I just finished putting 5 ribeye steaks in ziplock bags to marinate in McCormick Mesquite marinade. Also 4 hamburger patties marinating for the kids. Two packs of Green Giant broccoli / cheese sauce microwave steamers for our side dish. Kids will get fries.
Big group expected this evening. Weather is bad and won’t try to grill outside. I have a Cuisinart griddler electric grill that does a nice job. My daughter plans to bring her George Foreman grill too. So we can get this cooked all at once.
btw, anyone notice some of the McCormick marinades call for white vinegar and others don’t? We often use the Zesty Herb and it wants vinegar. I went ahead and added a couple tablespoons as I normally do. Just noticed the Mesquite didn’t ask for it. <shrug> I guess it shouldn’t matter. vinegar helps tenderize the meat.
I’m going to be at home by myself all day and probably won’t see or talk to one other human being. I have one leftover piece of fried chicken from Friday and bread that I made in my bread machine yesterday.
Rib-eye steaks cooked over charcoal. They’ve been ‘aging’ in the meat locker for a week, and are looking good. Corn on the cob. Reser’s Deviled-Egg Potato Salad. No doubt Tonka will get some yummy fat, and perhaps a bit of meat. (Creamsicle hasn’t figured out she can get a little treat yet.)
I bought extra eggs so the SO can make devilled eggs, but I don’t know if she will.
The thing is, I couldn’t resist getting a rack of pre-seasoned Saint Louis style baby back pork ribs yesterday. We’re having steak. Maybe mañana. Or Tuesday.
Spare ribs are on the smoker now, they should be done around 3:30. I’ll make noonday onion rings as a snack around 3 when my brother’s supposed to get here, and make elotes to eat with the ribs.
I was going to make chili yesterday, but forgot to soak the beans, so I did that last night and the pot of red is in the oven as I type. We’d have that and cornbread tonight, maybe along with a few grilled hot dogs, but I have a flat of bone-in chops that really can’t wait one more day. Don’t want to freeze them, so they’re dinner tonight with maybe a little bowl of chili. I also like to make chili and let it stand one night in the fridge before warming up and serving, so.
This week’s menu planning got kicked around. But pork chops are a perfectly good Fourtajoolye food, IMVHO.
I made a sweet and savory pot roast last night with red wine, worcestershire sauce, sliced mushrooms and onions. Since I ate it for lunch today I don’t know if it counts. We’re going to a picnic now where I imagine there will be hamburgers and hotdogs. Possibly some ribs. My wife made a pasta salad with black olives, cucumbers, onions, and tomatoes and we’re bringing that to the picnic. She’s also made me a yellow cake with chocolate icing since today happens to be my birthday.
For future reference, you don’t have to soak the beans. Jacques Pepin said you can soak dried beans or not-- doesn’t matter. Might take a little longer to cook, that’s all. I made pinto beans last weekend in the crockpot (overnight) and I didn’t soak them. The bean police did not show up at my house.
We just had a huge thunderstorm, with more expected, so the ribs didn’t make it to the grill… Sad. I guess I’ll just cook some burgers and hot dogs indoors instead, and cut up the watermelon and cantaloupe and fix a salad. But ribs tomorrow!
Burgers on the grill, chips, bacon/ranch pasta salad, chocolate chip ice cream for me for dessert, husband had chocolate brownie ice cream for dessert. It was outstanding!
I did vegetarian, which is a challenge for this holiday (and practically Un-American!). I made guacamole, nachos, grilled vegetable paella, sauteed greens with chickpeas, cornbread, and a fruit platter. Sangria and beer, plenty of pot luck desserts brought by the guests. The meat eaters can have their barbeque tomorrow at their own house; hopefully they’ll have better weather for outdoor grilling than we had today.
Grilled corn, sausage pizza, corn dog, and grilled marinated chicken satay. Our community has a big “Fourth Fest” that everyone goes to with music, entertainment, crafts, and food, food, and more food.
I used up all of our charcoal last week when we had houseguests. Plus the weather here was rainy and icky, so I had no intention of cooking out. In fact, we ate spaghetti. It was just the two of us - we weren’t interested in any of the holiday doin’s and instead, we chilled at home.
Avoided all the crowds and just stayed home with a movie (did the whole BBQ thing on Friday). Made my version of pasta primavera. Easy as pie, and absolutely delicious. Nice light summer diner.
