohydrate Serving

Exchanges: 1 starch, 2 vegetable, 4 lean meat

Tips & Notes

• Make Ahead Tip: Equipment: Kitchen string

• Tips: The dark gills found on the underside of a portobello are edible, but if you like you can scrape them off with a spoon.
• If you don't have stale bread on hand, toast bread cubes at 250°F until crisped and dry, about 20 minutes.