BBQ Chicken – My Way

I am not a big fan of BBQ Sauce – the commercial bottles are loaded with all kinds of things I would never eat – preservatives, stabilizers and high fructose corn syrup.  But my 8 year old ( Josephine! ) recently went through a period where she could not eat a meal with out it.  She used it as a condiment, a dipping sauce and a salad dressing – what is a mother to do?

I spent a good part of the winter trying to answer that challenge and a friend dared me to create an interesting BBQ sauce – because as she put it, a good BBQ sauce makes everything better.  Really?

The question I am asked most get asked at the markets is how do I use a BBQ sauce to cook?   After we decide between a hot and spice BBQ Sauce –

Josephine’s Feast! Organic Smoked Heirloom Apple & Chipolte BBQ Sauce or a sweet and fruity BBQ Sauce – Jospehine’s Feast! Organic Hand Foraged Wild Beach Plum BBQ Sauce

I do prefer a “whole bird” – as my grandmother would say.  But this recipe seamlessly for chicken pieces and is often easier for many cooks to master.

By all means start by purchasing an organic chicken at your local market– it really does taste so much better and is so much better for you.

Shopping List:

1 Whole Organic 5 lbs Chicken or 8 Chicken Pieces
Juice of one lemon
1to 2 T olive oil
2 T Josephine’s Feast! Shinnecock Bay Seasoning

1 T of Josephine’s Feast! Natural Sea salt with Herbes De Provence
1 cup Organic Smoked Heirloom Apple & Chipolte BBQ Sauce or Organic Hand Foraged Wild Beach Plum BBQ Sauce

1. Rinse chicken under cold water & lemon juice
2. Pat dry
3. Evenly coat the chicken with 1 – 2 T of olive oil
4. Rub 2 T of Josephine’s Feast! Shinnecock Bay Seasoning onto the chicken
5. Cover & let rest for 0ne hour – this helps to develop the flavor.

For even more flavor – refrigerate over night.

1. If marinating overnight – take chicken out of the refrigerator an hour before cooking to bring the chicken to room temperature.  This is a very important step as it allows for more even cooking.
2. While the chicken is resting build an indirect grilling fire.  Allowing the heat to reach 350 degrees
3. If using a whole chicken – truss with cotton string.    TRUSS
4. Cook for 50 minutes on the grill

10. Baste with BBQ sauce every 5 minutes for the next 15 minutes

11. The chicken is done when the meat easily pulls away at the joints and the crust is golden brown.

For an oven alternative:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees –
2. While you are waiting on the oven to heat, take the chicken out of the refrigerator and allow to reach to room temperature.
3. Brush the chicken liberally with ½ cup of BBQ sauce.
4. Place the trussed chicken on a rack in the center of the oven.  Immediately turn the oven down to 350 degrees
5. If you are using chicken pieces – place them face down on the rack and flip once half way thru the cooking process when basting.
6. Baste with BBQ Sauce every 20 minutes.
7. The chicken is cooked after 1 hour and 10 minutes or when the meat easily pulls at the joints