Who can resist BBQ chicken? Sweet, savory and smoky flavors are what summer grilling is all about and when barbecued chicken is done right, it is delicious. For many of my northern readers, summer grilling will be over in a few months, so don’t let the summer go by without making this dish. Using a rub gives the chicken flavor and cooking it over indirect heat is important so that the chicken does not dry out or become burned. Finishing the chicken with a tasty sauce just adds to the overall flavor. Make your favorite sides and you have dinner. Oh, and don’t forget an easy homemade dessert.

BBQ Chicken

The rub and BBQ sauce can be made in advance, even several days ahead, to save time.

Ingredients

7 to 8 lbs bone-in chicken, cut into 6 or 8 parts

Spice Rub

1/4 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons onion powder
1 tablespoon seasoned salt
1 tablespoons garlic powder
2 tablespoons smoked paprika
1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder
1 1/2 teaspoons lemon pepper
1 tablespoon dried sage
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary, crumbled
1/4 teaspoon cayenne

Peach Barbecue Sauce

4 ripe peaches, peeled and chopped
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
Half an onion finely chopped
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon ground mace
1/3 cup cider vinegar
One bottle tomato ketchup (about 31 oz.)
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
¼ cup honey
2 tablespoons butter, cubed and well chilled

Directions

To make the spice rub:

Combine all the ingredients for the spice rub in a jar or mixing bowl.and blend well.

To make the barbecue sauce:

In a medium saucepan, combine all the ingredients except the butter.

Bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar. (You may want to have a lid handy to protect yourself and your kitchen from any sputtering.)

Reduce the heat and simmer for 25 minutes, stirring occasionally.

With a whisk, blend in the butter cubes, a couple at a time, until incorporated. Set aside

To prepare the chicken:

Rinse and pat dry the chicken pieces. Sprinkle on the rub generously and let rest while the grill heats.

I have a three burner gas grill. When a recipe calls for indirect grilling, I like to heat all the burners on the highest setting.

Then I turn off the middle burner. Brown the chicken pieces over the direct side of the grill and them move to the center, indirect area.

Cook the chicken pieces for 20 minutes and turn the chicken over.

Cook for 15 to 20 more minutes or until an instant read thermometer reads 165°F in the meatier part of the thigh or breast.

When the chicken is cooked, pour some of the barbecue sauce into a separate container (to avoid contaminating the whole batch) and brush it onto the chicken.

Cook the chicken  pieces an additional few minutes so that the sauce adheres to the chicken in a sticky glaze; watch the chicken carefully at this point and pull it off the grill if the sauce starts to burn.

Remove the chicken from the grill to a serving platter and serve with some of the barbecue sauce on the side.

Potato Salad

Ingredients

1 ½ lbs whole medium-large red skinned potatoes
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons pickle juice
¼ cup minced bread and butter pickles.
½ cup finely chopped sweet onion
2 celery stalks, finely chopped
½ cup olive oil mayonnaise
Salt and black pepper to taste

Directions

Place the potatoes in a large pot with a lid. Cover the potatoes with cold water and add 1 teaspoon salt.

Bring to a boil, lower the heat and cook the potatoes with the lid ajar until tender, about 15 minute.

Drain the potatoes and cool. When cool enough to handle, peel the potatoes. Slice the potatoes into a storage bowl.

Add the pickle juice and let sit at room temperature for an hour or so.

Add the remaining ingredients, mix well and taste to see if the salad needs salt. Add black pepper to taste.

Cover the bowl and chill in the refrigerator.

Italian Fried Peppers

These peppers are in season and we never get tired of them.

Ingredients

12 Italian frying peppers, washed and dried
¼ cup olive oil
2 large garlic cloves, sliced
½ teaspoon crushed fennel seed
½ teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Directions

Heat a large saute pan over medium to high heat and add the olive oil, garlic and red pepper flakes. Cook for about 30 seconds.

Add the peppers and season with salt and pepper. Turn the peppers over a few times to coat in oil.

Add the fennel and Italian seasoning and cook for about 10 minutes until soft and beginning to brown. Serve at room temperature.

Almond Chocolate Pudding Dessert

Ingredients

Pudding

Two 3.4 oz packages of Cook & Serve chocolate pudding
4 cups almond milk (or milk of your choice)
½ teaspoon almond extract

Topping

1 cup heavy(whipping) cream
½ cup powdered sugar
¼ teaspoon almond extract
Chocolate shavings

Directions

Put all the ingredients for the pudding in a large saucepan.

Bring to a boil over medium high heat, whisking constantly, until the mixture bubbles a little and thickens.

Immediately pour the pudding into an 8 inch glass pan (or a similar size dish) and let cool on the counter for about 20 minutes.

Refrigerate the pudding until cold and set.

For the topping

Combine all the ingredients except the chocolate shavings in a medium bowl and beat the mixture until whipped and soft peaks form.

Spread the whipped cream over the chocolate pudding. Grate chocolate shavings over the cream and chill until serving time.

Posted by Jovina Coughlin in celery, Chicken, chocolate, Desserts, Dinner, Healthy Italian Cooking, onion, peppers, Pickles, pudding, Salad, Vegetables Tags: how to make BBQ chicken