What Fourth of July Foods Will You Be Cooking?

Self | July 2, 2023 | PJ-Comix

[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.

[joma89]

I am making hot dogs and hamburgers. It is the perfect 4th combo.

[Disambiguator]

That must be from last year. It’s still iconic, but in a whole different way.

[Cold Heart]

“... and liked it so much I bought 8 more...”

But you didn’tlike it enough to buy the company:)

[Huskrrrr]

Probably Salmon burgers and fries.

[lapsus calami]

 

 

Pizza rolls - the food of champions.

 

 

[US_MilitaryRules]

Brisket on the Recteq pellet grill!

[TonyM]

At my home in Alabama we will be munching down on possum innards, armadillo soup, and buzzard pie for desert.

[Political Junkie Too]

My fries will be cut right from Russet potatoes using my French Fries cutter.

I just bought one of these last week, the Sopito Professional Stainless Potato Cutter. I'm still figuring out how to get the best French fries out of it, using my Breville Smart Oven Air on the air-fry setting.

I will be making my own chili using ground 80/20 chuck steak... I am cooking the meat various spices will be added in including paprika, chili powder, Cayenne pepper, etc..

You should try this ground beef chili recipe from America's Test Kitchen. You make your own chili powder from dried Ancho chilis, cumin, paprika, garlic powder, coriander, thyme, and crushed tortilla chips as the thickener.

-PJ

[Political Junkie Too]

I meant to add that I also buy a chuck roast and grind my own ground beef in my KitchenAid with the meat grinder accessory and course grind plate.

-PJ

[Political Junkie Too]

I like Whataburger spicy ketchup.

-PJ

[chrisinoc]

I’ve tried chicken, steaks, and pork chops in the air fryer. All of them are fantastic in the air fryer.

[the OlLine Rebel]

Yes!

Why don’t more outlets have sauerkraut for the dogs?

Hell, why don’t more people eat sauerkraut?

[bgill]

Chili dogs and onion rings.

Not going out to grill anything or the cats will get outside and be scared with the fireworks. This is day 2 of their confinement. I hate holidays due to moronic tourists.

[frank ballenger]

Not for me but here is what some types will be serving.

https://www.tasteofhome.com/collection/vegetarian-4th-of-july-recipes/

https://thegreenloot.com/vegan-4th-of-july-recipes/

Vegan McRib. And why not some simple cold slimy wet white tofu on a paper plate? Yum.

[StAnDeliver]

"Roasted goat."

Seriously? The Indian joint nearby makes a great Masala goat Gosht and puts it on their lunch buffet. Pure goat dynamite. I have literally picked up the steam tray ( not burning hot, just hot ) to pour the gravy over the plate.

[mewzilla]

I’ll tell you what I wish I was cooking...

Deep State’s goose.

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

I’ve gotten into the tradition of the Big Kahuna Burger for Independence Day.

A mainstay of Quentin Tarantino movies, someone actually developed an improbable, but very taste recipe for a Hawaiian themed hamburger. Optimally, they are best on “King’s Hawaiian” brand buns, but they are not always available, so either plain or seeded buns work fine.

2lbs hamburger
4 Tbsp Hawaiian-style Teriyaki marinade/sauce
6 pineapple slices
6 slices of provolone cheese
1 pkg large buns

Optional:
lettuce, purple onion, tomato, sliced jalapeno,
peperoncini or banana pepper. Small bowl of spicy pineapple salsa on the side.

Big Kahuna Secret Sauce

Equal parts ketchup and brown sugar + 1 tbs Dijon mustard

Simmer all ingredients until sugar is melted and fully blended.

Marinate hamburger in Teriyaki sauce for at least 20 min.

BBQ grill both burgers and pineapple slices then melt cheese over burger before serving.

Goes good with fries, a frosty beverage either soft drink or Mai Tais for adults, and plenty of patriotism.

[Organic Panic]

“You will cook crickets and grubs and like it, or not.”

[PJ-Comix]

I just bought one of these last week, the Sopito Professional Stainless Potato Cutter. I'm still figuring out how to get the best French fries out of it.....

I have something similar but cheaper. You might want to cut your potatoes into quarters since it is easier to cut them that way. Also if you try to put larger sections in the cutter, it can cause it to more easily break.

[Political Junkie Too]

I just bought a 5 lb bag of smaller russet potatoes to avoid this problem.

-PJ