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Great-Salsa.com
Hamburgers, one of my earliest backyard grilling memories. Our
Family would get together, usually on the weekends, and have a
hamburger and ice cream supper as we say here in Texas. I can
fondly remember sitting on top of the old ice cream freezer
while my Dad, Uncles and Granddad took turns at spinning the old
hand crank attached to the water soaked wooden ice bucket.
Today, the hoodless grill would resemble a throw away variety
you would take to the beach, but then we were in tall cotton and
in for some delicious eating. The ice cream would be flavored
most of the time with a can of crushed pineapple. Or, just
maybe, someone would have given us some fresh ripe peaches to
mash and toss into the vanilla ice cream mixture.
Cooking out then was a real big treat for the entire family,
always with a lot of laughter, running and playing.
Grilling the hamburgers soon became my responsibility, even
though I was only about 10 years old at the time. Carefully
building the charcoal fire in that old grill we had was a test
of my better Boy Scout skills. Once the charcoal was covered in
a fine white ash the grilling could begin.
The ice cream was being packed in more ice mixed with a generous
amount of rock salt mixture to be allowed to season, while we
all ate our terrific tasting hamburgers always topped with
lettuce, red ripe tomatoes and onions. The catsup bottle would
be passed around as everyone would take their turn, shaking or
popping the bottom of the bottle to get the thick tomato sauce
from the jar.
Ribs today are one of my favorite backyard treats, but the
hamburgers still to this day come sliding across the plate for a
delicious grilling feast.
Ah the ribs, good tender slab of ribs with the meat falling off
the bone, slathered with a generous portion of smoky chipotle
barbecue sauce. Just enough heat in the sauce to add a nice warm
blanket right on top of your tongue. Did you know the chipotle
is nothing more than the Jalapeno smoked and dried usually with
mesquite wood? They are quite delicious giving a nice smoky
flavor to your food.
Guacamole is also a favorite topping with just about any grilled
meat, especially beef, pork or chicken. Creaming those fresh
ripe avocados together with a nice garden ripe tomatoes, chopped
green onions, try a little chopped chipotle as well. Season your
delicious concoction with a squeeze of fresh lime juice, toss in
some cilantro, salt and pepper and call it a meal by it self.
Thick juicy T-Bone steaks are a great treat as well as chicken
fajitas. Fun to do because everyone gets to pile their own into
a large flour tortilla made just to suit them.
Yes grilling today is just as much fun today as it was when I
was growing up. The old three legged grill has long since been
tossed onto the trash heap. Replaced with a big cast iron wood
smoker and grill, sure I have a handy gas grill for almost daily
use but nothing is better than firing up the old trusty smoker.
My great nieces and nephews are now the ones running and
playing. They are always beaming with delight as the scoops of
homemade fresh peach ice cream is served up with one of "Nana's"
homemade cookies.
Someday though I think I will pull out the old hand cranked ice
cream freezer. After all, they are missing one of the best parts
of the family cookout. Sitting on the old freezer, holding it
down while their Dad, Uncle and Granddad take turns cranking the
old beast.
I wonder if they would sit still that long?
About the author:
Steve Melton, aka, Capt'n Salsa has an ever growing collection
of delicious homemade salsa recipes. Bookmark his website
http://www.great-salsa.com
today. Hungry? Go to the website now and you too will discover
your favorite salsa recipe. Mexican Food, too!
