Posted on 07/02/2023 11:11:02 AM PDT by PJ-Comix
Okay, we are coming up to July 4, a big day for picnics, especially on the BBQ. So what food are you preparing for July 4?
I'll start off by stating that I am preparing a big TRIFECTA of food. Smoked turkey, chili cheese fries, and, most importantly, PICANHA steak.
The smoked turkey is now being dry brined with kosher salt, brown sugar, pepper, and thyme. Tomorrow I will smoke it on my Weber for a total of about 2 1/2 hours. So why smoke it the day BEFORE July 4? Well, because I need the Weber for something else that day plus I prefer cold smoked turkey. I think it actually tastes better that way. Of course, I will be using the drippings to make turkey gravy which is highly important.
Next up will be the chili cheese fries. I will be making my own chili using ground 80/20 chuck steak which will be placed in the blender to make it even finer. Added to that meat will be a shredded carrot. The carrots keratin adds great flavor to the meat. As I am cooking the meat various spices will be added in including paprika, chili powder, Cayenne pepper, etc.. After that I added in a combo of all purpose flour as well as corn flour being careful to thoroughly mix it all in since that will be the thickener. Once the meat is mostly browned I add in a couple cups of beef broth and about a quarter cup of white vinegar. Once it starts boiling, I let it simmer covered for about 20 minutes and then put in the fridge overnight.
My fries will be cut right from Russet potatoes using my French Fries cutter. Then I wash them down and let sit in warm water for about 20 minutes to remove the startch. On the Fourth I will air fry those fries in my air fryer, put them in a bowl, cover with a slice of mild cheddar cheese, and then scoop the reheated chili over it. Cubed sweet onions to top it all off. When done properly the taste of that homemade chili, cheese, and natural fries are incredible but the texture is such that I have nicknamed this the "oooie goooey."
Finally the best of them all. PICANHA. If you have never had Picanha I recommend you check it out at a Brazilian steakhouse. It comes from the lower back of the cow and is covered with a fat cap that provides incredible flavor when properly cooked.
I have over 6 pounds in the fridge now and tomorrow will cut them up in slices of over about 1 1/2 inches thick. Then I will cover them with kosher salt and allow them to brine in the fridge over night. The next day, the Fourth, I will sear the meat sections only of the slices on the BBQ by placing them over the edge of the coals with the fatty parts facing AWAY from the charcoal below. After both sides are seared I will hold a couple of slices at time with the fat side down over the charcoal. This way the flareups from the dripping fat won't burn the meat and I can move the fat side down closer or further from the charcoal as needed until the fat is nicely cooked. Then I wipe melted butter over the meat and put it on the section of the grill AWAY from the charcoal and let indirectly cook covered until internal temperature is about 140 degrees. After that take the slices out and let sit for about five minutes and cut the slices up into smaller sections that the guests can eat with toothpicks if they so choose.
I would like to show you a video on how I will prepare and cook the picanha but I will have so many things on my plate (pun intended) on July 4 that I won't have time to also make a recording although later this summer I plan to present a video on this topic when I have more time to concentrate on just that.
Whatever happened to hot dogs and hamburgers?
Too easy although next year I might do chili cheese burgers using my chili recipe.
Ribs. But no picnic and no BBQ. It’s gonna be 106. July 4th is an indoor holiday in the desert.
That’s what we have planned.
hot dogs with sauerkraut. Yum!
Well, with that heat you could put a metal plate on the ground and cook hamburgers and hotdogs on that naturally heated grill.
Tofu and kale quiche. Jk.
Lamb chops.
I bought my first air fryer a couple of years ago and liked it so much that I bought about 8 more since then. Three of the fryers in different sizes I kept and the rest I gave away as gifts. At least three of the recipients have told me it changed the way they cooked.
We’re having burgers, dogs and barbecued chicken.
Hmmmm... I haven't tried that yet for a picnic but if their is some special way to prepare them on the BBQ.....
Most likely hotdogs and baked beans’ special recipe. Yum!
Probably watching Wimbledon if here’s a good match on. Rooting for Djokovic.
Tacos and Burritos. Chow mein and egg fu yung. Ramen noodles and spring rolls. Borscht. Polish sausages and sauerkraut. Turnips. Roasted goat.
I picked up YUENGLING today.
Well, that is something I never had. Gotta check that out.
Cook it like beef? On my 'to do' list.
us too i love cheap fried frozen beer battered fish filets and shrimp game changer taste like the real thing and its great for all kind of left overs
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.