# July 4th - What's everyone gonna eat?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-4th-whats-everyone-gonna-eat/71103
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [July 3, 2001, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-4th-whats-everyone-gonna-eat/71103 "2001-07-03T17:06:55Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@jazzmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jazzmine)
#### Post date: [July 3, 2001, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-4th-whats-everyone-gonna-eat/71103/1 "2001-07-03T17:06:55Z")
A bunch of family and friends are coming over tomorrow. We’re gonna barbeque and then maybe head over to the speedway to watch fireworks. Or maybe just sit around and jabber at each other.
For dessert, I’m fixing [American Flag Cake](http://www.practicalkitchen.com/holiday/July_4th/flag_cake.shtml). We’re going to grill chicken with [Jack Daniel’s Barbeque Sauce](http://www.recipegal.com/other/PineappleWilliesjackDanielsBbqSauce.htm) and hamburgers. I’m also making my famous Ranch Bacon Pasta Salad and [Black Bean and Corn Salad](http://www.vegetarianrecipe.com/AZ/BlackBeanAndCornSalad.asp).
Everyone is bringing a dish, so I don’t have the entire list of food. We also got a big watermelon and lots of beer and soda.
So. What are you having for the 4th?
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### Author:  [@Simetra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simetra)
#### Post date: [July 3, 2001, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-4th-whats-everyone-gonna-eat/71103/2 "2001-07-03T17:10:30Z")
Mexican food from a place down here called Ixtapa, which **Serendipity** says is oh so patriotic. 🙂
But hey, I’m going shooting earlier that day, and what says “I love America” more than blowing the crap out of targets with sub-guns and a belt-fed?
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### Author:  [@racinchikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racinchikki)
#### Post date: [July 3, 2001, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-4th-whats-everyone-gonna-eat/71103/3 "2001-07-03T17:15:20Z")
Uh… I’ll be at work tomorrow evenin’, so I’ll probably be having Chinese takeout. Mmm… sweet & sour chicken, fried rice and an egg roll… so patriotic!
I might make myself a nice red, white & blue dessert when I get home, though; we just bought a pint of really nice blueberries, so I can toss 'em together with some strawberries and cream. Yum.
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### Author:  [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)
#### Post date: [July 3, 2001, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-4th-whats-everyone-gonna-eat/71103/4 "2001-07-03T17:21:20Z")
We started out inviting two other couples over, but somehow the list has grown and we’re expecting about 20 people tomorrow.
We’re having typical fare: steamed crabs (two bushels), hamburgers, hot dogs, baked beans (yummy old family recipe), pasta salad, fruit salad, chips, soda, beer, with homemade brownies and chocolate chip-walnut cookies for dessert.
I gotta get off here and clean the house!
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### Author:  [@GraceTX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GraceTX)
#### Post date: [July 3, 2001, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-4th-whats-everyone-gonna-eat/71103/5 "2001-07-03T17:23:07Z")
I don’t know, but what you’re having sounds good. Care to invite me over? 😃
My mother and sisters are probably coming to Dallas to visit this weekend. They always take my kitchen hostage so I imagine we’ll have mexican food.
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### Author:  [@Tequila\_Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tequila_Mockingbird)
#### Post date: [July 3, 2001, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-4th-whats-everyone-gonna-eat/71103/6 "2001-07-03T17:41:52Z")
I’m all a’tingle thinking of tomorrows menu…
Cheeseburger complete with grilled onions, and avacado slices (I don’t think the bacon’s gonna last until tomorrow though…sigh)
Baked beans
fresh corn on the cob, grilled
ice cold beer, and more beer
and hot fudge sundaes to enjoy while watching the fireworks from our balcony
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### Author:  [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)
#### Post date: [July 3, 2001, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-4th-whats-everyone-gonna-eat/71103/7 "2001-07-03T18:00:13Z")
[trembly lower lip] Steamed crabs?!?!? [/trembly lower lip]
I don’t know what we’re going to do, so I don’t know what we’re going to eat. Guess I’ll figure it out tonight so I can shop if necessary. Isn’t PB&J All-American??
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### Author:  [@JavaMaven1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JavaMaven1)
#### Post date: [July 3, 2001, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-4th-whats-everyone-gonna-eat/71103/8 "2001-07-03T18:06:59Z")
Well, it looks like I’m going to hang out with a few members of my family, so I’m sure I’ll be eating whatever they’ve got going.
But, I’m going to run by work and pick up a Key Lime Cheesecake to take with us. I’m too damned tired to cook this week. Well, I _did_ make the cheesecakes… just that they’re at work… 🙂
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### Author:  [@Amazing\_Tiki\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amazing_Tiki_God)
#### Post date: [July 3, 2001, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-4th-whats-everyone-gonna-eat/71103/9 "2001-07-03T18:08:44Z")
Hmm I think I’ll be having spaghetti tomorrow. But that is if I’m not hung over from tonight. Besides the doctor said I need to stay on a liquid diet 😃
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### Author:  [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)
#### Post date: [July 4, 2001, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-4th-whats-everyone-gonna-eat/71103/10 "2001-07-04T01:11:09Z")
I’m marinating a rack of spareribs in my special molasses/mustard/vinegar/Worcestershire/Tabasco blend, so they’ll be ready for the grill tomorrow.
