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NFT: Fourth of July food thread...

BlueLou'sBack : 7/3/2019 12:55 pm
Frankly I haven't bought yet as I am alone thanks to reasons best not discussed, and am deciding between lamb loin chops and some cut of steak like NY sirloin or ribeye. If I want to revel in my situation, I could do chili dogs, as I already have both on hand.

A nice spring mix based salad and likely a pint of good ice cream (not the whole pint in one sitting!)

Your game plan?
The classics  
Greg from LI : 7/3/2019 1:03 pm : link
Jalapeno poppers (not the breaded kind, I just cut the peppers in half, fill with cream cheese, lay a piece of bacon on top, and bake), burgers, dogs, grilled corn on the cob, cole slaw, and red white and blue shortcakes (strawberries and blueberries)
Going to friend's home in the Palisades as usual  
Stan in LA : 7/3/2019 1:11 pm : link
See the parade and have a BBQ afterward. I make & bring my famous guacamole dip and home made chips.
thought I'd go out to Coney Island  
Csonka : 7/3/2019 1:13 pm : link
and throw back about 74 hot dogs.
RE: thought I'd go out to Coney Island  
BlueLou'sBack : 7/3/2019 1:16 pm : link
In comment 14490756 Csonka said:
Quote:
and throw back about 74 hot dogs.


Does that make you a contender for the title?
Come to think of it, I have lots of strawberries on hand  
BlueLou'sBack : 7/3/2019 1:22 pm : link
so either I get a vanilla ice cream, or sour cream for topping them.

So desert is already cast.
I’m grilling Sausage peppers and onions  
djm : 7/3/2019 1:25 pm : link
Burgers, dogs and the wife made pasta salad. Beer. Wine. Bloody Mary’s probably tomorrow morning.

Apps we have some Manchego cheese and crackers.
I think I’m going to add a little red wine to the onions and peppers  
djm : 7/3/2019 1:26 pm : link
As they are sautéing.
Usually keep it traditional..  
FatMan in Charlotte : 7/3/2019 1:32 pm : link
we're going to family's house to have burgers, dogs, potato salad and pasta salad. I'm bringing BLT pasta salad which is elbow macaroni, fresh cherry tomatoes, mayo, chives, bacon, lemon juice and greek seasoning

No need to get too fancy.
Hofmann's White Hots.  
Ryan in Albany : 7/3/2019 1:35 pm : link
Potato salad, corn on cob...the usuals.
RE: Going to friend's home in the Palisades as usual  
BlueLou'sBack : 7/3/2019 2:07 pm : link
In comment 14490753 Stan in LA said:
Quote:
See the parade and have a BBQ afterward. I make & bring my famous guacamole dip and home made chips.


The view of various beach towns' fireworks is great from the PP cliffs too - been there, done that. Enjoy!
RE: I think I’m going to add a little red wine to the onions and peppers  
BlueLou'sBack : 7/3/2019 2:08 pm : link
In comment 14490770 djm said:
Quote:
As they are sautéing.


Nice touch. The acidity from the wine as it boils off and concentrates is a nice counterpoint to the sweetness of the sauteed onions and peppers.
going to grill brisket burgers and make tater salad  
gidiefor : Mod : 7/3/2019 2:58 pm : link
with chunks of shrimp, french breakfast radishes and tuscan artichoke hearts -- and for those who asked -- Those Burgers are pure Brisket according to the butcher and no added fat.

Will serve with Justin Wilson's Louisiana Pepper Sauce

I Guarontee!
My menu is  
pjcas18 : 7/3/2019 3:01 pm : link
Pig candy (smoked thick cut bacon with a maple syrup, brown sugar, cayenne pepper rub/glaze)

Bratwurst, peppers, and onions

Cranberry chili meatballs

and standard grill fare, burgers, dogs, etc.

