Arlene Cooks a 4th of July Picnic in the Pennsylvania Countryside

Arlene has traveled out to the beautiful rolling hills of southwestern Pennsylvania, where she’s cooking up a delicious 4th of July picnic! You may recognize the location as the home of Paul and Myra Woods, which appeared in another cookout episode.

Today’s 4th of July menu includes mock filet mignon, chili dogs, dump salad dessert, roasted potato salad, grilled zucchini, firehouse bbq sauce, firecracker sandwiches, stars and stripes cake, and crispy chocolate log. Yummy!

We hope you and your family have a safe and blessed 4th of July. Always remember to thank God for the United States of America, and pray that He will guide us, keep us safe, and help us to honor Him through our lives as citizens of the U.S.A.

Chili Dogs

An American classic!
Course Main Course
Cuisine American

Ingredients
  

  • 8-10 frankfurters
  • 8-10 frankfurter buns

Chili Topping

  • prepared mustard
  • 1 large onion, finely chopped, divided
  • 1/2 lb ground beef
  • 1/2 cup chili sauce
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 2 Tbsp chili powder
  • salt and pepper (to taste)

Instructions
 

  • In a skillet, brown ground meat and 1/4 of the chopped onion. Once cooked, drain off excess fat. Add all remaining chili topping ingredients, stir, and cook for 15-20 minutes. Add salt and pepper, to taste.
  • Slit frankfurters down the center but not all the way through. Broil or grill over HOT flame until cooked through. Remove, place in buns. Spread with mustard and sprinkle with onions. Top with chili mixture. Makes 8 to 10 chili dogs. Enjoy!

Stars and Stripes Cake

"Old Glory" never looked or tasted so good!
Course Dessert

Ingredients
  

  • 2 pints strawberries, rinsed and dried
  • 1 package all butter pound cake (12 oz), cut into 8 slices
  • 1 1/3 cups blueberries, rinsed and dried
  • 1 container whipped topping (8 oz)

Instructions
 

  • Trim and slice 1 cup of strawberries into thin slices. Cut remaining strawberries into halves. Set aside.
  • Line bottom of a 12×8" glass baking dish with cake slices. (You may need to trim them to fit.) Top cake with 1 cup sliced strawberries, 1 cup blueberries, and the whipped topping.
  • Use the remaining fruit to make a U.S.A. flag design on top of the whipped topping. Arrange remaining blueberries into a square in the top left corner of the dish and use halved strawberries to make alternating red stripes across the whole dish. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Enjoy!

Crispy Chocolate Log

Like rice crispy treats, but better!
Course Dessert

Ingredients
  

  • 1 bag large marshmallows (10 oz)
  • 1/2 cup butter (1 stick)
  • 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
  • 6 cups crisp rice cereal
  • 1 can ready to spread chocolate fudge frosting (16 oz)

Instructions
 

  • Line a 15×10" baking pan with foil and grease lightly.
  • In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt marshmallows, butter, and peanut butter, stirring constantly until mixture is smooth. Remove from heat. Add cereal and stir until evenly coated.
  • Using a greased spatula or greased hands, press mixture evenly into greased, foil-lined pan. Spread frosting over cereal mixture to within 1 inch of edges, leaving the border empty.
  • Starting with the longest side and using the foil to help, roll up the dessert like a jelly-roll, carefully peeling away foil as you go.
  • Once finished, you should have a tight log with a spiral of frosting inside. Wrap the entire roll in greased foil or plastic wrap. Store in refrigerator, seam side down, for about 1 hour or until firm. Cut into 1/2-inch slices to serve. Make 30 slices. Enjoy!

