Barbecued Chicken President Nixons Food

THE ULTIMATE BARBECUED CHICKEN

Steps:

• For the brine, in a mixing bowl combine the water, salt, sugar, garlic, and thyme. Transfer the brine to a 2-gallon sized re-sealable plastic bag. Add the chicken, close the bag and refrigerate 2 hours (if you've only got 15 minutes, that's fine) to allow the salt and seasonings to penetrate the chicken.
• Meanwhile, make the sauce. Wrap the bacon around the bunch of thyme and tie with kitchen twine so you have a nice bundle. Heat about 2 tablespoons of oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the thyme and cook slowly 3 to 4 minutes to render the bacon fat and give the sauce a nice smoky taste. Add the onion and garlic and cook slowly without coloring for 5 minutes. Add the remaining ingredients, give the sauce a stir, and turn the heat down to low. Cook slowly for 20 minutes to meld the flavors. Once the sauce is done cooking, remove about 1 1/2 cups of the sauce and reserve for serving along side the chicken at the table. The rest of the barbecue sauce will be used for basing the legs.
• Preheat oven 375 degrees F.
• Preheat a grill pan or an outdoor gas or charcoal barbecue to a medium heat. Take a few paper towels and fold them several times to make a thick square. Blot a small amount of oil on the paper towel and carefully and quickly wipe the hot grates of the grill to make a nonstick surface. Take the chicken out of the brine, pat it dry on paper towels. Arrange the chicken pieces on the preheated grill and cook, turn once mid-way, and cook for a total of 10 minutes. Transfer the grill marked chicken to a cookie sheet and then place in the oven. Cook the chicken for 15 minutes, remove it from the oven and then brush liberally, coating every inch of the legs with the barbecue sauce and then return to the oven for 25 to 30 more minutes, basting the chicken for a second time half way through remaining cooking time. Serve with extra sauce.

BARBECUED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Marinate the chickens in 2/3 of the barbecue sauce for a few hours or overnight in the refrigerator.
• Heat the coals in a charcoal grill. Spread the bottom of the grill with a single layer of hot coals and then add a few more coals 5 minutes before cooking, which will keep the fire going longer. Place the chicken quarters on the grill, skin side down, and cook for about 45 minutes, turning once or twice to cook evenly on both sides. Brush with the marinade as needed. The chicken quarters are done when you insert a knife between a leg and thigh and the juices run clear. Discard any unused marinade.
• Serve with extra barbecue sauce on the side.
• In a large saucepan on low heat, saute the onions and garlic with the vegetable oil for 10 to 15 minutes, until the onions are translucent but not browned. Add the tomato paste, vinegar, honey, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, chili powder, cumin, and red pepper flakes. Simmer uncovered on low heat for 30 minutes. Use immediately or store in the refrigerator.
• Yield: 1 1/2 quarts

PRESIDENT EISENHOWER'S FAVORITE BARBECUED CHICKEN

Steps:

• In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium high heat.
• Brown the chicken pieces, in batches if necessary to avoid crowding the skillet.
• When nicely browned on all sides, remove chicken, drain briefly and place in a large ovenproof casserole dish.
• Add the chopped onion and celery to the oil remaining in the skillet.
• Cook until the vegetables soften, 5-8 minute.
• Add the vinegar, brown sugar, lemon juice, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, prepared mustard and 1 cup of water.
• Mix well and taste; adjust seasoning to your taste.
• Add red pepper flakes, to taste.
• Simmer the sauce for 30 min to blend the flavors together.
• While sauce is simmering, preheat the oven to 325ºF.
• Pour the sauce over the browned chicken in the casserole dish.
• Cover the dish with foil and bake for about 1 hour, or until the juices run clear.

CHEF JOHN'S BARBECUE CHICKEN

Steps:

• Cut 1/2-inch deep slashes in the skin-side of each chicken half; 2 cuts in each breast, 2 in the thigh, and 1 on the leg; remove wing tips.
• Whisk rice vinegar, barbeque sauce, and garlic together in large bowl. Place chicken in bowl and turn to coat chicken in the marinade. Arrange chicken halves, cut-side down, in the bottom of the marinade bowl, cover the bowl with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 1 hour.
• Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat and lightly oil the grate.
• Remove chicken from bowl, pat chicken dry with paper towels, and discard marinade. Place chicken halves, skin-side up, on a plate and season with salt, pepper, paprika, onion powder, and cayenne pepper.
• Cook chicken, skin-side down, on the preheated grill for 3 to 4 minutes. Turn chicken over, close the lid of the grill, and cook, basting with remaining barbeque sauce ever 6 minutes, until no longer pink at the bone and the juices run clear, about 35 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh, near the bone should read 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).

PATRICIA NIXON'S CONTINENTAL SALAD

Steps:

• SALAD:.
• Dissolve gelatin in hot grapefruit juice.
• Add 1/2 cup liquid drained from beets.
• Chill until partially thickened.
• Fold in drained beets and celery.
• Pour into a large salad mold.
• Chill until firm.
• SESAME SEED DRESSING:.
• Gradually blend 1 tablespoon grapefruit juice into 1 package of cream cheese; beating until fluffy.
• Fold in 1/4 cup mayonnaise and 1 tablespoon sesame seeds.
• PRESENTATION:.
• Unmold salad onto salad greens and top with dressing.

BARBECUED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Build a fire in your grill, leaving one side free of coals. When coals are covered with gray ash and the temperature is medium (you can hold your hand 5 inches above the coals for 5 to 7 seconds), you are ready to cook. (For a gas grill, turn one of the burners down to low or off, lower cover and heat for 15 minutes.)
• Meanwhile, combine barbecue sauce with 1 cup water and stir to combine. Set aside.
• Sprinkle the chicken pieces generously with salt and pepper, then put them on the grill directly over the coals and cook for about 15 minutes, turning once every 5 minutes or so, and brushing with the thinned barbecue sauce. When the chicken skin starts to crisp and darken, move the pieces to the cooler side of the grill and let them cook for 15 to 20 minutes more, or until a peek inside shows that the meat no longer has any red at the center.
• Move the chicken back onto the hot side of the grill and baste with sauce again, turning the meat a few times. Remove to a warmed platter and serve.

BARBECUED CHICKEN (PRESIDENT NIXON'S)

Steps:

• Melt margarine in saucepan.
• Stir in lemon juice, garlic salt, oregano and paprika.
• Put pieces of chicken in tupperware or dishes to marinate in, and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Pour marinade over the chicken and cover it.
• Marinate for at least 4 hours (I do mine overnight), turning over occasionally.
• Place on grill above hot coals.
• Cook until tender, occasionally turning and brushing with marinade.
• Allow 45-75 minutes total cooking time, depending on size of chicken and distance from the coals.