A few salads, but that's not my dept.
68 ounce Tomahawk  
Maryland Giant : 7/3/2019 3:39 pm : link
The rest is details.
ok, Lou, you asked for it  
Bill in UT : 7/3/2019 3:45 pm : link
Here goes. I think I've mentioned that I'm have a group over with a Jewish Deli theme. Apps- stuffed cabbage, chopped liver, franks in blankets, herring in cream sauce and cream cheese and lox on mini-pumpernickle slices. Dinner will be sandwiches- I cooked all the meats myself- roast beef, smoked turkey breast, brisket, corned beef, pastrami and tongue on double baked Jewish rye. Potato salad, mac salad cole slaw, onion and cuke salad and savory noodle kugel. Dessert is homemade black and white cookies and rugelach. Wash it down with Dr. Brown's cream soda, egg creams made with U-Bet and beer. Some sour pickles if the "local" deli has some. One friend will want coffee. To be followed by leftovers for a week. :)
Not even sure yet  
Bill L : 7/3/2019 3:55 pm : link
Going to put a packer in the smoker soon, so there’s that. I need to figure out what to have with it. Likely a pasta salad of some sort. Maybe some skillet honey cornbread? It’s only just the two of us so I’m going to have to force feed my 95 lb wife 7 lbs of brisket. That will be celebratory.
Bill in UT  
Sneakers O'toole : 7/3/2019 4:09 pm : link
How did your pastrami turn out. Also, send me some pastrami.
keeping  
DG_89 : 7/3/2019 5:30 pm : link
it simple this year. Burgers and dogs. But I got them from Pat Lafrieda Meats. A little pricy but awesome. Topping the burgers with Peter Luger bacon and gruyere
RE: Bill in UT  
Bill in UT : 7/3/2019 7:35 pm : link
In comment 14490900 Sneakers O'toole said:
Quote:
How did your pastrami turn out. Also, send me some pastrami.


Just finished slicing all the meats and they all came out great. Pastrami is probably my personal favorite. It would be even better at room temp or even warm. Btw, all the recipes I see for brisket, corned beef,pastrami, even for sandwiches, say to hand slice. I did my slicing on a machine (after the meat had been refrigerated at least overnight) and it came out nice and thin, the way I wanted it. I couldn't have matched that by hand. Of course, if I was making it for an entree rather than a sandwich, I'd hand slice. Sneakers, I've tried mailing pastrami- first time the mailing label fell off the meat. Second time the grease came through the envelope and obliterated the address.
RE: RE: I think I’m going to add a little red wine to the onions and peppers  
djm : 7/3/2019 8:01 pm : link
In comment 14490824 BlueLou'sBack said:
Quote:
In comment 14490770 djm said:


Quote:


As they are sautéing.



Nice touch. The acidity from the wine as it boils off and concentrates is a nice counterpoint to the sweetness of the sauteed onions and peppers.


Good to know! I’ll report back tomorrow with the results.
Note to self  
djm : 7/3/2019 8:04 pm : link
Make new friends. Specifically, make new friends with some of the folks on BBI. Some of you aren’t fucking around! Pig candy!! Love. Just love.
RE: Note to self  
pjcas18 : 7/3/2019 8:13 pm : link
In comment 14491098 djm said:
Quote:
Make new friends. Specifically, make new friends with some of the folks on BBI. Some of you aren’t fucking around! Pig candy!! Love. Just love.


LOL. Last time i made pig candy, there was maybe 30 or so people at our house and some of them I had never met. I was carrying a tray of pig candy fresh off the smoker to the house to let it cool and some woman stops me and said, "I'm a friend of your wife's from work and I've been a vegetarian for years, but that bacon looks and smells so good I'm dying to try some. Do you mind?"

I said, "Do I mind? It's the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me."

she loved it (who doesn't). she'll be back this year, so I feel obligated having turned her from a vegetarian back to a carnivore/omnivore.
RE: RE: Note to self  
Bill in UT : 7/3/2019 8:23 pm : link
In comment 14491101 pjcas18 said:
Quote:
In comment 14491098 djm said:


Quote:


Make new friends. Specifically, make new friends with some of the folks on BBI. Some of you aren’t fucking around! Pig candy!! Love. Just love.



LOL. Last time i made pig candy, there was maybe 30 or so people at our house and some of them I had never met. I was carrying a tray of pig candy fresh off the smoker to the house to let it cool and some woman stops me and said, "I'm a friend of your wife's from work and I've been a vegetarian for years, but that bacon looks and smells so good I'm dying to try some. Do you mind?"

I said, "Do I mind? It's the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me."

she loved it (who doesn't). she'll be back this year, so I feel obligated having turned her from a vegetarian back to a carnivore/omnivore.


That's only part of the story, as I remember it. One of the women came up to you and said "I've been a lesbian for 20 years, but pj, you look and smell so good I need to give you a try. Do you mind?" I'll let you finish the story
RE: RE: RE: Note to self  
pjcas18 : 7/3/2019 8:30 pm : link
In comment 14491112 Bill in UT said:
Quote:
In comment 14491101 pjcas18 said:


Quote:


In comment 14491098 djm said:


Quote:


Make new friends. Specifically, make new friends with some of the folks on BBI. Some of you aren’t fucking around! Pig candy!! Love. Just love.



