With the Fourth of July right around the corner, that means one thing in our family…

It’s time for the James Gang annual family reunion and barbecue bash.

Every year, on or around the 4th of July, our family throws a big backyard barbecue shindig. Relatives come out of the woodwork for a chance to get together to play, laugh, sing, and generally enjoy the great outdoors.

But the truth is, most of them have come to experience the one day of the year that my husband likes to flaunt his position as the “King of Yumville” and to gobble up his backyard culinary masterpieces.

After a week of preparation, he fires up his grill, dons his apron, and takes his place as Barbecue Man. The other husbands become his sidekicks as they take turns displaying their own expert barbecuing techniques.

We, wives, get to take it easy that day. Oh yes, we make our simple contributions of salad and dessert, but our husbands like to know we are there to applaud their efforts, and to cheer them on as Masters of the Flame.

My husband has his favorite barbecuing recipes, but we also like to try new recipes as well. One of his all time favorite foods is grilled hamburgers. His additions to the basic ground beef have varied a little bit each year as he continues to perfect his special recipe.

Last year he was very happy with the taste and texture of the burgers, so we think that you will enjoy them, too.  Give them a try on your next cook-out and let me know what you think!

The King’s Best Barbecued Burgers

Ingredients
• 1 sweet onion, chopped
• 1 green bell pepper, chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed
• 1 tomato, chopped
• 2 tablespoons steak sauce
• 2 pounds ground beef
• 1/4 cup dry bread crumbs
• salt and pepper
 
Cooking Instructions
1. Preheat an outdoor grill to high heat and lightly oil the grate.
2. In a blender or food processor, gradually place sweet onion. green bell pepper, garlic and tomato. Blend into a thick liquid. Mix steak sauce into the mixture.
3. Pour the blended mixture into a large bowl. Place ground beef into the bowl, and thoroughly mix together. Set aside approximately 15 minutes.
4. Mix again if liquid is present, then gradually introduce dry bread crumbs until the ground beef mixture is firm enough to form hamburger patties. Salt and pepper to taste.
5. Form the ground beef mixture into hamburger patties. Cook on the prepared grill to desired doneness.

Fourth of July Sweet Treat from the Queen

I told you that we like to try new recipes, and I found a simple one that I will experiment with this year as a sweet treat.

Honey Grilled Pineapple
Cut a medium-size fresh pineapple into 8 lengthwise wedges. Place each wedge on a double thickness of aluminum foil. Pour 1 Tablespoon honey over each.  Allow to stand ½ hour. Wrap securely in the foil. Barbecue on grill 18 to 22 minutes or on briquets 14 to 16 minutes.

So go out and have a great Fourth of July Barbecue Weekend from the James Gang here in beautiful Yumville, where the food is always great and friends like you are always welcome.

Give these recipes a try and tell me what you think.