Break garlic bulbs into cloves; do not peel. Tie legs of chicken together, tuck wings underneath.

Brush chicken with combined juice and pepper. Place bay leaf and thyme inside chicken. Place chicken breast side up in baking dish; place garlic cloves around chicken. Pour oil over chicken and garlic.

Cover chicken with greased foil, bake in moderate oven 30 mins. Remove foil, stir garlic, bake further 1¬ hours or until chicken is tender and garlic is soft; stir garlic occasionally. Spread garlic onto crispy bread, serve with chicken.

Crispy Bread: Cut bread into slices, brush both sides with butter. Place bread on oven tray. Bake in moderately hot oven about 10 mins or until lightly browned and crisp.