Roast Chicken with Plums and Almonds

Preheat oven to 350°.

Remove and discard giblets and neck from chicken. Rinse chicken under cold water; pat dry. Trim excess fat. Lift wing tips up and over back; tuck under chicken.

Sprinkle chicken with rind, coriander, and pepper. Place chicken on a rack coated with cooking spray; place rack in a shallow roasting pan coated with cooking spray. Combine sherry, broth, juice, honey, and garlic in a small bowl; reserve 1/2 cup sherry mixture for sauce. Insert a meat thermometer into meaty part of thigh, making sure not to touch bone. Bake at 350° for 30 minutes; baste with remaining sherry mixture. Bake an additional 45 minutes, basting every 15 minutes. Add shallots to pan; bake an additional 15 minutes, and baste. Add almonds and plums; bake an additional 15 minutes or until thermometer registers 180°. Place chicken on a platter; place shallots, plums, and almonds around chicken using a slotted spoon. Cover chicken loosely with foil; let stand 10 minutes.

Place the roasting pan over a stove-top burner. Add reserved 1/2 cup sherry mixture to pan; bring to a boil over medium heat, scraping pan to loosen browned bits. Reduce heat; simmer 5 minutes. Cool slightly. Place a zip-top plastic bag inside a 2-cup glass measure. Pour drippings into bag; let stand 10 minutes (fat will rise to the top). Seal bag; carefully snip off 1 corner of bag. Drain drippings into a bowl, stopping before the fat layer reaches the opening. Discard fat. Remove foil from chicken and discard skin; serve sauce with chicken. Garnish with thyme sprigs, if desired.