LOL. Last time i made pig candy, there was maybe 30 or so people at our house and some of them I had never met. I was carrying a tray of pig candy fresh off the smoker to the house to let it cool and some woman stops me and said, "I'm a friend of your wife's from work and I've been a vegetarian for years, but that bacon looks and smells so good I'm dying to try some. Do you mind?"

I said, "Do I mind? It's the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me."

she loved it (who doesn't). she'll be back this year, so I feel obligated having turned her from a vegetarian back to a carnivore/omnivore.



That's only part of the story, as I remember it. One of the women came up to you and said "I've been a lesbian for 20 years, but pj, you look and smell so good I need to give you a try. Do you mind?" I'll let you finish the story


Maybe if the story was for Penthouse Forum. "I never believed stories like this were true, until one day I had an experience that changed my mind forever...."

In this case the story happens to be true.
.  
Danny Kanell : 7/3/2019 8:48 pm : link
I gotta try that Pig Candy.
Bill in UT - actually Arizona, I think the idea of what you're doing  
BlueLou'sBack : 7/3/2019 9:28 pm : link
is great in being a refreshing twist from the usual - grilled burgers, dogs, chicken (at least that was always our tradition at home in NJ). But best of all, you have all those leftovers and won't need to cook for a week... Assuming you're not at high elevation, getting a week off from cooking in AZ in the summer has to be a very good thing.

Salads and sammiches all week.

Still haven't made up my mind between lamb chops, lamb kebobs, or steak. Or even the type of steak...

Tonight (actually last night and tonight, tonight was the leftovers) I've had pasta primavera with no meat at all, just sauteed veggies with whole grain penne and plenty of a 50/50 blend of Reggiano Parmasan and Locatelli Romano.

So I am primed for tomorrow's meat...

RE: .  
djm : 7/3/2019 9:32 pm : link
In comment 14491159 Danny Kanell said:
Quote:
I gotta try that Pig Candy.


You ain’t kidding
RE: RE: .  
pjcas18 : 7/3/2019 9:41 pm : link
In comment 14491253 djm said:
Quote:
In comment 14491159 Danny Kanell said:


Quote:


I gotta try that Pig Candy.



You ain’t kidding


It's the easiest thing to do on a smoker and a good way to learn if you're not familiar with smoking.

I use a rub on the bacon first (brown sugar and a little cayenne pepper). some people add a pork rub. optionally.

refrigerate with rub on for a couple hours or overnight.

then brush maple syrup on the bacon.

rub and syrup - on both sides.

I use a thick cut bacon.

light your charcoal in a fire starter, then load it up, use a little oak, get your smoker to 225.

Put the bacon on racks on the smoker at 225 for an hour.

flip it over after an hour, add some more syrup/rub after flipping.

another hour and it's done.

Once I did this with chicken wings on the lower smoker rack and unintentionally the rub/syrup carmelized and slowly dripped off the bacon onto the chicken wings.

holy shit, talk about delicious - the wings only had a dry rub (garlic powder, salt, pepper, paprika, etc.) and then had this candied bacon mixture drip down and flavor it.

Since then I've done that same set up intentionally.
RE: RE: RE: .  
Bill in UT : 7/4/2019 1:05 am : link
In comment 14491272 pjcas18 said:
Quote:
In comment 14491253 djm said:


Quote:


In comment 14491159 Danny Kanell said:


Quote:


I gotta try that Pig Candy.



You ain’t kidding



It's the easiest thing to do on a smoker and a good way to learn if you're not familiar with smoking.

I use a rub on the bacon first (brown sugar and a little cayenne pepper). some people add a pork rub. optionally.

refrigerate with rub on for a couple hours or overnight.

then brush maple syrup on the bacon.

rub and syrup - on both sides.

I use a thick cut bacon.





Have you done it with pork belly?
This will be a very unusual 4th of July eating experience for me...  
EricJ : 7/4/2019 1:20 am : link
will likely get a gyro in the Athens airport... then will eat whatever Delta is serving during a 10 hour flight
RE: This will be a very unusual 4th of July eating experience for me...  
Bill in UT : 7/4/2019 1:58 am : link
In comment 14491489 EricJ said:
Quote:
will likely get a gyro in the Athens airport... then will eat whatever Delta is serving during a 10 hour flight


Nothing worse than Greecey food before a long flight
Going to a potluck  
adamg : 7/4/2019 5:47 am : link
Bringing personal tiramisus and pancetta, mushroom, and asparagus arancini.

RE: RE: RE: .  
djm : 7/4/2019 2:59 pm : link
In comment 14491272 pjcas18 said:
Quote:
In comment 14491253 djm said:


Quote:


In comment 14491159 Danny Kanell said:


Quote:


I gotta try that Pig Candy.



