Soaks and Cokes

There’s a wonderful tradition in the both the American Midwest and the South , where pulled pork sandwiches and Coca Cola are paired up.It’s called soaks and Cokes. You can have these two by themselves or with chips or cole slaw on the side. All in all they make for a great lunch, dinner or even snack.

Pulled pork is pretty easy to make. It’s just basically slow cooked pork shoulder or roast , well marinated and heated for sixteen hours . The fat is then drained off for a less greasier meat. A bottle of store bought barbecue sauce is added and usually an onion for more flavor. You can do the same with chicken in about twenty to thirty minutes. The barbecue sauce is then added and the whole thing is cooked up. Yet a true soak is made with pork for a more distinctive flavor and texture.

What kind of bread should you use? A true soak should have a soft hamburger bun so it can soak up the sauce hence the name. You can also use white bread however this can get too soggy and maybe too messy. Don’t use crusty rolls like the Kaiser roll or French bread. The bread shouldn’t be too chewy. Another no no is no toasting or buttering the roll. This interferes with the taste and the texture. Add a nice cold icy Coke and you’re done.

There’s nothing like a Coke and a soak for a good meal. Enjoy the two together and how they complement each other. There’s nothing like them for flavor and fun!

Summer Tradition Pig Roasts

Today's New York Times Dining section had an interesting and detailed article on pig roasts. They're a big tradition in almost every part of the US., topping church picnics and barbecues. They're rare in the Big Apple and with good reason.It takes a lot of heat and space to create one.

Steve Rinella who wrote the article had a hankering to recreate a pig roast from his Midwestern youth. He tried, with the help of his best friend, Matt Weingarten who oversees the restaurant at the famous St Bart's Church on Manhattan's Upper East Side. Unfortunately they tried in Mr. Rinella's small Brooklyn backyard only to have the local fire department douse the fire pit for cooking. Weeks later a second attempt was made , this time on a friend's family farm in the very rural Middleburgh,New York., It was huge success here and with good reason. There was enough land to build a substantial fire pit to cook a 240 pound pig.

Pig roasts can be fun but remember that you need a lot of land to do so.It also helps to have a big back yard and only a few neighbors. A pit is the size of a large bathtub and requires several hours of digging and lining large stones. Cooking is an involved affair to, from prepping (pictures accompanying the piece show four men carrying the carcass to the pit) to actual roasting time which can take a full day. The result is incredible however, with tender succulent meat and joints. The pig was stuffed with pineapple and butternut squash to name a few and was covered with a sweet-peppery dry rub that included spices, brown sugar and juniper. Again this is labor intensive and requires a lot of help.

Pig roasts are a fun part of summer eating and celebrating, However they are also complicated to execute. If you have the space and the time, they're well worth it. After all there's nothing like the taste of fresh barbecued pork for a warm weather feast.

Popsicles That Pop

This is definitely the season for a nice icy treat and what better than a homemade Popsicle. This is one of summer's best foods. It's even better when you make your won. Like homemade ice cream you can vary the flavors and have fun with them.

What's a good Popsicle flavor. You can start with just everyday juices like grape and cranberry. These are always the best tastes and kids love them. For a more refreshing and tart flavor try Newman's Own lemonade or limeade for more of a tropical treat. You can also make your own if you want and regulate the sweetness or tartness to your liking. One of the more popular flavors now is watermelon. You just have to puree watermelon chunks and blend with a simple sugar syrup (basically white sugar boiled with water) and then pour into molds. You can also do the same with fresh strawberries, raspberries and blueberries. The flavor will be more intense though and with the strawberries and raspberries, you will have seeds.

There's a trend for more unusual Popsicles. You can try guava and papaya but remember to mix these with water or coconut milk. They may be too thick and will create a "sludgy" ice pop and that calls for experiments with thicknesses. Some foodies are adding fresh ginger and basil to their pops for a different , more intense spin. This again requires some experimenting and regulating. You don't want to have frozen pesto on a stick, after all.

Popsicles are a wonderful and fun treat to make. Experiment with different tastes and ingredients to create one to your liking. Then sit under the shadiest tree and enjoy!

Summer Dieting

Summer is the perfect time for dieting. There's all that fresh fruit and veggies around not to mention lighter fare when it comes to meals. Losing weight during the warm weather is a snap. It''s easy to follow a regiment when you have fresh ingredients around - not to mention a decreased appetite thanks to the high temps.

Salads are in abundance during this time. Take advantage of all those fresh tomatoes and greens when you;re losing weight right now. it;s also a good time for peppers and carrots . these last can even be cut up for snacks too . Dip them in a fiery vinaigrette, basically oil and vinegar with a good dose of hot pepper flakes for a fun afternoon snack. Also grilled vegetables that have been marinaded in oil and lemon juice are the perfect alternative to mayo rich potato and macaroni salads. Serve as sides with grilled fresh caught fish or steak and you have a great low calorie meal.

