Happy 234th Birthday, America! Ever wonder what we'd be cooking if this holiday fell in, say, October? I mean, the 4th of July conjures up images of Weber grills, red-and-white plaid tablecloths, watermelon, potato salad, burgers, brats and my favorite - ice cold beer. But what if Independence Day was on, say, October 13th? (Imagine, celebrating a holiday every few years on Friday the 13th! Picture Jason with a chainsaw in one hand, a sparkler in the other and his hockey mask painted red, white and blue!)
I know, that's sick. But hey, cut me some slack. When it's been pouring rain in what's known as the Sunshine State for the past 3 1/2 days and one finds oneself stuck in the house - again - on what should be a day of picnics, parades and cookouts, one's mind has a tendency to wander (and wonder) a bit!
Seriously, for those of you who, like me, associate food with every joyous occasion, from graduations to weddings, holidays to birthdays, anniversaries to sporting events - and generally most Sundays through Saturdays - what we eat on these special days is an important part of our culture (not to mention our waistlines!). In your mind's eye, picture that third Thursday in November. That's right, turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, etc., etc. December 25th? Ham for some, lamb or a standing rib roast for others, roast beast if you're from Whoville.
New Year's brings us pork and cabbage washed down with Moet. March 17th - although not a legal holiday - finds us filling our plates with corned beef and (once again) cabbage, and slurping copious amounts of green beer (or Guiness for you purists). In our house, Easter marks the return of ham and lamb, and come the fourth Monday in May, we're firing up the grill for - you guessed it - more burgers and brats. After all, Memorial Day heralds the start of summer, and what's summer without charcoal and lighter fluid? Besides, we need practice for that cookout-occasion-of-all-cookout-occasioins, the 4th of July, a mere five weeks in the offing. By Labor Day (the third in the triumverate of cookout holidays), we should be well-practiced and ready, by God, for a throw down with Bobby Flay!
So, on this the second official cookout holiday of the summer, rain or no rain, I'd like to take a moment to pay homage to the fine tradition of chowing down on holidays. Whether you choose traditional fare or opt for more exotic, ethnic, or religiously-relevent palate pleasers on your holidays, I wish you all good eatin'! Now pass the potato salad and say a prayer for our Gulf Coast brethren in Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi and Florida's Panhandle who don't have much to celebrate today. May your BP checks have lots of zeros preceding the decimal point!
. . .Wishin' I Was Fishin'
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