A Labor Day treat: Beer can chicken, blueberry BBQ sauce

MUSKEGON, Mich. — It's Labor Day weekend, the perfect time to pull out the grill for the last time as summer winds down.

We stopped by the Muskegon Farmers Market to meet registered dietitian Grace Derocha, who shared a beer can chicken and blueberry BBQ sauce.

Beer Can Chicken

Ingredients

• Whole chicken (3-4 lbs)
• 1 (12 oz) can of room temperature blueberry beer
• 1-4 Tbsp. of canola oil
• ¼ cup of your favorite rub / spices

Instructions

1. Remove neck and giblets. Rinse the chicken and dry with paper towels
2. Rub chicken with favorite spices
3. Lightly brush oil over spices on skin of chicken
4. Pour out ¼ of the can of beer. Place the chicken (legs down, breast up) with cavity over beer can.
5. Transfer the bird-on-a-can to your grill and place in the center of the grate, balancing the bird on its 2 legs and the can like a tripod.
6. Cook the chicken over medium-high, indirect heat (no coals or burners on directly under the bird) with the grill cover on, for approximately 1 ¼ hours or until the internal temperature registers 165 degrees F in the breast area and 180 degrees F in the thigh, or until the thigh juice runs clear when stabbed with a sharp knife. *cook time should be 10-15 minutes for every pound of chicken*
7. Remove from the grill and let rest for 10 minutes before carving
8. Enjoy!

Blueberry Barbeque Sauce

Ingredients

• 2 tsp. olive oil
• ¼ cup diced white onion
• 2 cloves minced garlic
• ¼ cup ketchup
• ¼ cup champagne vinegar
• 1 ½ Tbsp. Dijon mustard
• 2 Tbsp. honey
• Pinch of red pepper flakes
• 2 cups of blueberries (fresh or frozen)

Instructions

1. Heat olive oil in a small sauce pan over medium high heat.
2. Add onions to pot and cook for 1-2 minutes or until onions are soft. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 more minute.
3. Reduce heat to medium low and add in ketchup, vinegar, honey, mustard and red pepper flakes. Stir to combine.
4. Add in the blueberries and continue to stir occasionally to keep the sauce moving. Allow the blueberries to break open and start to breakdown, about 5 minutes.
5. Transfer sauce to a blender or using an immersion blender to blend the sauce until smooth.

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• On the Menu: Satisfying Salads
• A New Twist on Toast!
• Healthy and delicious green gazpacho

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