Firecracker Sandwiches

Course Main Course

Ingredients
  

  • 1/2 cup nonfat or low fat cream cheese, softened
  • 2 Tbs reduced calorie mayonnaise
  • 2 tsp minced onion
  • 1 tsp white vinegar
  • 1/2 tsp sugar
  • 1 cup minced reduced-fat, low-sodium cooked ham
  • 1/2 cup grated carrot
  • 1/4 cup raisins
  • 8 slices white bread

Instructions
 

  • Combine all ingredients except bread in a large bowl and stir till fully mixed.
  • Using a rolling pin, roll bread slices until flat. Spread ham mixture evenly over bread slices. Roll up each slice like a small jelly roll.
  • If desired, wrap each individual sandwich in plastic wrap, twisting end and securing ends with a decorative ribbon.
  • Store sandwiches in the refrigerator up to 4 hours before serving. Makes 8 sandwiches. Enjoy!

Roasted Potato Salad

Course Salad

Ingredients
  

  • 4 cups quartered, unpeeled small red potatoes
  • 1 cup mayonnaise or whipped salad dressing
  • 4 slices bacon, chopped and cooked until crisp
  • 2 hard-boiled eggs, peeled and chopped
  • 1/4 cup sliced green onions
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp pepper

Instructions
 

  • Heat oven to 425 degrees.
  • Spray a nonstick baking sheet with cooking spray, then place potatoes on baking sheet and spray potatoes, also. Bake 30 to 35 minutes at 425 degrees, stirring once, until potatoes are tender and golden brown.
  • Let potatoes cool for 15 minutes. Mix dressing, bacon, eggs, onions, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Add potatoes and mix lightly until everything is evenly coated. Serve warm or chilled. Makes 6 servings. Enjoy!
  • Note: Line serving bowl with green leaf lettuce for a festive touch.

Firehouse Barbecue Sauce

This sauce is great on chicken, turkey, pork, and more!
Course Sauce

Ingredients
  

  • 1 egg
  • 1 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 cups cider vinegar
  • 3 Tbs salt (or less, to taste)
  • 1 Tbs poultry seasoning
  • 1/2 tsp ground black pepper

Instructions
 

  • In a blender or medium bowl, blend or beat egg. Add oil and beat again until mixture begins to thicken slightly. Whisk in remaining ingredients.
  • Use mixture as a basting sauce for grilling chicken, turkey, or even pork. It should be enough sauce for 8-10 lbs of meat. For milder, less-salty flavor, baste less often; for strong flavor, baste more often. Makes 3 cups of sauce. Enjoy!
  • (Note: As this sauce has raw egg, it should only be used as a baste while cooking and grilling. It should not be served uncooked.)

Dump Salad Dessert

Cool and creamy, this is great on a hot summer day!
Course Dessert, Salad

Ingredients
  

  • 1 can crushed pineapple, drained (16 oz)
  • 1 can strawberry or cherry pie filling (20 oz)
  • 1 large container whipped topping (12 oz)
  • 1 can sweetened condensed mile (14 oz)
  • 1 cup shredded coconut
  • 1 cup chopped walnuts

Instructions
 

  • Pour all ingredients into a large bowl and mix well.
  • Refrigerate one hour and serve by the scoop… OR, pour mixture into a 13×9" baking dish and freeze. To serve, let sit at room temperature just until it can be cut into squares… OR, serve in ice cream cones for a fun treat! Enjoy!
  • Note: This is a favorite, especially with men. It won't separate and it will hold up on a picnic table for hours. Enjoy!

Mock Fillet Mignon

This tastes like a fancy steak, but doesn't cost like one!
Course Main Course

Ingredients
  

  • 1 1/2 lbs ground beef
  • 1 can chopped mushrooms, drained (3 oz)
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp minced onion
  • 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 6 slices bacon
  • toothpicks

Instructions
 

  • Mix beef, mushrooms, seasonings, and milk together in a bowl. Shape mixture into 6 portions, slightly thicker and smaller than a hamburger would be. Wrap each portion around the edge with a slice of bacon and secure with toothpicks.
  • Grill portions 6 to 8 minutes per side over medium flame, until meat read 160 on a meat thermometer. Make 6 servings. Enjoy!

Add comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating