Serves: 4 to 6+ (this all depends on the size of the appetites)
Ingredients:
whole chicken - rinse out cavity
butter or margarine
Start charcoal fire and allow briquettes to become gray.
Using oven mits and tongs, place approximately 4-5 briquettes on a piece of heavy-duty aluminum foil and wrap securely using a drug store wrap. Wrap coals in a second piece of foil, placing seams on opposite sides of the packet.
Place coals into the cavity of the chicken. (This works best with two people. One person holds the chicken open by the legs while the second person inserts the foil wrapped coals.)
Place chicken on a large piece of foil and place pats of butter or margarine on the skin. This adds flavor and helps keep the chicken to the foil. Wrap chicken securely in foil and then wrap securely in a second piece of foil, being sure to place the seam on the opposite side of the chicken. It is important to wrap the chicken securely in order to keep the juices in.
Place chicken directly on the embers. Pile more embers around and on top of the chicken. Allow to cook for approximately 1 1/2 hours, turning the chicken over half way through the cooking time and adding more briquettes as needed.
For a no-fuss dinner, wrap potatoes in foil and bake along with the chicken in the embers. You can also cut up fresh carrots or green beans, dot with butter; wrap in foil and cook on the embers until tender. Either turn often or place them on a rack over the embers. Fresh zucchini is excellent - just slice, dot with butter, sprinkle on garlic salt and wrap in foil. Add ember baked apples for dessert and you have a delicious dinner with no fuss and very little clean up.
This is probably not a politically correct dinner (all that foil) but every once in a while we're worth it. This is an all-time favorite with everyone!