Bucket List #68

I completed bucket list item #68!!  In July I made beer butt chicken.  I had over a house full of close friends - everywhere from Sioux Falls to Hartford to Brookings to Centerville.  So I felt this needed to be GOOD.  I did no prior research before jumping right in.  

Food was to be ready about 8:00pm, but people I knew would start arriving around 7:30pm.  Okay, so one would think since I got off work at 4:00pm I would have PLENTY of time.  If you know me than you know I had saved everything until the last minute.  At 4:00 I worked out with Megan until about 5:15ish.  After that I ran home to quick look up a recipe (yes, I was not even smart enough to look this up beforehand :))  The recipe called for the chicken to cook for about 1.5 hours.  I needed to get a move on!  Off to the park to pick up Heidi's delicious taco salad and Walmart to find chickens and beer.  I got back to the apartment at 6.  The pressure was on!  

The recipe called for me to drink off the can of beer and combine a mixture in the half empty can.  As you can see above, the mixture was poured too quickly in there and a reaction occurred.  Luckily I was next to the sink to stop the mess from going onto the floor!  The beer I was suppose to drink I poured into a glass.  For pete's sake, pounding a full beer (I needed 2 half empty cans) in a couple minutes would not be good, plus I was getting super nervous if I was going to complete this fete before people started to arrive!

Alright now to tackle the birds.  I have watched a person clean a bird let alone stick my hand up the bird's butt.  I felt the cold ribs and felt a sudden urge to become a vegetarian.  But I did it.  I did take a swig out of my beer glass.  I took out the packaged guts and organs and managed to put a 1/4 onion in each chicken.  

Now the balancing act :)  The beer cans needed to have the bird sit on them.  I guess they come up with devices that hold the birdies up, but of course I didn't get any.  So the birds were going to lean on each other for support. Admit it people, you are impressed by these two lovelies. 

Now the timer was set for 1.5 hours and only an hour before people started coming, so I needed to shower, clean the apartment, make potatoes & onions, and set the table.  Never underestimate my ability to get a job done; however, do not expect me to look like a superstar... something has to give :)

Anyways, check me out taking out the birds.  They smelled, looked, and tasted amazing!!!

Everyone brought something to share!  Here is a picture of the potatoes & onions, bean yummy dip from Mannie and Carl, and the chicken (you can see the beer can sticking out of the butt).  

Besides learning to make the beer butt chicken, Carl also taught me how to carve a bird.  Oh geez, becoming so domesticated.  G-ma would be so proud :) 

A huge thanks to my amazing friends - Heidi, Dan, Evan, Mannie, Carl, Kevin, Nick, Dave K., Alyssa, Jen, Melissa, and Kevin's friend for helping me fulfill one of my bucket list items!!! It meant a ton to have the support and not laughing at me when I set off the smoke detector.  Who knows maybe I can do a Thanksgiving dinner in the future.  Now that would be EPIC!

Ingredients

1 c. butter

2 tablespoons garlic salt

2 tablespoons paprika

salt & pepper to taste

1 (12 fluid ounce) can beer

1 (4 pound) whole chicken

Directions
1.) Preheat an outdoor grill for low heat
    --- Preheat oven to 350*
2.) In a small skillet, melt 1/2 c. butter.  Mix in 1 tablespoon garlic salt, 1 tablespoon paprika, salt and pepper.
3.) Discard 1/2 the beer, leaving the remainder in the can.  Add remaining butter, garlic salt, paprika, and desired amount of salt and pepper to beer can.  Place can on a disposable baking sheet.  Set chicken on can, inserting can into the cavity of the chicken. (I put a 1/2 onion in first to stabilize it).  Baste chicken with the melted, seasoned butter.
4.) Place baking sheet with beer and chicken on the prepared grill.  Cook over low heat for 3 hours if on the grill, or until the temperature of the chicken is 180*.  If the chicken is done in the stove cook for 1.5 hours.