Instructions: Remove giblets from chicken and reserve for other uses. Pull off and discard lumps of fat. Rinse bird well inside and out; pat dry. If desired, fold wing tips under first joint. Set bird breast up on a V-shaped rack in an 11- by 17-inch pan.

Grate 2 tablespoons peel from oranges. Cut oranges in half crosswise and ream juice; you need at least 2/3 cup. In a small bowl, mix grated peel and thyme leaves. Starting at the neck, gently ease your fingers under chicken skin to loosen it over breast. Push 3 tablespoons orange peeluthyme mixture under skin and spread evenly over breast. Place 2 orange halves (discard remainder), 4 thyme sprigs, and 2 shallots in body cavity.

In a bowl, mix remaining shallots, the potatoes, and carrots with olive oil. Distribute vegetables around chicken in pan. Pour 1/3 cup orange juice over chicken. Sprinkle chicken lightly with salt and pepper.

Roast in a 425 degrees regular or convection oven until vegetables are well browned and tender when pierced and a thermometer inserted through thickest part of breast to bone reaches 170 degrees, or 180 degrees through thickest part of thigh at joint, 1 1/4 to 1 3/4 hours. After about 30 minutes, turn vegetables with a wide spatula. If pan juices start to scorch, pour about 1/4 cup water around edge of pan and stir to scrape drippings free, mixing with vegetables.

Insert a carving fork into the body cavity, piercing carcass; lift bird and tilt to drain juices into pan. Set chicken on a rimmed platter. With a slotted spoon, lift vegetables from pan and arrange around chicken. Let rest in a warm place about 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, skim and discard fat from pan. Add sherry, broth, cream, and remaining orange peeluthyme mixture and orange juice. Stir often over high heat, scraping browned bits free, until reduced to 1 cup, 8 to 10 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste. Pour through a fine strainer into a small pitcher or bowl.

Garnish platter with remaining thyme sprigs. Carve chicken and serve with vegetables and sherry-cream sauce. Add salt and pepper to taste.

This recipe yields 6 to 8 servings.

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