### Author:  [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)
#### Post date: [July 4, 2015, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/independence-day-meal-thread/724249/1 "2015-07-04T16:58:54Z")
What will you be preparing for the holiday meal?
Anyone going to an old fashioned pot luck dinner?
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. \ I guess it shouldn’t matter. vinegar helps tenderize the meat.
Hope everyone has a happy and safe 4th of July. 😃
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### Author:  [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)
#### Post date: [July 4, 2015, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/independence-day-meal-thread/724249/2 "2015-07-04T17:10:09Z")
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.
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### Author:  [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)
#### Post date: [July 4, 2015, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/independence-day-meal-thread/724249/3 "2015-07-04T17:24:18Z")
Dinner for just us and the cats, but it features ribs, grilled corn, twice-baked potatoes, coleslaw and strawberry shortcake for dessert.
The cats will be having Friskies.
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### Author:  [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)
#### Post date: [July 4, 2015, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/independence-day-meal-thread/724249/4 "2015-07-04T17:25:11Z")
Lemon bars for dessert at a family BBQ.
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### Author:  [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)
#### Post date: [July 4, 2015, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/independence-day-meal-thread/724249/5 "2015-07-04T17:53:44Z")
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.
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### Author:  [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)
#### Post date: [July 4, 2015, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/independence-day-meal-thread/724249/6 "2015-07-04T18:05:58Z")
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.
mmmmmm
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### Author:  [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)
#### Post date: [July 4, 2015, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/independence-day-meal-thread/724249/7 "2015-07-04T18:14:13Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#):
>
> … (Creamsicle hasn’t figured out she can get a little treat yet.)
> …
They’re so sweet before they figure out how to be opportunistic and demanding. 😃
I just ate my piece of fried chicken and shared it with orange kitty Max-- after he stared mercilessly at me and practically crawled up on the plate.
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### Author:  [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)
#### Post date: [July 4, 2015, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/independence-day-meal-thread/724249/8 "2015-07-04T19:09:11Z")
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. 🙂
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### Author:  [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)
#### Post date: [July 4, 2015, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/independence-day-meal-thread/724249/9 "2015-07-04T20:41:33Z")
long-slow smoked beef ribs, pork ribs and salmon
Mrs. Cad’s famous sauteed brussel sprouts with balsamic and saba
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### Author:  [@Apocalypso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apocalypso)
#### Post date: [July 4, 2015, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/independence-day-meal-thread/724249/10 "2015-07-04T21:17:37Z")
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.
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### Author:  [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)
#### Post date: [July 4, 2015, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/independence-day-meal-thread/724249/11 "2015-07-04T21:37:58Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#):
>
> I was going to make chili yesterday, but forgot to soak the beans…
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.
Happy birthday, **Apocalypso**. 🙂
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### Author:  [@Lacunae\_Matata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lacunae_Matata)
#### Post date: [July 4, 2015, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/independence-day-meal-thread/724249/12 "2015-07-04T21:41:03Z")
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!
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### Author:  [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)
#### Post date: [July 4, 2015, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/independence-day-meal-thread/724249/13 "2015-07-04T22:00:31Z")
> [@Lacunae\_Matata](#):
>
> We just had a huge thunderstorm, with more expected, so the ribs didn’t make it to the grill… Sad.
That’s why they make broilers. 😉
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### Author:  [@Lacunae\_Matata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lacunae_Matata)
#### Post date: [July 4, 2015, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/independence-day-meal-thread/724249/14 "2015-07-04T22:17:27Z")
If you’d seen my power bill last month, you wouldn’t mention anything to do with ovens! :eek:
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### Author:  [@LH75](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LH75)
#### Post date: [July 5, 2015, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/independence-day-meal-thread/724249/15 "2015-07-05T00:32:43Z")
I am smoking ribs tomorrow. We will also have potato salad and coleslaw.
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### Author:  [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)
#### Post date: [July 5, 2015, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/independence-day-meal-thread/724249/16 "2015-07-05T01:48:15Z")
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!
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### Author:  [@camille](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/camille)
#### Post date: [July 5, 2015, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/independence-day-meal-thread/724249/17 "2015-07-05T06:43:56Z")
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.
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### Author:  [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)
#### Post date: [July 5, 2015, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/independence-day-meal-thread/724249/18 "2015-07-05T12:16:45Z")
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.
Oh yeah… and locally brewed beer!
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### Author:  [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)
#### Post date: [July 5, 2015, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/independence-day-meal-thread/724249/19 "2015-07-05T14:08:11Z")
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.
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### Author:  [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)
#### Post date: [July 5, 2015, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/independence-day-meal-thread/724249/20 "2015-07-05T18:48:52Z")
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.
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