What else? Sweet corn and a romaine salad, probably. Who gives a damn? Once you get a whiff of these ribs, side dishes become a mere formality.
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### Author:  [@Kaitlyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaitlyn)
#### Post date: [July 4, 2001, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-4th-whats-everyone-gonna-eat/71103/11 "2001-07-04T02:19:54Z")
Steamed hams, the Skinner family recipe.
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### Author:  [@Cyndar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyndar)
#### Post date: [July 4, 2001, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-4th-whats-everyone-gonna-eat/71103/12 "2001-07-04T03:46:50Z")
Lean Cuisine meal for one heated up in the microwave.
Oh the joys of being single AND having to work on the holiday.
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### Author:  [@Fionn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fionn)
#### Post date: [July 4, 2001, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-4th-whats-everyone-gonna-eat/71103/13 "2001-07-04T03:56:39Z")
A friend is having a party tomorrow, and she was torn between grilling hamburgers and ordering pizza. Ordering pizza seems to have won out. My family always had barbecue on the Fourth. Back home, they’ll have brisket, ham and sausage while I’m eating cheese pizza. It just seems sacriligious.
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### Author:  [@Carina42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carina42)
#### Post date: [July 4, 2001, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-4th-whats-everyone-gonna-eat/71103/14 "2001-07-04T04:04:24Z")
Hmmm. My most excellent friend Karen & her hubby Mike are making BBQ ribs & homemade baked beans. If the Gods are smiling, she will make her chocolate cheesecake too…The rest of us will be bringing side dishes & salad. I’m working tomorrow so I’ll be stopping at the deli for a side dish on the way down. 🙂
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### Author:  [@LoverBoy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LoverBoy)
#### Post date: [July 4, 2001, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-4th-whats-everyone-gonna-eat/71103/15 "2001-07-04T04:17:38Z")
Mom’s Red, White, and Blue Raspberry + Blueberry jello dessert
Uncle Jeff’s smoked barbeque ribs (the finest ribs I’ve ever had, cooked with a homemade sauce and on a water smoker, mmm)
Corn on the cob (I hope)
Leftover mashed taters
Who has time for anything else when you have to set fire to explosives? Besides, salads are for women.
- Rob
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### Author:  [@jazzmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jazzmine)
#### Post date: [July 4, 2001, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-4th-whats-everyone-gonna-eat/71103/16 "2001-07-04T06:58:26Z")
Okay Ike, now I’m drooling. Wanna come over and give us a lesson in ribs?
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### Author:  [@Father\_Pacelli](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Father_Pacelli)
#### Post date: [July 4, 2001, 10:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-4th-whats-everyone-gonna-eat/71103/17 "2001-07-04T10:50:57Z")
Same thing I’ve done every US Independence Day–throw a cookout, then hijack the US nuclear arsenal and attempt to launch a thermonuclear strike against the UK. 😃
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### Author:  [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)
#### Post date: [July 4, 2001, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-4th-whats-everyone-gonna-eat/71103/18 "2001-07-04T13:34:58Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Tequila Mockingbird \*
> **…fresh corn on the cob, grilled…**
Damn. I knew I forgot something. Now I have to run out to get corn on the cob. I hope I can find some yummy Silver Queen.
> [@](#):
>
> _FairyChatMom said:_\*\*
> [trembly lower lip] Steamed crabs?!?!? [/trembly lower lip]
\*\*
Would you like me to save some for you? We should have plenty. 🙂
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### Author:  [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)
#### Post date: [July 4, 2001, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-4th-whats-everyone-gonna-eat/71103/19 "2001-07-04T14:17:16Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by jazzmine \*
> \*\*Okay Ike, now I’m drooling. Wanna come over and give us a lesson in ribs? \*\*
It warms my crabby old heart that you leaped over everyone else’s mention of grilled ribs to single out mine.
I confess to cheating. Contemporary BBQmaniacs insist on slowly cooking the ribs **con** hickory or fruitwood smoke over a period of several hours.
Today’s method, which I haven’t used fo a couple years, so I’ll let you know later how it comes out, involves parboiling the ribs on the previous day.
Put a 5-pound rack in a large stockpot, cover with cold water, add one whole onion (unpeeled) stuck with two cloves, 2 tsps dried marjoram, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, and 1/4 cup soy sauce. Bring to a boil, then turn down the heat and allow to simmer uncovered until tender, 45 minutes to an hour.
Baste ribs with sauce (I just threw 'em in a big freezer bag and poured the sauce in. And turned 'em over ever time I went in the fridge.)
Unbelievably Great Sauce:
4 parts molasses
2 parts Dijon mustard
2 parts red wine vinegar
1 part Worcestershire
Salt and Tabasco to taste
Later today I will bring the meat to room temperature, and grill it over medium heat for about seven minutes on each side.
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### Author:  [@ryan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ryan)
#### Post date: [July 5, 2001, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-4th-whats-everyone-gonna-eat/71103/20 "2001-07-05T02:06:15Z")
I’m moving into my new apartment this weekend,and I have to work Thurs-Sat nights so today was a day of packing and cleaning.
Dinner was boiled hot dogs, wrapped in cheese on potato rolls. With a diet coke and a half a candy bar for desert.
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