If there are giblets with the chicken, take them out, wash all but the liver (reserve that for another use), and cover with water. Add salt and pepper, bring to the boil and simmer for half an hour. Wipe the chicken inside and out and remove any lumps of fat from the inside; sprinkle with salt. Mix together the oatmeal, chopped onion, butter or suet stock, and seasoning.

 

Stuff the chicken with this mixture and secure well. Heat the dripping or oil and lightly fry the bacon then chop and put into a casserole.

 

Quickly brown the bird in the same fat and put on top of the bacon. Soften the onion and briefly sauté the carrots, then add to the casserole. Strain the giblet stock and make it up to about 1/2 liter. Heat and pour over the chicken. Cover and cook in a moderate oven (350 degrees F) for about an hour.

 

Meanwhile, cut the potatoes into thick slices and blanch them in boiling water, or steam them for about 5 minutes. Toss them in seasoned flour and add them to the casserole, adding a little more of the giblet stock if needed. Cover with buttered wax paper and continue cooking for another 1/2 hour, taking off the paper for the last few minutes for browning.