Fourth Of July Menus

Kate · Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2006 6:22 am Post subject: Fourth Of July Menus

We've noticed people looking for menu ideas for their 4th of July celebrations. I love planning big parties and my imagination goes nuts with ideas for serving and decorations, but I have to focus on the food here. So here are a couple of menu's to get this topic started. More will come as soon as this jet lag fog lifts!

Red White and Blue BBQ
For a big party and all out food fest!
Appetizers
Buffalo Wings
Blue cheese dressing with celery and carrot sticks
Spinach Dip with baguette slices

On the grill
Apple Smoked Ribs
Maple Glazed Salmon
Salads & Sides
Spicy slaw
Creole Potato Salad
Fresh Melon Salad
Beverages
Hurricanes-Long Island Iced Tea-Beer-Wine-Coffee
Desserts
Almond Butter Stars. Butterscotch brownies.
Note: The Hurricanes can be made in large batches and served from pitchers or those glass jars with the little faucets.Just be sure to lable them so the kids don't think it's fruit punch!

The 4th Italian Style
For a more elegant and smaller celebration, Guido came up with this
menu
Appetizer & Starters
Prosciutto with cantaloupe or figs
Amatriciana
On The Grill
Rosticciana ribs
Sides
Baked potatoes with prociutto and mascarpone or olive oil and rosemary roasted potatoes

Beverages
Chianti red wine
esperesso coffee
Desserts
Tiramisu or Coffee Granita with whipped cream
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A closed mouth gathers no feet.

Kate · Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2006 7:49 pm Post subject: 4th of July menus

Guido said people are still looking for BBQ recipes. Let me clarify the difference in grilling and BBQing. Grilling is a fast method on the bbq, such as my honey garlic shrimp. True BBQ is long slow cooking of meats such as my apple smoked ribs.
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A closed mouth gathers no feet.

Kate · Posted: Fri Jun 16, 2006 7:06 am Post subject: Fourth Of July Appetizers

I saw that someone was looking for appetizer ideas for the 4th of July.
Here are some of my favorites to serve at parties.

Gazpaco
I serve this in little plastic cups at parties. Place them on a tray and let guests help themselves. Guests can sip this cold soup as they walk around. Have a big bowl of tortilla chips also, there great to scoop up the soup.

Baba Ganoush
Surround a bowl of this with pita bread cut into triangles and crisped in the oven.

Put together a bruschetta bar. Heap toasted bread rounds in a bowl. Offer different toppings, such as diced tomatoes and basil, ricotta cheese, chicken liver pate, grilled eggplant, zucchini and peppers in oil.

Other tasty appetizers are:
Tuna stuffed tomatoes
Tuna stuffed eggs
Thai Chicken Satay
Fig and Walnut Tapenade with Goat Cheese
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A closed mouth gathers no feet.

guido · Site Admin Joined: Oct 18, 2004 Posts: 366 Location: Italy

Please note, these are only some ideas: you can find some more "unusual" but simple and quick to prepare recipes in our recipe section.

Use your imigination: for example plain bruschetta can be a starting point for many variations.

You can make a simple sauce with cherry tomatoes, garlic, and flat leaf parsley: put in a blender with a shot of extra virgin olive oil and a pinch of salt.
Pour a tablespoon of the sauce on every bruschetta slice, and garnish with a couple of basil leafs.

Happy Fourth of July!
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In vino veritas!

paulamathers · Posted: Fri Sep 15, 2006 3:00 pm Post subject:

my boyfriend and i bbq all year round (picture typical england raining, me with the umbrella being blown off my feet while hes cooking trying not to let it all blow off the bbq!!)and these ideas sound lovely. ill have to make sure we try some next time

Kate · Posted: Fri Sep 15, 2006 5:56 pm Post subject:

Here in lovely warm tropical Southern California we BBQ all year long, but you guys are very brave! I have to admit Paula the mental picture is hysterical.
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A closed mouth gathers no feet.

paulamathers · Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2006 5:37 pm Post subject:

it was quite funny, we made it in just before the thunder hit which was good timing

Kate · Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2006 6:29 pm Post subject:

Oh I miss a good thunder storm! They have some wild ones in Italy. We have them occasionally here, maybe two or three a year.
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A closed mouth gathers no feet.

paulamathers · Posted: Mon Sep 18, 2006 8:43 am Post subject:

we dont usually have that many but this year during our heat waves we had loads, they were great and lasted for hours. my sister lives in cornwall and they have fantastic storms there over the sea. they look amazing, the lightening really lights up the sea.

Kate · Posted: Mon Sep 18, 2006 8:36 pm Post subject:

That sounds so cool! Guido and I have a few internet friends in England. Would be fun to hook you all up!
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A closed mouth gathers no feet.