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Enjoy Juicy 4th of July Grill Recipes

Here are some of Patch's favorite recipes for the Fourth of July.

The Fourth of July is a great time to get out and barbecue your favorite foods. So get creative and celebrate the holiday weekend with these grilled dishes (recipes below). 

Barbeque Ribs: To barbecue means to slow-cook meat at a low temperature for a long time over wood or charcoal. In America, barbecue (or BBQ) originated in the late 1800's during Western cattle drives. 

Blue Cheese Burgers make an easy July 4th treat. The good thing is this recipe requires only minutes to prepare. The potato chips are supposed to keep the meat moist when it cooks. Burger lovers will love these burgers.

Hot Rodster Dog dresses up your hot dogs for the kids with this creative and cool theme. This recipe is an adaptation of a Kraft Food recipe.

Baked Beans are believed to be based on a Native American dish in which beans were cooked with fat and maple syrup. European settlers are thought to have adapted the recipe using pork and molasses. 

Barbeque Ribs                                                   

Ingredients

  • 4 pounds pork baby back ribs, cut into serving-size pieces
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1 tablespoon paprika
  • 2 teaspoons each salt, pepper, chili powder and ground cumin

Barbeque Sauce

  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 cup ketchup
  • 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
  • 3 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 tablespoons cider vinegar
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons ground mustard
  • 1 teaspoon celery seed
  • 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Preparation

Par boil ribs for 30 minutes. Rub ribs with garlic. Combine ribs and soy sauce in a bowl and marinate for 40 minutes.

In a small saucepan, sauté onion in butter until tender. Stir in the remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cook and stir until thickened, about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat; set aside 3/4 cup. Brush ribs with some of the remaining sauce. Grill, covered, over medium heat for 12 minutes, turning and basting with sauce. Serve with reserved sauce. Great served with corn on the cob.

Blue Cheese Burgers                                    

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 pounds ground beef or ground chuck (96% lean)
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 cloves minced garlic
  • Potato chips, crunched into very small pieces (1/8 cup per burger)
  • 4 ounces crumbled blue cheese (reduced-fat)
  • 4 leaves romaine lettuce
  • 2 tomotoes
  • 1 onion, sliced
  • 4 soft rolls, split

Preparation

In a medium bowl, mash together ground beef, pepper (to taste) and garlic. Divide ground beef into 4 equal portions and mix chips into each patty. Cook on hot grill to desired doneness, add cheese.  Grilled veggies or baked beans make excellent sides.  Add bacon, lettuce, tomatoes, onions and pickles to your burger and enjoy.

Hot Rodster Dogs

Ingredients

  • 1 bun length Beef hot dog
  • 1 hot dog bun
  • 2 pretzel sticks
  • 4 Bread’N Butter Pickle Chips
  • 2 teaspoon ketchup, optional
  • 1 teaspoon mustard, optional

Preparation

Grill hot dogs to desired doneness. Place hot dog in bun. Gently insert 1 pretzel stick, 1 inch from each end of bun, through both bun and hot dog for each tire axle, leaving both ends of each pretzel exposed. Attach pickles to the ends for the wheels.  Use ketchup and mustard to add racing stripes.

Crowd-Pleasing Grilling Sides

Famous Baked Beans

Ingredients

  • 2 cans (28 oz) Bush's Vegetarian baked beans
  • 4  tablespoons molasses
  • 4 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup ketchup
  • 2 tablespoon mustard (any type)
  • 2 medium onions, chopped

Preparation

Mix all ingredients. Pre-heat oven at 350 degrees. Cook at 350 in oven for 1 hr. Cover for first 1/2 hour, and than uncover for second1/2 hour. Cook in small deep pan to keep moist.


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Just a short thought to get the word out quickly about anything in your neighborhood.
Share something with your neighbors. Write a new post... What's up? Make an announcement, speak your mind, or sell something
Jennifer Squires May 23, 2013 at 02:04 pm
Is that where they're digging up the sewer lines? They've had it down to one lane a lot lately, thenRead More cover the holes with steel plates when they're not working (more traffic slow downs as people try to navigate the hazards).
Jane May 23, 2013 at 07:55 am
Southbound on Soquel before Park Avenue.
Steve Westside April 17, 2013 at 05:11 pm
During the SUP/Kayak contest a few weeks ago there were a group of us below the end of the contestRead More event area and after we all (Stand-up and prone paddlers) went to far into the area the organizers just pointed out that we need to stay below the judges booth. After a bit we of course all drifted further up and then someone on land announced that it is a misdemeanor to interfere with a contest. Finally, they sent a guy out to mind us and let us know to not drift above him. All very pleasant and cordial. Except for a few surfers thought the rules did not apply to them and constantly snaked in and paddled up to grab waves. Made everyone our there grabbing a few leftover waves looking like prima donnas. Eventually those incorrigibles left and after the contest ended it was a great afternoon of surfing for everyone.
AdrianaR April 17, 2013 at 04:04 am
Is it me or does there seem to be an excessive amount of us vs them mentality and worse, anger inRead More Santa Cruz these days? I went to a community event not too long ago and it was clearly present amongst a number of the people there, they definitely had a "this is our town not yours" vibe going on. It reminded me of the old Valley go home mentality that rears its head sometimes. I know your post was about sharing the ocean but in a more general sense that easy going chill attitude I love about Santa Cruz seems to be getting lost in too much anger and quite frankly a "Me-ism" and egocenteredness that's a big turnoff.
Dan Young April 16, 2013 at 03:45 pm
Hi, Nigel - I agree with you that there needs to be more understanding between everyone. I grew upRead More boating (lake and ocean) in this area and was taught the 'rules of the road'. As long as everyone abides by the rules and keeps each other safe, I don't care what one rides. I agree that the announcer should have been more aware not only with expressing his personal views but he should have had the experience to see that you needed to take a certain path and were not there trying to catch waves. Ignorance on his part. I kneeboard and body surf (yes, I can stand-up surf, also) and have had my share of run-ins over the years. I don't surf the major breaks anymore unless its really big, which thins out all but the most skilled. These days I try and find a little break away from the crowds (not an easy task) and am happy with a few little peelers here and there.
Sabrina Wilhelm April 4, 2013 at 11:47 pm
I would pay a big fat zero...
Cathy P. April 4, 2013 at 05:54 pm
When I was a teenager you were either a Beatles fan or a Stones fan, you couldn't be both ;) Let'sRead More just say I didn't become a Stones fan until my later years. That being said, I wouldn't pay any amount to see them in concert: too loud, drunk & drugged audience, and the lines are too long to the bathroom! I am glad to see they are still around even though they all are on Medicare now - rofl.
Beverly Young April 4, 2013 at 12:54 pm
A big fat 0!!!!! I couldn't stand the Rolling Stones in the 60's and I really can't stand them now.Read More They should have retired a very long time ago.