Fourth of July BBQ Must-Haves!
A Fourth of July without barbecue is like Scooby Doo without Shaggy, or Han Solo without Chewbacca. A Ranker.com survey reports the top three things to throw on the grill are burgers, followed by steak and sausages. We’re all about the protein, too – as you’ll soon see – but there’s more to a backyard barbecue than pork, beef and chicken! Check out our ideas and recipes for expanding your Fourth of July barbecued deliciousness.
Corn on the Cob!
Let’s hear it for starchy vegetables! Did you know you can cook corn in a cooler? If you’re grilling for a crowd, check out this hack from Thrifty Treasures. The short version is this: just put your dozen or more shucked ears in the bottom of a clean cooler and cover with boiling water. The corn will cook in 30 minutes and the cooler will keep the cobs warm!
For more individualized attention, try this recipe for Mexican Corn from the Food Network. You’ll need mayonnaise, sour cream, Parmesan, lime juice and chile powder and a robust, heat-tolerant appetite! Once you’ve mastered the art of grilling corn, here are 20 more easy recipes from Good Housekeeping to test your grill skills by adding bacon, flavored butters and all kinds of cheese!
Stone Fruits on the Grill, And Off
If you’re a fan of sweet cherries, juicy plums, and ripe peaches, you’ll love this stone fruit soaked for two hours in lemon-lavender syrup from Katie at the Kitchen Door.
And when you put stone fruits (any fruit with a pit) on the grill, the reward is worth the wait! Rachael Ray’s grilled peaches, apricots and nectarines with a sauce of balsamic vinegar, brown sugar, black pepper and ginger root packs a savory-sweet punch. Watch Rachael’s video for some tips about prepping the syrup.
Grilled to Perfection
Country Living has a how-to guide for the perfect backyard barbecue with clever ideas for serving hot and cold food and Kitchn has tips for the best steak and juiciest burgers. Preview: the secret to a flawlessly grilled steak is high heat and great spices and for the best burgers, it’s one-flip and no flattening with the spatula!
Mint julip anyone? Doesn’t that sound refreshing and deliciously Southern? It’s the kind of beverage welcome at any outdoor party or barbecue, and for the recipe visit Bless Her Heart Y’all, for this lemon, bourbon, and mint sweet treat.
One spice rub that received five out of five stars from reviewers is featured on Epicurious.com. With 12 ingredients that you can increase or decrease depending on your own tastes (like the cayenne pepper), the authors claim it’s best on ribs, but judging from the reviews – it’s a good go-to rub for any meat that’s grill-ready.
For the best Fourth of July grilling gear, check out these reviews on Popular Mechanics, then head to your favorite home improvement store near Erie, or visit the BBQ Guys. Online you’ll find thermometers, tongs, a garlic roaster, pizza stones, skewers, grill racks, light-up spatulas and more.
Beef, Pork, Chicken and More
Prepping for a big 4th of July means a visit to Arapahoe Meat Company, a first-class butcher shop just three miles south of Erie on Arapahoe Road in Lafayette. AMC features fresh beef and pork as well as six different kinds of brats, from jalapeño and cheddar to roasted peppers with pepper jack. Proprietors say you can stop in and see what they have at any given time, or call/text in an order to 303-673-9165.
If you’d rather eat the meat than grill it, make your way to Uturn BBQ at 599 Crossing Drive in Lafayette. Whether it’s Texas Brisket, Carolina Pork, Southern Chicken or Kansas Ribs, the Uturn menu offers the best regional examples of American barbecue. And the reviews we read rave about the staff, the service and, of course, the food.
For fireworks and other festivities, head 30 minutes southwest of Erie to Folsom Field in Boulder for a stadium-wide sing-along, live music, and fireworks around 9:30 p.m.
Doors open at 8:00 p.m.
Celebrating the Fourth in Colliers Hill!
Colliers Hill families will be grilling and celebrating the fourth in their backyards and by the pool at the Overlook, the heart of the community. Come and see why so many homebuyers are calling homes offered by Shea Homes, Richmond American Homes and Meritage Homes, their own! With a variety of ranch or two-story designs priced from the upper $300s to the $600s, there’s a model just right for you!
