tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post8245912421426567442..comments2024-03-29T07:15:33.972-04:00Comments on Jungle Red Writers: Jungle Reds Picnic: July 4 Pot Luck!Jungle Red Writershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16646429819267618412noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-80897377219928854942015-07-05T15:11:05.192-04:002015-07-05T15:11:05.192-04:00We live outside city limits so our subdivision is ...We live outside city limits so our subdivision is ground zero for people putting off their own fireworks and they mean serious business. Mortars like you wouldn't believe. My poor Shepherd/Akita is afraid of loud noises like thunder so the 4th is just horrible for him. I give him vet-prescription anti-anxiety pills but it doesn't really help so I spend the holiday in the bedroom with white noise and music going until 1 a.m. with both dogs (because Ryker gets attention being scared so Coda copies him). I haven't seen actual fireworks in four years. :) PK the Bookeemonsterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03478996122841311684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-10674308514807398132015-07-04T21:05:50.041-04:002015-07-04T21:05:50.041-04:00The only Fourth of July celebrations I remember cl...The only Fourth of July celebrations I remember clearly were in Salem and Marblehead. In Salem we went swimming and picnicked at The Willows. When in Marblehead we dug roasting pits on an island just off shore in the Harbor. The kids collected fresh seaweed. The adults lined the pit with it while it was still wet. Then they layered it with the lobster, clams, and corn. It was the kids' job to check the tides to be sure we could get home. We always had melon fruit salad served in a whole watermelon shell with its cap placed back on top.<br /><br />When we moved to Boston most of my cousins went to the Cape where the family has a cottage in Hyannis. My father was a merchant seaman trying to be Joseph Conrad then. Mother and I were never a part of the Cape celebrations.<br /><br />In later years, as an adult, we were all about the Hatch Shell and The Pops. I seem to recall Hank reading the Constitution at Faneuil Hall? Fourth or not it was a great thing.<br />Maureen Harringtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03499876353651763590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-16976827669155310682015-07-04T16:50:21.400-04:002015-07-04T16:50:21.400-04:00. . . and I have 1776 on DVD, too ;-). . . and I have 1776 on DVD, too ;-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-6074531887686864772015-07-04T16:49:37.696-04:002015-07-04T16:49:37.696-04:00I'll be trying the Napa cabbage slaw . . . and...I'll be trying the Napa cabbage slaw . . . and plan to cook pork steak with fennel from my CSA. Happy 4th! Stay safe!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-27486344522370288542015-07-04T15:59:07.170-04:002015-07-04T15:59:07.170-04:00Thanks, guys. What we usually do on the 4th late a...Thanks, guys. What we usually do on the 4th late at night is watch 1776 — the musical with Blythe Danner and William Daniels -- maybe we can do that with telephone speakerphone.... Not much writing done today, but I took a nap to end all naps -- amazing how well one can sleep when there's so one around to say, "Mooooooom!" or "Um, honey?" Hmm, and I think there's a bottle of fizz in the fridge....Susan Elia MacNealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00349842866995778987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-75332263081564144502015-07-04T14:55:42.970-04:002015-07-04T14:55:42.970-04:00All of your recipes and gatherings sound wonderful...All of your recipes and gatherings sound wonderful! I thought sparklers were great when I was a kid, not so much now. In fact, as Grandma Cootie noted, as we get older, there's way less of a desire to be in the middle of the action on the Fourth. Susan, I will be by myself tonight, too, and I plan to watch the celebration from D.C. on television. I am hankering for the traditional hotdog or hamburger for supper, so I'll probably give myself that treat. Wine sounds good, too. If my husband were home, we'd grill out, but we wouldn't go down to the river for fireworks. I can see some from my house. I did enjoy taking the kids when they were growing up.<br /><br />My go-to dish for taking to warm weather gatherings is baked beans. I take a large dish, usually a 9 x12 dish. I use two large cans of Van Camp Pork and Beas and another half of one, or a small one. I drain the cans and pick out the few bits of pork fat. Empty the drained beans into the dish, and here's where practice makes perfect. You add in light colored brown sugar, from two to three heaping tablespoons (I use a silverware spoon, not a measuring spoon) and squirt in some ketsup (a good swirl). Mix the brown sugar and ketchup into the beans. Top with uncooked bacon strips--don't overlap. Cook in oven at 400-425 for an hour, or until not runny. Sometimes it takes a few extra minutes. After done, I wrap the dish in aluminium foi and a large towel. They stay warm for quite some time like this. Everyone in my family, immediate and extended,I've my baked beans. You could easily m.ake less or more of them. I've made these for so long that I don't really have a recipe.<br />Kathy Reelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17004247271452356577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-71299659000520300382015-07-04T13:15:13.499-04:002015-07-04T13:15:13.499-04:00Happy Independence Day, everyone!
