Plans for the Fourth?

[Jenise]

Here at Chez J we're doing a small dinner party for some of our Canadian friends, whose July 1st holiday we've also been celebrating for the last two days here in the bay, including Mr. and Mrs. Spohn. Theme is American wines, and among other things we'll be opening some really nice California cabernets: 95 Grace Family, 91 Phelps Backus, 94 Robert Mondavi PR and 94 Montelena. The menu is still in flux, but the standouts of what I'm planning are peel and eat local spot prawns, a steak contest between Montana, Missouri and California (Bryan Flannery), and for breakfast, home-smoked fresh King salmon. (I was aiming for Copper River salmon, but the season's over already so I settled for local troll caught).

What are the rest of you up to?

[David M. Bueker]

Sleep! Will probably grill some burgers and drink rosé Champagne, but I need sleep.

Sister coming to town. Waiting to hear from her what she wants to have on the table when she arrives, besides champagne!

Burgers and hot dogs over the charcoal grill. Then up to the roof to watch the fireworks show. Then back downstairs to a neighbor's apartment for desserts.

Going to the neighbors for a cookout. Probably we'll grill up some burgers and 'dogs and enjoy some almost local sweet corn. NJ has volunteered to bring some sort of frozen peanut butter/chocolate dessert and homemade burger buns. The weather forecast is for a near perfect 78F. For a beverage, it'll be my usually summer fare...lemonade, but we'll bring something from the cellar for the juicers.

Over-achieving. Helping my son do a pig on the spit he built.

No company on the Fourth, so we will do mussels and Riesling. Next day one daughter and granddaughter coming for burgers and brew.

I'm taking Jo Ann's watermelon salad, along with some wine, to a party on the Niagara River.

We have the usual gang of in-laws descending upon us.
I think I'm doing a slow roasted pork butt on the grill for pulled pork with Boston baked beans (modified Durgin Park recipe), vinegary slaw, and corn on the cob.
Probably have burgers and dogs for the younguns too.

Then up the street to watch the fireworks.
One good thing about the desert flatlands is that we can see the fireworks from 3-4 neighboring towns from our central viewing spot at one of the elementary school parking lots. We're about a mile and a half from the closest action and the most distant is ~30miles away.

[Jenise]

We have the usual gang of in-laws descending upon us.
I think I'm doing a slow roasted pork butt on the grill for pulled pork with Boston baked beans (modified Durgin Park recipe), vinegary slaw, and corn on the cob.
Probably have burgers and dogs for the younguns too.

Then up the street to watch the fireworks.
One good thing about the desert flatlands is that we can see the fireworks from 3-4 neighboring towns from our central viewing spot at one of the elementary school parking lots. We're about a mile and a half from the closest action and the most distant is ~30miles away.

Oh, THAT will be fun. We live in an area that does fireworks right. Lots of home around us are vacation/second homes, and this is the don't-miss weekend of the year. Hundreds of people spend hundreds or even thousands per family/friend unit on Chinese fireworks sold on the Indian reservation nearby and set them off on the shores of Birch Bay. We have our own beach, so we build our own launching pad and do our own show right overhead. It's not legal, per se, but on this one night it's allowed. It's quite a sight. Would never miss it (nor not be a home with a hose ready just in case!).

This time we got the mussels from our Rochester fish monger. OMG they ere were simply wonderful with the broth and rolls. They were raised in the U.S.A. Washed them down with another Knapp Riesling. God Bless America!

Had a GREAT 4th, thanks to Jenise!

Will be posting wine notes as soon as I have time.

[Jenise]

Over-achieving. Helping my son do a pig on the spit he built.

How did the pig turn out?

[Jenise]

Had a GREAT 4th, thanks to Jenise!

Will be posting wine notes as soon as I have time.

IMG_1899.JPG

Over-achieving. Helping my son do a pig on the spit he built.

How did the pig turn out?

Very moist and wonderfully porcine! Nothing out of the ordinary, stuffed with kielbasa, peppers and onions. But, oh so good!

photo.JPG

Don't know why it ended up upside down!?