Beer Can Chicken

Sometimes I like to roast a whole chicken. There is something about cooking the whole bird that makes me feel closer to the farm. Please don't get me wrong, I do not really have a desire to be on a farm and cleaning my own meals, but I like to remember where my food comes from. Those boneless skinless pieces often often make me forget all about the farm.

So Thursday night I decided beer can chicken on the grill would be the way to go. We typically use the Weber's Real Grilling book as a jumping off point. It's taught us a lot about proper grilling temperatures, times, and techniques. For example, did you know that you should only turn most foods once during cooking and you should never press on the meat while it's cooking? Also, I have learned that resting the cooked meat is just as important as cooking it, plus it gives you time to finish up the veggies or bread.

Anyway, beer can chicken involves slow roasting a chicken on the grill over a beer can. It results in a moist and flavorful piece of meat. I was fortunate enough to pick up a contraption that holds the beer can and stabilizes the chicken on clearance at some discount store, but it isn't necessary. You can rely on ample balancing skills.

Beer Can Chicken,
Adapted from Weber's Real Grilling

Rub:
1 tsp. Kosher salt
1 tsp. paprika
1 tsp. finely chopped fresh rosemary
1 tsp. dried thyme
1/2 tsp. lemon zest
1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

Ingredients:
1 whole chicken
olive oil
1 12-oz can of beer (it must be a can, NO BOTTLES)
2 sprigs fresh rosemary
1 clove of garlic, crushed
Juice of 1 lemon
1 tsp. dried thyme
1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes

1. Open the can of beer, drink half the can. Let the other half sit on the counter until it's room temperature (I love any recipe that includes serving myself a drink).
2. Prepare the rub using the rub ingredients listed above
3. Wash, dry, and do any needed clean up to the chicken. Rub down with olive oil, then rub down with the rub.
4. Using a can opener, poke two additional holes into the top of the beer can. Add additional ingredients to beer can.
5. Set the chicken, legs side down over the can of beer so that the can is inside the chicken. Balance the chicken and beer can like a tripod on the grill (the two legs and one beer can make a three way stabilizer).
6. Grill on indirect medium until the internal temperature of the thigh reaches 170 to 180 degrees (about 1 to 1 1/2 hours). Carefully remove from grill. The contents of the beer can will be extremely hot.
7. Let rest 10 minutes before carving.

And that is beer can chicken! Delicious.

My Opinion on Foods

I like food. I like to eat food, mainly real food. I like the occasional treat. I do eat prepared food at restaurants. I do not eat frozen or even typically packaged food from the grocery.

I do not like the government to tell me what to eat. I do not like the new food plate. I did not like the 2005 food pyramid, and I do not like that the general consensus is that people are too stupid to understand the pyramid that was released in the 1990s.

I like meat and other animal products. I especially like meat when I know the farmers that raised the animals or at least when I know the butcher that knows the farmers that raised the animals.

I do not like it when people call margarine butter. Drives me crazy.

I put cream in a my coffee (not nondairy substitute). I eat full fat varieties of most foods that come with an option (the exception being milk, because like beer, full flavor is just too filling). I do not think that a low fat life style is healthier.

I like the idea of the slow foods movement. I don't like the name because who has time for slow foods. My meals are all prepared in 30 minutes or less, unless the baking time is longer than 30 minutes in which time I am able to get other things done. I like meal plans. I don't always make them. I like breakfast. I don't ever skip it. Lunch I can give or take, but dinner is a must.

I eat dessert. Today it's fresh berries. They aren't good yet because they are out of season. Sometimes it's cookies or chocolate.

I grow herbs. I think they have healing properties. I think the food we eat affects our bodies. I think too many people do not make that connection. I think we can train our thumbs to be green and we will benefit from getting our hands dirty working on it. I'm at least going to try.