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The food of family affairs.
You can bet your bottom dollar the majority of the families in America have a reunion gathering scheduled within the next few months.
Summer is the most popular time for family doings because there is plenty of room outdoors to include every branch on the family tree. Whether it is scheduled for Fourth of July or Labor Day weekend or anytime in between, cookouts are the high spots of the summer, eagerly anticipated by everyone. It's a time for traditional American favorites - chicken, ribs and corn cooked on the grill, fresh-baked biscuits or cornbread, potato and green salads, and a dessert array that may include a home-made pie or slices of juicy watermelon - as well as featuring family recipes passed down from generation to generation.
Whoever runs this year's party must note a few simple rules. First and foremost, make sure there is great tasting food - and lots of it. Entertainment, games, storytelling or singing can help make theparty, but it's the menu that will turn distant cousins into close family members.
When cooking for a crowd remember you can double a recipe with relative ease, but tripling may affect the cooking time and require oversized equipment. Also, be sure there's enough refrigerator and freezer space to accommodate the food. Borrow a neighbor's refrigerator, if necessary. A kitchen and clean-up crew is also a must for the party to run smoothly.
Large batches of food often need seasoning adjustments to
bring out flavor. TABASCO
brand Pepper Sauce, used in foodservice kitchens
around the world, can be a real help. Its zesty piquant taste
adds unparalleled depth of flavor and character to almost
any non-sweet dish. It can liven up a chowder for twenty or
an elegant main dish for two. Be sure to have a few bottles
around so the family can add more.
The reunion menu often depends upon the setting and regional preferences of the host family. Barbecues with charbroiled ribs or steaks are popular in the Midwest. On the Gulf Coast and on the Chesapeake, crawfish or crab boils are favorites. In the Northeast, a clambake, an Indian ritual borrowed by the Pilgrims, makes for a great family gathering, while backyard pot-lucks and poolside parties with burgers and franks are found in every part of the country.
So, unleash the heat with TABASCO
brand Pepper Sauce to make your family gathering
this summer the very best ever!
Family Picnic Recipes:
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