Beer Can BBQ Chicken

I sometimes wonder why I never decided to become a vegetarian.  I hate working with raw meat, I don't enjoy what I like to call 'weird' meats such as rabbit, lamb or venison, and I don't like eating meat with bones in it (that's what she said).  But the second I smell a burger on the BBQ or a pull pork simmering in the crock pot I realize that vegetarianism just isn't in my future.  This past weekend certainly tested my meat eating ways. My husband and I visited an old university friend and his family in Quebec at his newly established family egg farm.  I toured the property, helped sort eggs and checked out a barn full of 9,000 laying hens - Holy.Shit - I didn't anticipate being so overwhelmed by all the chickens. To say that I had a slight meltdown is somewhat of an understatement. Picture me, in a white skirt with a fedora on standing alone in the corner, shaking in my flip flops, trying not to make eye contact with the chickens. Classic. It appears that I still have some city in me! It was a very eye opening experience. As I ate my hard boiled egg on my spinach salad at lunch I couldn't help it but think of where it might have come from.

Ironic that whole chickens are on crazy sale this week?! hmm. Maybe. Regardless, I snagged one for dinner tonight for only $5.50 and decided on beer can chicken.  While preparing it I managed to only gag ONCE (that's what she said)! Success. As mentioned here, I wear rubber gloves when handling meat because it grosses me out so much. Don't judge. Minus the gaging, this was a super easy meal to prepare. About 3 minutes prep time and 1 hour and 15 minutes cook time. Easy peasy! I served it with broccoli salad. The perfect summer meal.

Ingredients
1 whole chicken
1/2 a can of beer (drink the other half!)
1/4 cup olive oil
your favourite herbs and spices (I used salt, pepper, rosemary, thyme, coriander, paprika and garlic powder)

Method
Using a chicken BBQ stand (I think ours is from Canadian Tire - a wedding gift), place beer can in the middle and plop the bird on top. In a small bowl add olive oil, herbs and spice.  Paint onto chicken.  Place on the BBQ for 1 hour 15 minutes on medium-high heat.  It is fully cooked when juices run clear.  Get your farm husband to carve it up so you don't puke and serve with your favourite sides. Enjoy!