There are lots of culinary staples when it comes to the 4th of July (hot dogs, burgers, corn on the cob, etc.). But the whole point of the day is to celebrate freedom, right? So why not shake things up a little bit and make whatever you want? Make an elegant dessert that shines or awesome steaks instead of burgers. Go wild! We’ve got some recipes below to help you make whatever tickles your fancy this 4th. It’s Independence Day—let your foodie flag fly!
Miss Mary’s Porridge
This time last year, we were just starting our Anne of Green Gables menu. In a way, we’ve come full circle. We’re greeting July with a the story of a displaced young orphan girl who breathes vibrancy and life into her new home: The Secret Garden! But this time the home (Misselthwaite Manor) is breathing life into the heroine too. While Anne Shirley was flighty and dreamy, Mary Lennox is serious and grim.
Here’s Comes July…and a New Book of the Month Hint!
Howdy, folks! I just got back from ringing in July in the best way possible: 5 days of cabin camping with old college buddies! It’s a summer tradition that started 5 years ago. Now that we’re scattered across 3 different states, it’s the most important way we keep in touch. Despite the mosquitoes and lack of cell reception, it’s the highlight of my summer. There’s just something magical about age old inside jokes, ice cream cone s’mores, and late-night discussions about how The Lego Movie is basically The Matrix.
On our way to get groceries for the cabin, we stopped at a Mickey D’s for wi-fi so I could post our final Tom Sawyer recipe: Tom’s Whitewashed Jelly Doughnuts. I brought the leftover doughnuts with me to share at the cabin, and my oh my were they popular, especially with blackberry jam (possibly more so than the original raspberry jam I used). If you’re looking for a drink to go along with your own jelly doughnuts, we just released our Tom Sawyer tea from Adagio: Becky’s Peach Tea! Click here or the image below to visit our tea gallery!
But you’re REALLY here for your Book of the Month photo hint, right? No worries, I’ve got it right here:
Any guesses?
Tom’s Whitewashed Jelly Doughnuts
Oh, doughnuts. How do I love thee? Let me count the ways:
- You give me that awesome sugar fix, reminding me that sweet things are of paramount importance.
- You’re so fluffy you make clouds jealous.
- You couldn’t be a better dessert for Tom Sawyer if you tried.
Missouri-Style Honey Cornbread with BACON!
Here in the Midwest, cornbread is a very serious business, and anyone who comes from a cornbread eating culture will tell you that regional recipe differences are important (i.e. in the south, cornbread is make with white cornmeal and no sugar). So when I set out to find a Missourian cornbread recipe for our Tom Sawyer menu, it had to be authentic. I rounded up a bunch of potential candidates and ran them past my native Missouri friends, who selected this honey cornbread recipe from a restaurant in Branson.
Think Jerky: Help Make Delicious, Natural Jerky a Reality
It seems like every year I struggle to find just the right Father’s Day gift for my dad. It’s not that I don’t love him. Far from it; he’s a great, old-fashioned man’s man—lover of wilderness, patriotism, and meat. Think Ron Swanson if he had four kids. Need proof? This is my Father’s Day card for him this year, and it couldn’t be more perfect.
The problem is that these interests don’t involve much STUFF, which makes gift buying difficult. You can only get a guy so many Longhorn Steakhouse and Gander Mountain gift cards. And that’s why I CAN’T WAIT for this Think Jerky Kickstarter I heard about to become a reality.
Imagine gourmet beef jerky. HEALTHY gourmet jerky, developed by professional chefs and a Baconfest champion. THAT’S what Think Jerky is. The CEO Ricky Hirsch contacted me about their Kickstarter last week and sent me their video. The flavor descriptions alone had me drooling. I mean, c’mon: Sweet Chipotle? HELLO, GORGEOUS.
It’s like they tapped directly into people’s brains and pinpointed what everybody wants in a snack. If you’re looking for unique flavors, you’ve found them…unless you know someone else who’s selling Sriracha Honey jerky, in which case STOP HOLDING OUT ON THE REST OF US. If sustainable farming is your thing, they’ve got a farm-to-table expert on the team. But for me, the beauty is the simplicity of the final product. I like the idea of actual spices instead of chemicals and no gluten (because what’s gluten doing in jerky anyway?).
They’ve actually got me thrilled about turkey jerky for the first time in my life, which on its own is some kind of miracle.
And guess what? They’re already over halfway to their goal. What do you say we show them some Wonderlander love and help them reach the finish line? Doooooo it. You know you want to. Do it for the Ron Swanson in your life.
BONUS REASON TO HELP BACK THIS: If the Kickstarter is successful, Ricky might actually send me some free samples and let me do a review for you guys! HUZZZAH! You can’t see it, but right now I’m giving you my very best please-back-this-I-want-delicious-free-jerky face. Also, backers get discounts on the jerky and free recipe videos from the chefs. DOUBLE HUZZAH!
To help start the jerky revolution, click here for the Kickstarter page.
If you’re lacking funds but still want to show them some social media lovin’, check them out on Facebook, Youtube, and Instagram!
This post is sponsored by Think Jerky. The thoughts and opinions are my own.
Tom’s Fried Catfish
In so many ways, Tom Sawyer reminds me of Peter Pan. He’s not just a child; he’s childhood. He’s all the good and bad of that stage of life, given shape. He’s Instinct, Whim, Innocence…and more than a little Mischief. Never is this more evident than when he convinces his friends Joe and Huck to run away with him to an island in the middle of the river to become pirates. Smitten with the adventure of such a life, they spend their days eating catfish and searching for buried treasure, thinking little of home.
Becky’s Peach and Apple Salad
I read Tom Sawyer for the first time this past year. I’m a huge Mark Twain fan, so I wasn’t really surprised when I loved it. I relished Tom’s innocent yet roguish nature and the endless trouble he and Huck always seem to make for themselves. As the quintessential chronicle of golden boyhood summer, I selected Tom Sawyer as our Book of the Month for June.
Our June Book of the Month Hint is Here!
We jumped outside of our comfort zone last month and made a classic MOVIE menu: Star Wars! It was crazy fun to make AND eat, especially the May 4th foray into molecular gastronomy: Raspberry-Mango Planets and Lemon Clouds. I definitely plan on doing more movie menus in the future, but for now we’re back to classic books. Can you guess what our June Book of the Month will be? Here’s your photo hint:
If you think you know, take a guess below! Either way, swing back around on Thursday (June 4th) for the answer…and our first recipe of the month!
P.S. I’d also love to hear if you have any ideas for future movie menus!
Galaxy Bark: A Star Wars Bonus Recipe
I was really torn as to what to make for our Star Wars bonus recipe. Should I make another molecular gastronomy recipe? A skillet cookie Death Star? Admiral Ackbar’s “It’s a Trap” Wraps? In the end, I decided on this fun, easy Galaxy Bark from Life with the Crust Cut Off. Gotta love those funky colors…and the extra texture element added by the sprinkles! Plus, it’s chocolate, which of course directly translates to SUPER DELICIOUS. Enjoy!