Summer also means lighter desserts. Steer yourself towards chilled fresh fruit as opposed to ice cream. If you have to have chocolate dip strawberries and raspberries in chocolate sauce. You can also puree watermelon or cantaloupe and then pour into Popsicle molds for a refreshing low calorie treat Fruit can be grilled too but remember to brush them with oil before putting them on an open flame. Serve with a basil honey sauce if you want some sweetness and zing.

The summer is a perfect time if you're dieting. You're surrounded by healthy low cal harvests of fresh picked fruits and veggies. Take advantage of these to slim down. You'll feel better thanks to this healthy lighter fare.

Summer Birthday Parties

There's nothing like a festive birthday meal or party. The problem is having the celebration in the summer can be too much. After all, there's the main mel and nibblings to whip up, Then there;s the cake. Yet no one feels like doing any cooking and baking when it's sweltering outside. What to do ? Keep it light. Go easy on the prepping and the foods for a still memorable party.

You may want to start off with no fuss appetizers. I like bruschetta. It's easy to make and the only hard labor is toasting the bread. From there you can add either just tomatoes or a veggie mix. You can also grill up some kabobs for fun appetizers too. Actually put the meat and veggies on longer skewers n you can serve them as the whole meal Another fun idea are make your own tacos. Just grill some chicken and or steak strips and let guests add their own stuffings.

The birthday cake is the main reason to celebrate.Yet it's just too darned hot to bake. Go for the classic ice cream cake. Baskin Robbins and Friendly's have fully decorated ones that are just as pretty as what a bakery creates. For another spin buy a pound cake , cut into slices and grill the slices until toasted. Serve with vanilla ice cream and fresh fruit for an alternative to the traditional cake.

Summer birthday parties can be full of good food and treats just as birthdays in other seasons can. The trick is to keep the fare light and fun. Sort of like a summer celebration itself!!!

When Wine Goes Bad

Ever open that luscious bottle of wine you've been saving only to have vinegar waiting for you?It's a pain because it's expensive and also a waste of money. I've had that happen to me lately and it was not a fun experience.Not to mention it was a blueberry wine form one of my favorite wineries that I had been saving.

Wine can go off for a number of reasons. As with mine, it was exposed to high levels of heat during the winter. Instead of placing it automatically in my basement I had let it sit out. Unfortunately it was in direct line with my heating vent. My Mom suspects that the wine was "cooked" and thus transformed into a blueberry vinegar (which was so sour that I couldn't even use it for vinegar). I've learned from this and also discovered why wine cellars are in the coolest region of any house. Most vintages usually get oxidized meaning there's a certain amount of oxygen that got in , usually after the bottle has been opened or uncorked. Also mold plays an important part in ruining a wine.If the grapes were moldy to begin with , then the wine will be too.

How do you know your wine is bad? The bouquet if there is one (I couldn't tell by smell with mine because there was no aroma wafting from the bottle) Sometimes there will be a strong vinegar smell. Sometimes there will be a strong caramel smell especially if the wine bottle has been put on a hot stove. There's also a musty odor thanks to improper bottling .

Wine gone bad? yes that do happen. However it can be avoided whit proper storage and handling. As with any foodstuff it should be respected and handled with care.

A Summer Treat Lobster Roll

There's nothing like a lobster roll for a fun summer lunch or snack. Who can resist sweet lobster on a toasted hot dog roll? Best of all it's easy to recreate and enjoy whether you're on a pier overlooking the ocean of in your back yard.

What makes a good lobster roll? Start with the lobster meat itself. You can steam them yourself or buy one or two pound s of already cooked, and cut up meat from your local seafood shop. Use the meatiest parts such as the claws and body. Discard the roe or eggs (this is the green stuff that you'll find in female lobsters). Save it for later. mayo is a must and I'd recommend using a regular one instead of the light. Diced celery is a must and you can add diced onions or scallions for bite.Some recipes call for Dijon mustard and or basil but these can be skipped. you don;twant their flavors to overpower the lobster's delicate taste.

Tradition calls for lobster salad to be served on a hot dog bun. This is true and most prefer their on a toasted one. You can lightly butter the roll too if you'd like. Another variation is serving it on a baguette for extra chewiness and flavor. If this is the case then add some sliced tomatoes too for a Mediterranean spin on this classic American sandwich. You can also stuff lobster salad into a pita pocket you are on a diet too.

Lobster rolls are one of summers best traditions. It's a recipe that easy to make and a good way to enjoy the summer's bounty of seafood. Enjoy one today whether you're at the beach or the back yard!