Grandpa Ferd’s Barbecued Chicken
Our Grandpa made the best barbequed chicken. Do you ever cook something that makes your heart ache a little bit because you miss the person who used to make it for you? Yep, that’s how we feel about Grandpa Ferd’s barbecued chicken. We can so clearly see him in his sporty, knitted, collared shirt with his glasses holding a big platter of his chicken with a big smile on his face. We wish we had a photo of that memory to share.
We had many family meals at our grandparent’s house while we were growing up and almost all our food memories are of eating his barbequed chicken. The combination of ingredients he used in his sauce made for a tangy, crispy skin and the meat was oh-so-juicy. In fact, this chicken and his homemade salad dressing (we’ll share that recipe another time) are the two foods that come to mind when we think about all the meals we ate at their house. We still make this chicken today and think of Grandpa Ferd…and watching Lawrence Welk with him while sitting by one of his roaring fires in the fireplace.
Grandpa Ferd
Combine all of the basting ingredients and bring to a boil.
Rotate and baste frequently.
Grandpa Ferd’s Barbecued Chicken
- 1 whole chicken, quartered or parts of your choice
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- ½ cup lemon juice
- ½ cup cider vinegar
- 1 TBS salt
- 2 TBS molasses
- 1 tsp Tabasco sauce
- 2 TBS dry sherry or dry white wine
- 1 TBS chopped fresh thyme (not part of Grandpa’s original recipe, but we like the addition!)
Prepare a charcoal grill for indirect heating. Combine all ingredients in small saucepan and bring to a boil. Pat chicken pieces dry and place on oiled grill grates directly over hot part of fire. Baste generously and rotate pieces frequently until nicely browned all over, about 10 minutes. Move chicken off of coals to indirect side of grill. Baste generously and close lid. Keep the basting sauce on a low burner to stay warm. Cook chicken for an additional 35-45 minutes, basting and rotating every 10 minutes or so. Chicken should register 165 degrees on a meat thermometer. Remove from grill and serve with your favorite sides!