Roasted Half Chicken With Cherry Sauce

Trim and discard woody bottom ends from asparagus. Dice potatoes into ½-inch pieces. Trim and thinly slice scallions, separating whites from greens.

Line a second baking sheet (second and third baking sheets for 4 servings) with aluminum foil. 

Pat chicken* dry with paper towels and season generously all over with garlic powder, salt, and pepper. (TIP: See a feather? Simply grip the end using a paper towel and pull!) Place chicken, skin side up, on one side of prepared baking sheet.

Roast on middle rack until chicken is cooked through and skin is browned and slightly crispy, 40-50 minutes. TIP: If skin begins to brown too quickly, loosely cover chicken with foil. To ensure chicken is cooked through, insert a thermometer into the innermost part of the thigh and breast (avoiding any bones). Once chicken is cooked, the bones may still appear pink—this is OK!

When chicken has 12 minutes left, remove sheet from oven and carefully toss asparagus on empty side of sheet with a drizzle of oil, salt, and pepper. Return to middle rack and roast until chicken is cooked through and asparagus is browned and tender, 10-12 minutes. (For 4 servings, leave chicken roasting on middle rack; toss asparagus on the other prepared baking sheet and roast on top rack.) 

When chicken has 12 minutes left, remove sheet from oven and carefully toss asparagus on empty side of sheet with a drizzle of oil, salt, and pepper. Return to middle rack and roast until chicken is cooked through and asparagus is browned and tender, 10-12 minutes. (For 4 servings, leave chicken roasting on middle rack; toss asparagus on the other prepared baking sheet and roast on top rack.) 

Meanwhile, place potatoes in a medium pot with enough salted water to cover by 2 inches. Bring to a boil; cook until tender, 10-15 minutes. Reserve ½ cup potato cooking liquid (1 cup for 4), then drain and return potatoes to pot. Add half the sour cream and 1 TBSP butter (2 TBSP for 4); mash with a potato masher or fork, adding splashes of reserved potato cooking liquid as needed, until smooth and creamy. Taste and season with salt and pepper. 

Keep covered off heat until ready to serve.

When chicken is almost done, heat a drizzle of oil in a medium pan over medium-high heat. Add scallion whites and cook, stirring, until softened and fragrant, 1 minute.

Stir in jam, stock concentrate, and ¼ cup water (⅓ cup for 4 servings). Cook, stirring, until thickened, 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in remaining sour cream and 1 TBSP butter (2 TBSP for 4). Season with salt and pepper.