Before the rabbit we will have a small history lesson if you will.

Today, July 1st is Canada Day!

Happy Canada Day to my fellow Canadian readers. Canada, under a united constitution, is 186 years old. It was in 1867 that we told the British to go stuff their tea cups and go home! Ironically Prince William and his new princess bride, Kate, are here visiting and celebrating with us Canuks this year.

But that is not all. Quebec celebrates Moving day on July 1st. No, this is not an official holiday or law but it has been tradition to move on this particular day since 1973. The origins actually go back to the late 1700s when the French government forbade the land Lords from evicting their tenant farmers before the winter snow had melted. When the concept of leases began this was set as May 01st but later became July 01st so that students would not have to move during the school year. On the island of Montreal, where Moving Day has its biggest impact, it is estimated that about 1/8th of the population is changing address. It’s a great day to go dumpster diving for furniture too!

Unrelated but interesting note: Canada is 186 years old but the French took possession of Quebec in 1534 (477 years ago) when Jacques Cartier planted a cross on the Gaspé Peninsula. No information super highway back then.

Nope I am not going political on you with Quebec and separation. This is on a much more personal note as this post is dedicated (as promised) to my friend Karyn who is celebrating her 4th anniversary of separating from her ex-husband…..a day she celebrates grandly every year (hey she got out of a non abusive but miserable situation). Congrats hun!

And what better way to celebrate separation then with a BBQ and a whole carcass! I gave her the choice of my pending recipe posts…she chose the BBQ Rabbit. But I actually served this on Father’s Day, confusing I know. Warning sensitive souls may be offended by some of the pictures below (but I bet you are real curious now).

So I bought a rabbit a while back because it was 30% off. I have never cooked a rabbit before but I was no stranger to eating it. I have never had an issue about it. I told a few friends about my purchase and was told flat out NOT to send an invite to that meal. Fine, like, whatever!

But I knew my parents would be delighted. I really wanted to give this a go on the BBQ too which I finally got working and gassed after a 2 year hiatus. So here we go with a BBQ Rabbit recipe.

Ξ BBQ Whole Rabbit Ξ

1  approx 3-pound rabbit, whole but without the head
1 can of beer
1 cup of barbecue sauce, store bought or homemade

Place the rabbit in a pot and pour the bottle of beer over it. Add cold water to the pot until the rabbit is completely covered. Bring the water to a boil, then reduce to a LOW SIMMER, parboiling, for 20 minutes.

Preheat grill to 400 degrees F.

Remove rabbit from boiling water (drain well) and place directly on grill. Grill on one side for 15-20 minutes, then flip the rabbit. Apply a generous coating of barbecue sauce on the top side of the rabbit and let it cook for another 15-20 minutes. Flip the rabbit over and apply barbecue sauce, letting it remain on the grill for another 10 minutes, being careful to not let the barbecue sauce burn. Cut into pieces and serve. Great info here on how to carve a rabbit.

The result: A little more gammy in taste then if it was cooked in a delicate sauced dish but very good and different. Would do it again.