I've been s...Happy Independence Day, everyone!<br /><br />I've been so behind the ball I just now added to the front page blog; a little bit about our wonderful Portland Symphony Orchestra and their Stars and Stripes Spectacular tonight on the Eastern Prom.<br /><br />Also, my recipe for Asian Slaw which, I have just discovered, I don't have enough Napa cabbage for! Luckily, I live next door to an organic produce farm, and yes, I put that in so you all would feel jealous of me.Juliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09553268569509053159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-31698871058009477772015-07-04T12:43:52.646-04:002015-07-04T12:43:52.646-04:00Happy 4th, everyone! I fought the parade crowds in...Happy 4th, everyone! I fought the parade crowds in downtown McKinney to go to the farmer's market this morning, but that means I started my day with fab coffee from the coffee stall and an almond croissant from the bakery stall. My once a week binge--so yummy! And bought loads of beautiful stuff, including enough blueberries to make Hallie's blueberry pie!!! (Assuming I don't eat half of them first...) And the most wonderful little heirloom tomatoes I've ever tasted from a mom-and-pop farm in Farmersville, Texas. Can you beat that? And I got corn for the grill. <br /><br />Rhys, give us your pepper jelly recipe! Pepper jelly in stuffed eggs sound so interesting.<br /><br />Love everyone's recipes. Susan, but get yourself something nice to eat, have a glass of wine, and watch the Pops tonight. Make it a pamper-yourself treat.<br />PS Lucy my hubby might actually eat YOUR potato salad.<br />Deborah Crombiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16988750789088153601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-39299469181166294572015-07-04T12:11:43.202-04:002015-07-04T12:11:43.202-04:00No picnic, but lazy morning breakfast--red-white-a...No picnic, but lazy morning breakfast--red-white-and-blue french toast with thick-sliced bacon. No recipe, I just made it up as I went along--some stuffed with cream cheese for the white part, mixed berries over it all for red and blue. Later tonight, find a spot along the backroads to watch the spectacular fireworks at the local raceway. You'll pass pickup trucks parked along the road, a blanket spread in the back for the littlest ones--for those of us who like the show, but not the noise or crowds.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-6169259327471061552015-07-04T11:29:59.337-04:002015-07-04T11:29:59.337-04:00Happy 4th! The 4th of July was my mom's birth...Happy 4th! The 4th of July was my mom's birthday so she always told us the fireworks and celebration were for her. When we were young my uncle would drive from Indiana to Kentucky for some fireworks :-) . We lived on a few acres so had our very own fireworks show. Today my next door neighbor would call the police, but then our neighbors enjoyed the show. Big picnic on that day.<br /><br />Funny, noticing in comments how as we grow older we want to watch the fireworks "from" somewhere, not be in the middle of the crowd. Used to take grandkids down to the Delta to watch the fireworks display off floats in the river. Now we watch on TV.Grandma Cootiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10709540756822695170noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-13929069885269107472015-07-04T10:22:25.057-04:002015-07-04T10:22:25.057-04:00Fireworks that explode underwater, Kait? Really?? ...Fireworks that explode underwater, Kait? Really?? You have to explain.<br /><br />Gram, fresh peas are such a treat now and SO expensive.<br /><br />Mary, the spareribs we had growing up were a lot like that. I made them a few weeks ago and they were decadent. (I hate crowds, too. Absolutely hate them.)<br /><br />Susan, hope you get LOTS of pages written and the cook yourself something special that no one else in your family eats. Hallie Ephronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04759439029582054503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-34226049150484262482015-07-04T09:42:14.212-04:002015-07-04T09:42:14.212-04:00Starving after reading all those recipes, and crav...Starving after reading all those recipes, and craving stuffed eggs. Go figure. We had a traditional 4th growing up, sparklers, fireworks at the park, my parents would bring huge woolen blankets for us to sit on, I remember they had a Stewart plaid pattern (or maybe it was red and green buffalo check) and we kids avoided them like the plague because they itched. We lived on a river in those days, and some kids always managed to get ash cans - fireworks that explode under water - and we loved those. Somehow we all escaped childhood with ten fingers, but I don't recommend anyone playing with the ordinance! This year will be quiet for us, the day by the pool, smoked sausages on the grill and sides of potato salad. No sparklers, or fireworks, although you can buy them in Florida.Kaithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07758348842858993203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-86251960913746898122015-07-04T09:26:16.099-04:002015-07-04T09:26:16.099-04:00SO delicious! I am truing to get the family to re...SO delicious! I am truing to get the family to read the declaration of INdependence out loud…I do it every year, and cry. <br /><br />Happy 4th everyone! Hank Phillippi Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420701704169428286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-69580220030804184612015-07-04T09:26:09.828-04:002015-07-04T09:26:09.828-04:00When I was young the standard for the 4th was fres...When I was young the standard for the 4th was fresh peas from the garden - most people had one then - and salmon.