A Dreary Fourth Outside

Man, all week long they'd been predicting really nice weather for the Fourth of July.

Liars!

It began sprinkling around 10 AM and slowly built into a steady downpour that lasted all day.

But we didn't let that stop us.

We had planned a small cookout and we carried forth undeterred.

I started the day by stopping by the local Farmer's Market held at our Town Center every Saturday. I purchased freshly picked corn on the cob, some beautiful tomatoes, a large muskmelon and a wedge of the most delightful cheese from a wonderful local Creamery.

I then went to the grocery to get the rest of the supplies for our little cookout.

Once home I prepared sirloin to be skewered and put it in the fridge to marinate. Same with some raw shrimp. I cut the melon and refrigerated it and baked a batch of my world famous brownies. Then I prepared all the veggies so all we needed to do when everyone arrived was drizzle on some olive oil and secret spices and grill them.

CJ, bless his heart, did all the grilling in the rain but I think he found it was worth it. Everthing was just yummy!

We did not have 'traditional' cookout food cause hamburgers and hot dogs just get old. And I don't even do 'traditional' kabobs because it's wasted on people like TJ who don't like the peppers, onions or mushrooms I use.

I marinate several kinds of meat and make skewers full of nothing but one kind of meat....six or seven chunks on each skewer. That way, each person can choose the kind of meat they want. I grill the veggies by themselves cause I find there is much less waste, people who want the veggies can take as much as they like and the veggies actually taste better because I can season them separately.

I marinate my sirloin in "Brianna's Caesar Salad Dressing". Couldn't be easier and it makes the sirloin SO tender and flavorful.

This was a meal where all the work was in the prep....not all that labor intensive once your guests arrive, and that's why I like doing kabobs and grilled veggies in the summer when I have company.

All the fireworks in the area were postponed due to weather, but that didn't stop all the neighbors from terrorizing my dog well into the night with their noisy displays. Baby's nerves are shot and they'll be more noise tonight!

All in all, a really nice Fourth...hope you all had a great one too.