I enjoyed my 4th of July, 2010 with friends and after a 2 mile hike up a trail, went tubing down the gunpowder falls river. The group was tired from floating down river. All anyone could think of was food and drinks before the fireworks started at dusk.
We had a simple meal, it is best to keep meals simple around the holidays and enjoy them with friends. If you can split up the cooking, it can make things even easier.
Grilled Burgers (Beef and Turkey)
Pasta Salad
Fresh Watermelon Slices
Brownies
Along few beers and some margaritas on the rocks.
The Burgers:
A hot grill about 400 Degree (Gas or Charcoal is your choice).
Clean your grill before use.
Lightly oil your grill with a towel and some canola oil.
Season your meat with salt and pepper and any other seasons you like.
Place the meat down on to the grill and do not touch it for 3-4 minutes the meat is getting sear marks. (This is called Maillard Browning it is the browning of proteins. This is not caramelization, that is the browning of sugars.)
After the first 3-4 minutes turn the burgers 25 Degrees to create nice sear marks on the burger. Let sit for another 3-4 minutes.
After searing the first side flip your burgers and cook to desired doneness.
Adding cheese and topping in the last minute or two.
Some people are fans of taking a little butter or oil and toasting their buns for their burgers. This adds another layer of texture to buns and prevents the toppings from absorbing into the bun.
Pasta Salad
The night before I had made some pasta salad:
In boiling salted water add tri-colored pasta.
Stir the pasta after pouring into the water.
Cook to the pasta is done but still firm to the touch. (I do this by tasting often) (Run the pasta under water so not to burn yourself)
Chill the pasta by rinsing with cold water and drain.
Pour the pasta into a large bowl and add a little olive oil.
Toss the pasta and olive oil together.
Add halved cherry or grape tomatoes and sliced roasted red pepper along with frozen peas, crumbled feta cheese and small-diced red onion. Mix though.
Then mix some parmesan peppercorn salad dressing though the pasta. Adjust with amount for taste and moistness.
Add Salt and Pepper as needed.
Since I made this the night before I did not add all the dressing. The pasta will absorb some of the liquid and you will need to stir in some more before serving to freshen the salad back up.
This salad is nice and refreshing without any vinegar or mayo. Those are the two biggest complaints I hear about pasta salads. So avoid them use this recipe.
Margaritas on the Rocks
First off Drink Responsibly
To make our margarita use this ratio: 3:2:1 tequila: cointreau: lime juice
Serves 1 drink
Glass of Ice
Pour 3 oz of tequila (use tequila of choice)
Pour 2 oz of cointreau, or triple sec, or grand marnier
Pour 1 oz of lime juice
Stir and serve.
If you use grand marnier you are actually make a drink that is a mix between a sidecar and margarita. A side car is a Cognac, orange liqueur and lime juice)
Serves 6 drinks
Pour 18 oz of tequila (use tequila of choice)
Pour 12 oz of cointreau, or triple sec, or grand marnier
Pour 6 oz of lime juice
Stir and serve
Brownies
Box Brownies work very well, always consistent try adding some chocolate chips or butter scotch chips into the batter.
I hope you enjoyed your 4th of July