<br />I am going to try those recipes though.Gramhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01027824918114690029noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-34948629716386442222015-07-04T09:14:15.552-04:002015-07-04T09:14:15.552-04:00Hank, I almost bought sparklers for the kids last ...Hank, I almost bought sparklers for the kids last night. Maybe I can still run out. However, it's raining, so they might not want to use them. I had sparklers as a kid, but then NYS make it all illegal. Not so in PA.<br /><br />We used to go to Point State Park to see the big Zambelli fireworks display in Pittsburgh, but I don't do well in crowds any longer and the husband hates them. So does The Girl. But it is a great display. One of the local radio stations coordinates music as they go on. Now it's a quiet picnic at home and we go down the street to watch the fireworks from one of the local golf clubs (it's on a hill, so we get a pretty good view). We are actually getting together with neighbors this year and it has been requested that I bring bbq ribs again.<br /><br />3-4lbs of ribs<br />1 cup ketchup<br />1 cup vinegar<br />1/2 cup dark corn syrup<br />2 tsp sugar<br />1/2 tsp salt<br />1/4 tsp onion powder<br />1/4 tsp garlic powder<br />1/4 tsp tabasco<br /><br />Combine all ingredients in a pot; heat until boiling. Simmer 30 minutes or until thick.<br /><br />Slather sauce on ribs, reserving some for later. Wrap ribs in foil and cook for 2-2 1/2 hours in the oven at 300 degrees (you can go longer to make them even more tender).<br /><br />Carefully remove ribs from foil (there will be a lot of juice). Transfer to hot grill. Coat with remaining sauce and grill for 3-4 minutes per side. We cut into portions of 3-4 ribs for serving.Liz Millironhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04919409969263609919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-29020729310604470072015-07-04T08:54:17.118-04:002015-07-04T08:54:17.118-04:00Stuck solo in NYC due to a snafu while the rest of...Stuck solo in NYC due to a snafu while the rest of the family is up in Rhode Island — and feeling a wee bit sorry for myself.... Um, I think there's some yogurt and fruit in the fridge? And I'll probably turn on the Boston Pops at some point.... (Wow, this sounds even sadder when I type it out. But at least I'll be writing. That's good, right?)Susan Elia MacNealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00349842866995778987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-90625970565823104932015-07-04T08:49:30.767-04:002015-07-04T08:49:30.767-04:00OOhhh this all sounds amazing! The cornbread and t...OOhhh this all sounds amazing! The cornbread and tomato/mozz are fabulous additions! Hope you each have a wonderful weekend! xoxo LucyLucy Burdette aka Roberta Isleibhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04660402177299546055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-74398610879107213032015-07-04T08:01:51.385-04:002015-07-04T08:01:51.385-04:00I want those heirloom tomatoes and mozzarella... y...I want those heirloom tomatoes and mozzarella... yum.<br />And Joan, that cornbread sounds fanTAStic! Love cornbread, esp cooked in cast iron skillet so it gets crispy all around. And bacon, well what is life without bacon?Hallie Ephronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04759439029582054503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-85219259126948951992015-07-04T07:43:09.760-04:002015-07-04T07:43:09.760-04:00Happy Birthday, America!
Family celebrations when...Happy Birthday, America!<br /><br />Family celebrations when I was a child also involved sparklers and fireworks at night. Then it was the Boston Pops on the Esplanade, And fireworks. And the 1812 Overture.<br /><br />Now, I'm sorry to say, fireworks are legal in Maine and anyone can set them off in their backyard. It's annoying and dangerous. We still watch the Pops and 1812 Overture (online unfortunately) but it's not the same as being there. But you're right, Hank, it's great not having to fight the traffic. Today I'm spending time as a docent at an antique car and plane museum then lobsters! After Wimbledon.<br /><br />To add to the picnic, I bought mozzarella and heirloom tomatoes yesterday for a caprese salad. Two thirds of the red, white, and blue.Marianne in Mainenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-48393580720129844982015-07-04T07:38:08.852-04:002015-07-04T07:38:08.852-04:00Here’s one of our favorite picnic recipes:
Bacon ...Here’s one of our favorite picnic recipes: <br />Bacon Cheddar Skillet Cornbread<br /><br />Preheat the oven to 400°F. <br /><br />In a 10-inch cast iron skillet:<br />Cook 4-6 slices thick bacon until crisp; remove, crumble, and set aside<br />Leave 2 tablespoons drippings in the skillet, reserve remaining drippings<br />Place skillet in oven to heat<br /><br />Stir together 3/4 cups sifted flour, 1 tablespoon sugar, and 1 tablespoon baking powder<br />Add 1-1/4 cups yellow or white cornmeal<br />Beat 2 eggs, beat in 2 tablespoons bacon drippings, 1 cup milk <br />Stir into flour mixture with a few strokes<br />Fold in crumbled bacon, 3/4 cup shredded extra sharp cheddar cheese <br /><br />Carefully pour batter into heated skillet<br />Bake 25-30 minutes. <br />Joan Emersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06810313925049108163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-38631161881005763142015-07-04T07:08:00.281-04:002015-07-04T07:08:00.281-04:00Happy July Fourth!
Our celebration is generally a ...Happy July Fourth!<br />Our celebration is generally a quiet one; local parade in the morning, barbeque, fireworks over the lake . . . .<br />Often we'll catch the late broadcast of the Macy's fireworks which are always spectacular, even when watching on the television.Joan Emersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06810313925049108163noreply@blogger.com