4th of July Good Ole American Down Home Eats

 

"You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness.  You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism."

  ~Erma Bombeck ~

When it comes to grilling outdoors whether "just because" or for a family gathering during a holiday such as the 4th of July, I guess you could say I am a down home traditionalist.  Some may call it boring.  

Bring on the burgers, dogs, steak and chicken, corn on the cob and baked potato's, potato salad and baked beans :-) some fresh ice cold lemonade, refreshing tea or splurge with a mojito!  Great, now I'm hungry.  Give me that All American down home food!  Don't forget the little American flags to wave in the honor Independence Day.

So, come one now!  Break out that grill, call your family and friends and have a gathering of great fun.  Keep it simple, keep it fun and keep your sanity! I named some of the things I like to grill and eat what do you like?

Here are some other great ideas I got from Modern Mom  with a Jamie twist that I give a thumbs up too with traditional All American yummies!

Let's start with the Hamburgers:

I can think of tons of ways to eat a burger can't you?  These babies are the perfect food for your 4th of July BBQ and everybody has their own way of building it.  Heck these days there are burgers with beef, turkey burgers, veggie burgers and even ground chicken burgers...the burger ideas are endless.  Grill them to your perfection and set up a topping bar with things like:

1. Lettuce
2. Tomatoes
3. Pickles
4. Avocado
5. Sliced red onions
6. Bacon
7. Jalapeno's
8. Grilled Mushrooms
9. Grilled Peppers
10. A variety of cheeses

Holy cow (oh bad pun) the ideas are endless.


Don't forget the 'sauces' like:

• Mayo
• Ketchup
• Mustard
• BBQ Sauce
• Chili Sauce
• Thousand Island
• Blue Cheese
• Salsa
• Relish

I make a homemade hamburger relish of equal parts of sweet relish and chili sauce YUM! Just drain the relish in a mesh strainer to remove the excess juice before adding the chili sauce so it's not runny.


How about some Oinkers?  Okay, you know them as Pigs In A Blanket but I call them Oinkers because I gobble them up like an Oink Oink piggy poo hahaha.

These are always a favorite and easy peasey to make.  

• Heat oven to 375
• Use crescent roll dough and cut into triangles.
• Wrap them around your hot dogs (cut them into pieces or I like to use little smokies)
• Place on un-greased cookie sheet
• Bake for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown
• and OINK out

How about some ice cold lemonade?  Not just any plain ole lemonade but.....
Strawberry Lemonade

 Also easy peasey Jamie style!  No squeezing needed.

• Lemonade from concentrate (you know the cans in the frozen section)
• Make per instructions but use a larger pitcher than called for
• Take 2 cups of fresh strawberries stick in a blender for a few seconds Pour into your pitcher of lemonade and stir.
• Pour over ice in glasses and I take a slice of lemon put on the side of the glass and one whole strawberry for garnish.  Pop a straw in it and Enjoy!

Oh and pssst it's good with a splash of vodka or rum ;-)

Whatever you decide to do or make all I ask is that you have fun and be safe!


As always, my best to you,

 

Live Life, Laugh Harder and Love Passionately