4th of July. Hooray!

I did real southern-style barbecue in an offset-drum smoker: hickory log fire, two racks of ribs, seasoned Memphis-style, and a boneless pork Boston butt, shredded North Carolina-style.

Accompanied by cole slaw and 1991 Chateau Montelena Estate cabernet sauvignon.

Dee-lish!!!

What did you do for the 4th?

-Paul W.

Went to the Farmer's Market, did laundry, Gene fixed a broken tube in our laundry room refer, we are having a great dinner, loaded the RV with clothes, leaving for a short jaunt tomorrow.

[Jenise]

Paul, nice spread!

We were unable to have our usual Fourth party because of the remodel delays, so we'll nibble at parties and then join friends on a sailboat to watch the fireworks.

Painted and tiled a bathroom, and just finished some take-out bbq brisket from Billy Sims BBQ. Would rather have had some of Paul's pulled pork, but good pulled pork is hard to come by in Oklahoma.

We played in a little couples golf tournament with a terrific southern bbq at our club. It's amazing the food that comes out of that tiny kitchen (the "real" clubhouse is under construction, so they are cooking out of a "snack shack.") The menu amazed us--unbelievable mac and cheese, black-eyed peas w/collards, baked beans, potato salad, macaroni salad, squash casserole, fried okra, fried chicken, bbqed ribs, pulled pork, hot dogs, pecan pie, coconut cake, peach cobbler, berry shortcake. I know I've even missed some things.

Then, we didn't feel like fighting traffic, so with full bellies we watched Mall Cop on pay per view until the Boston Pops special came on at 10. The fireworks were amazing and lasted an entire 1/2 hour! Since Len's from Boston, we decided after the show that we'd try to get there live one Fourth of July (with all the other Sox fans!) That would be something worth seeing in person.

I did real southern-style barbecue in an offset-drum smoker: hickory log fire, two racks of ribs, seasoned Memphis-style, and a boneless pork Boston butt, shredded North Carolina-style.

Accompanied by cole slaw and 1991 Chateau Montelena Estate cabernet sauvignon.

Dee-lish!!!

What did you do for the 4th?

-Paul W.

My man! I'll be doing my ribs today.

Our neighbors had their annual bash. I made a ceviche sort of thing that included parboiled shrimp, cucumber, avocado, catsup, chipotle sauce, cilantro, and probably a couple of other things I can't remember right now. Served it with tortilla chips for dipping. It was good and there wasn't any left by the end of the night but I thought the catsup came through a bit too much. If I do it again, I'll get rid of the catsup and use fresh tomatoes or something else. Other foods at the potluck included some incredible smoked ribs, grilled chicken, hot links, homemade cole slaw, hummous, and a first-rate apple pie.

Stopped by one of my favorite restaurants in Ramat Gan (a city in its own right but many, including myself consider it a suburb of Tel Aviv) in order to celebrate the USA's 4th of July with Maryland style crabcakes. Lawsy, lawsy..would you believe 9 crabcakes?

Best
Rogov

[Jenise]

Our neighbors had their annual bash. I made a ceviche sort of thing that included parboiled shrimp, cucumber, avocado, catsup, chipotle sauce, cilantro, and probably a couple of other things I can't remember right now. Served it with tortilla chips for dipping. It was good and there wasn't any left by the end of the night but I thought the catsup came through a bit too much. If I do it again, I'll get rid of the catsup and use fresh tomatoes or something else. Other foods at the potluck included some incredible smoked ribs, grilled chicken, hot links, homemade cole slaw, hummous, and a first-rate apple pie.

The large grape tomatoes currently in stores do wonderfully in ceviche; they're firm enough that you can slice each one into three-to-five coin shaped slices that add a lot of color in a nice shape that holds together when stirred.

Jody’s best friend and her husband invited us over for a pig roast, paella and a ton of great side dishes. Four generations of friends and family were there. While it was the 4th of July, it was really more a celebration of life. Several years ago, Jody’s best friend since the age of six was diagnosed with cancer and lost her breast. Last winter the cancer returned and she lost her other breast. She is one of the most admirable people I have ever had the pleasure to meet in my entire life. She has suffered beyond belief with failed chemo treatments and two mastectomies but none of that has ever gotten her down. She has proven that quality of life is largely based upon attitude.

The food was very good and the company even better. Everyone had a great time. Especially, apparently, the children. After Jody and I helped clean up and went out to my car to go home, I noticed that the kiddies had colored my car tires with sidewalk chalk. One tire was hot pink, another tire was lime green, the third tire was lavender and the fourth tire was colored peach. Jody saw the “artwork” and I could tell by her facial expression that she thought I was going to go ballistic. I just sighed and laughed realizing that cancer is the serious, ugly part of life and kids just being kids is the great, beautiful part of life.

[Jenise]

Jody saw the “artwork” and I could tell by her facial expression that she thought I was going to go ballistic. I just sighed and laughed realizing that cancer is the serious, ugly part of life and kids just being kids is the great, beautiful part of life.

Amazing how the innocence of small children can teach us to be better adults, isn't it? Good for you for getting the message and keeping it all in perspective, Dave. Not everyone would.

Painted and tiled a bathroom, and just finished some take-out bbq brisket from Billy Sims BBQ. Would rather have had some of Paul's pulled pork, but good pulled pork is hard to come by in Oklahoma.

Robert, come to Kentucky, and give me 24 hours notice, and I will make pulled pork for you. I will even throw in some Chef Joseph bbq sauce for it!

Bob, you are making it mighty tempting to plan a vacation to Lexington!

Paul,
BBQ on the offset firebox smoker for me, too. Had another couple over with their two sons for Andrew to play with. Did pork ribs, half with a spicy dry rub and half plain (for the kids and the Slovak wife) and shrimp, with corn on the cob and salad. Spoiled the all-American feel of the meal with a bottle of '06 Grüner Veltliner from Weingut Allram, a screaming deal purchased locally for $8/bottle.

Mark Lipton

Paul,
BBQ on the offset firebox smoker for me, too. Had another couple over with their two sons for Andrew to play with. Did pork ribs, half with a spicy dry rub and half plain (for the kids and the Slovak wife) and shrimp, with corn on the cob and salad. Spoiled the all-American feel of the meal with a bottle of '06 Grüner Veltliner from Weingut Allram, a screaming deal purchased locally for $8/bottle.

Mark Lipton

I had to weenie up my dry rub for Alice.

Paul,
BBQ on the offset firebox smoker for me, too. Had another couple over with their two sons for Andrew to play with. Did pork ribs, half with a spicy dry rub and half plain (for the kids and the Slovak wife) and shrimp, with corn on the cob and salad. Spoiled the all-American feel of the meal with a bottle of '06 Grüner Veltliner from Weingut Allram, a screaming deal purchased locally for $8/bottle.

Mark Lipton

I had to weenie up my dry rub for Alice.

Chef,

In a remarkable show of restraint, I will not comment on that.