You ain’t kidding



It's the easiest thing to do on a smoker and a good way to learn if you're not familiar with smoking.

I use a rub on the bacon first (brown sugar and a little cayenne pepper). some people add a pork rub. optionally.

refrigerate with rub on for a couple hours or overnight.

then brush maple syrup on the bacon.

rub and syrup - on both sides.

I use a thick cut bacon.

light your charcoal in a fire starter, then load it up, use a little oak, get your smoker to 225.

Put the bacon on racks on the smoker at 225 for an hour.

flip it over after an hour, add some more syrup/rub after flipping.

another hour and it's done.

Once I did this with chicken wings on the lower smoker rack and unintentionally the rub/syrup carmelized and slowly dripped off the bacon onto the chicken wings.

holy shit, talk about delicious - the wings only had a dry rub (garlic powder, salt, pepper, paprika, etc.) and then had this candied bacon mixture drip down and flavor it.

Since then I've done that same set up intentionally.


Amazing.

I did my sausage peppers and onions thing and decided to change it up and go with the red sauce combo. Little wine, garlic Got the San marzano tomatoes and other essentials and it’s sitting on the stove ready to eat. Nothing short of fantastic. I think I’ll make it this way from now on.
I just came back from shopping and found gorgeous  
BlueLou'sBack : 7/4/2019 5:38 pm : link
thin asparagus for 1 buck and a quarter per 1# bunch, and carefully searched through almost every single bone in NY sirloin steak on the shelf until I found the ones (the 2 packs were nicer, generally) that were cut closest to the rib eye cut of the cow... with better marbling and wider across than the thinner strips steaks more towards the Porterhouse cuts.

I am going to do a tray of roasted root veggies plus (onions, carrots, potatoes, turnips, zucchini and sweet peppers) with the grilled NY steak with whole Crimini mushrooms, with these lovely thin asparagus as my appetizer.

I'm too lazy to whip up any sauce for anything, but will drizzle evoo and lemon juice on the asparagus and evoo and balsamic glaze on the steak itself.
Didn't mention desert.  
BlueLou'sBack : 7/4/2019 5:42 pm : link
Bought blueberries to go with the strawberries I already have and need to use up, and found a crazy deal on a super-sized carton of Haagen Dazs Vanilla ice cream, so bought a half gallon tub of that.

Just what I need for my health, a super tub of Haagen Dazs...
Just finished up eating some sweet Italian sausage with  
jgambrosio : 7/4/2019 6:24 pm : link
Onions and red/yellow peppers, started a gin and tonic in the heat while grilling, had some fresh brewed sun tea earlier.

Made a peach cobbler after all thanks to Lou instead of blueberry - found some good ripe ones at the store - may be a little soupy, the skillet overflowed a bit but it's hardened up a bit as it has cooled down. Opted to just buy some blue Bell vanilla ice cream over making whipped cream which I'm happy about after today...
RE: Just finished up eating some sweet Italian sausage with  
BlueLou'sBack : 7/4/2019 7:45 pm : link
In comment 14491902 jgambrosio said:
Quote:
Onions and red/yellow peppers, started a gin and tonic in the heat while grilling, had some fresh brewed sun tea earlier.

Made a peach cobbler after all thanks to Lou instead of blueberry - found some good ripe ones at the store - may be a little soupy, the skillet overflowed a bit but it's hardened up a bit as it has cooled down. Opted to just buy some blue Bell vanilla ice cream over making whipped cream which I'm happy about after today...


Sounds wonderful. One of the very talented chefs I worked with who had graduated from the CIA in Hyde Park had a trick for peach pies, just because of their tendency to be soupy. He baked the pie crust bottom and cooked the peaches separately in a saucepan - that way he could adjust the thickness/stiffness of the fruit by sprinkling in a little extra cornstarch or potato starch to tighten it up. Only after the pie bottom was cooked golden brown and crisp, and the fruit pie filling cooked through and firmed up, only then he'd fill the pie, through a lattice top on it, and bake it another 25 minutes in a 375 or even 400F oven to cook the top crust until golden.

I suppose with all manner of sliced dried fruits easily available, you could alternatively add some dried apricots or peaches or mango slices in with the fresh fruit to absorb some of the water the fresh fruit throws off while cooking.

Anyway jgam, happy it worked out for you as planned... and if there's cobbler left over it will firm up in the fridge overnight.
It luckily actually firmed up just being out of the oven  
jgambrosio : 7/4/2019 8:07 pm : link
And actually was a pretty good consistency after heating it back up for about 30 seconds in the microwave. So stuffed now...

And tomorrow's project is smoking wings on the egg!
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