I hadn’t given a single thought about Father’s Day until I saw Steven Raichlen’s Stainless Beer Can Chicken Rack. The kids and I bought by husband a new barbecue grill last year. So this will be a great, if not unusual, addition to what he already has.

From what I understand, you place a half-full can of beer inside a chicken’s cavity and prop it up on the device, using the legs as a tripod to keep the chicken steady. The internal steaming chamber eliminates the need for basting, producing a juicy chicken with crispy skin.

This gadget is made out of stainless steel, so it won’t react with the food. Its square base and supports will hold your chicken upright as it cooks. I like the fact that you can use other liquids besides beer to cook, such as wine, fruit juice, etc. Priced at $25, I think this is a good buy.

The gift wouldn’t be complete without the cookbook, “Beer-Can Chicken: And 74 Other Offbeat Recipes for the Grill.” This cookbook contains a good variety of recipes for rubs, marinades, and beer can fillers. There are a few recipes for meats, fish, and side dishes. Mostly what you’ll get from this cookbook are poultry recipes and tips on how to barbecue them.