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Cook Nook
Cook Nook with Remmi
By Remmi
Hi Amazing Kids! I hope you are enjoying my column as I not only love to cook, but I love to research food and its history and I love to write! Are you ready for a big backyard barbeque? This month is national hot dog month, national baked bean month and national grilling month. And of course we have one of the biggest national holidays to celebrate…July 4th Independence Day! Did you know the July 4th holiday weekend is the biggest hot-dog holiday of the year! Yep, we will be eating 155 million dogs (that’s 1 dog for every 2 people in America). Did you know the names of the signers of the Declaration of Independence were not given to the public for several months to protect them? If independence from Britain had not been successful, it would have been considered a treasonable act which would have resulted in the death of the signers. I would say these were very brave men! Ok, more fun food facts and history later. Let’s get cooking!
Fourth of July Barbeque
Dogs - Chicago Style
Potato Salad with Egg Dressing
Gazpacho Salad with Remmi’s Signature Dressing
Baked Beans with Collard Greens
Corn on the Cob
Fresh Fruit
DOGS - CHICAGO STYLE
Ingredients:
Hot dog/sausages (2 per person)
Yellow mustard
Sweet relish
Onion (chopped)
Dill pickle spear (crunchy) - 1 per dog
Fresh tomato (cut into wedges) - 2 per dog
Sport peppers
Celery Salt
Poppy seed buns
Directions:
Select a combination of sausages and hot dogs. Prepare meat on grill until browned. Toast buns on grill. Place dogs on buns on platter. Line up remaining ingredients in order listed. Have guests load their own dogs.
Notes: Hot dog etiquette is to dress the dog and not the bun. In this recipe all ingredients are placed on top of the dog with the exception of the tomatoes - left side of dog and pickle spear - right side of dog. It is also appropriate to eat the dog within 5 bites and never, ever, use utensils. There are several options available to select healthier hot dogs and sausages, so give them a try!
POTATO SALAD with Egg Dressing
Ingredients:
1 lb Yukon gold potatoes (boiled in skin)
4 Hard cooked eggs
4 T Vegetable oil
3 T Red wine vinegar
¼ C Green pepper (small dice)
¼ C Green onions
Salt and Pepper
Directions:
Prepare potatoes and eggs and then cool. In a medium bowl place the oil, vinegar, and egg yellows. Mix until a smooth consistency. Peel potatoes and slice in large pieces. Dice and place in bowl. Slice egg white and place in bowl. Add the green pepper and add salt and pepper to taste. Gently combine the mixture. Sprinkle with green onion and chill until ready to serve.
GAZPACHO SALAD with REMMI’S SIGNATURE DRESSING
Ingredients (salad):
2 C Romaine lettuces (sliced in 1” strips)
½ C Cucumbers (seeds removed/medium dice)
½ C Cherry tomatoes (sliced in half)
½ C Red bell peppers (large dice)
½ C Green grapes (sliced in half)
¼ C Green onions (sliced/medium)
¼ C Celery (sliced/medium)
¼ C Fresh parsley
2 T Almonds (toasted)
Salt and Pepper to taste
1 C Croutons (directions below)
Ingredients (dressing):
½ C Oil (canola or light oil)
¼ C Red wine vinegar
1 t Garlic powder
1 t Salt
1 T Dry parsley
½ t Dry mustard
½ t Sugar
¼ T Red pepper flakes
Croutons:
Slice 1 cup of French bread into small cubes. Place on cookie sheet. Drizzle the olive oil on the bread. Add 1 teaspoon of diced garlic and a tablespoon of parsley. Bake in 325 degree oven for 10 minutes or until crisp.
Directions:
Prepare lettuce leaves and place in bottom of shallow bowl or platter. Prepare vegetables as directed and place in separate bowl. Mix the vegetables with the salad dressing (you should have extra dressing to serve on the side). Place the salad mixture on the lettuces. Serve prepared croutons in small bowl on the side (so they don’t get soggy).
Notes: This fresh dressing is worth the effort. I use this on most of the salads I make, so double the recipe to make it even easier! The croutons are also worth the effort - fresh and easy to make.
BAKED BEANS with COLLARD GREENS
Ingredients:
½ C Barbeque sauce
¼ C Water
1 T Molasses
2 T Tomato paste
1 T Olive Oil
1 Onion (medium/chopped)
4 C Collard Greens (tough stems removed/medium slices)
2 Cans great northern beans (rinsed)
Directions:
Heat oil in large saucepan and sauté onions for 3 to 5 minutes. Add barbeque sauce, water, molasses, tomato paste and salt and pepper to taste. Add beans and heat until boiling. Bring the heat down to low and add the greens. Let the mixture cook 3 to 5 minutes. Pour mixture into deep baking dish and place in preheated 350 degree oven. Cook for 20 to 25 minutes until hot and bubbly.
Remmi’s Meal Notes: Add some corn on the cob and this meal would easily serve 6 to 8 people. For dessert, a big plate of fresh fruit that is in season would be awesome! This is an easy meal that can be made ahead. There are also a lot of opportunities for the kids to help with this meal with washing vegetables, assembling salads and even learning to do some cutting (lettuces and collard greens are easy for kids to learn the skill!) Now, back to some fun food facts and some history.
Did you know…?
- Wieners and frankfurters don’t become hot dogs until they are put in a roll or a bun?
- One legend for who created the first hot dog was Antonoine Feuchtwanger, a street vendor, who sold sausages in St. Louis in 1880. Originally, he would supply white gloves to the customers so the sausages wouldn’t burn their hands. After losing profits due to the customers walking off with the gloves, his wife suggested he serve the sausages on a split bun. Thus, the “hot dog” was born!
- Both Thomas Jefferson and John Adams who are two of the original signers of the Declaration of Independence died on July 4, 1826.
- Did you know there are 5 top super foods in this menu? They are tomatoes, beans, almonds, greens (lettuce and collard) and eggs. If you add berries to the dessert, that gives you another oneJ!
- More than 74 million Americans will celebrate the 4th of July with a barbeque event, with the majority celebrated in backyards.
- Adults prefer mustard and kids prefer ketchup as the condiment of choice on their hot dog. A survey I read said 25% of children would actually prefer “chocolate sauce” (Oh Yuck!!)
- If you chew gum before you cut onions, you won’t cry.
- Grape growing is the largest food industry in the world.
- “Liberty” - 30, “Independence” - 11, “Freedom” - 5, “America” - 5, are the number of cities in America with these patriotic terms in their names. And there is 1 place with “patriot”…Patriot, Indiana, population 202.
Have a happy 4th of July celebration all of you Amazing Kids. I hope you enjoy the recipes and the column. I am so happy to be part of Amazing Kids!
Remmi Jwww.cooktimewithremmi.com
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