The Fourth of July has always been a festive occasion for me. It has always revolved around cooking out and enjoying fellowship with others. We all have our own customs and traditions. In the deep south this holiday has always meant BBQ and a long list of other edible treats.
When I was young, I would stay up all night watching the older men cook a whole hog. It was a time-honored tradition, and I was thrilled to be a part of it. There would also be a big pot of Brunswick Stew simmering along on an old burner next to the BBQ pit. Those were glorious times that have been etched into the recesses of my mind.
In my teenage years I had started doing all the cooking along with some close friends. We were honing our cooking skills around that old pit and learning how to make that stew taste just right. We became relatively proficient at cooking BBQ over time. It was definitely a process. We all took great pride in having everything just right!
I watched my Granny make Brunswick Stew throughout my childhood, and later on I realized that I had been taking notes in my mind all along. I watched her boil a hog’s head and take all the meat off the bone and reserve the broth for the base of the stew. She added potatoes, onions and tomatoes along with salt, black pepper, hot sauce and vinegar. That was it, that was her short list of ingredients.
There was one other ingredient, possibly the most important ingredient and that was time. It took time and patience to get the meat cooked just right. Time and patience were also required for that big old pot of stew to come together just right and achieve the desired taste. Time. Plain and simple. Time and patience are usually required for anything worthwhile.
Over the years I have cooked for many people on the 4th and loved every minute of it, but I have cut back on the number of people I feed. This year I was going to eat with some family members. My cousin, who also happens to be one of my best friends, was planning to cook. I told him I'd be there early to help!
I got up early on the morning of the 4th, but before I went to his place, I had to make a little stop. I went to the sweet corn patch and pulled three dozen ears of corn to take with me. My cousin and I shucked the corn and got it ready to be cooked. He had ribs cooking when I got there.
Later, he put chicken quarters on to cook and some sausage as well. I busied myself making some BBQ sauce. “Midville Magic” as I call it. It’s a mustard base with a little heat on the back end and it is truly magical. After the sauce was made, we lit the burner to boil that fresh sweet corn.
Soon enough, at just the right time, the meat was done and the corn was cooked just about to perfection. The ladies had prepared a myriad of side dishes along with some desserts and homemade peach ice cream. It was time to eat! We enjoyed our meal immensely! After the dishes were cleared away, we sat and talked, we visited.
As always, it was a glorious time to be alive, to be in Midville and to be with people that I love and cherish so much. It brings me great peace, great satisfaction to be with those I so truly love. That's what the Fourth of July means to me and I was thankful.
As much as I love the cooking and the fellowship, I try to be ever mindful of the reason we celebrate Independence Day. In 1776, we, as a nation, declared our independence from a tyrannical ruler. We became The United States of America and have stood firm for 250 years! There have been many trials and tribulations for our country throughout the last 250 years, but here we are and United We Stand.
I realize the high price that has been paid, the loss of lives that was required to maintain our freedom and I am truly thankful to live in the land of the free. We have so much to be thankful for as Americans and may that fact never be lost.
On Sunday night as I was aimlessly scrolling through social media, I came across a reel that stopped me in my tracks. It was a video that was recorded on Saturday the 4th at North Myrtle Beach. There were four Apache helicopters flying low right down the beach. It was a sight to see!
People were lined up on the beach taking in the show, but all of a sudden there was a man who turned and saluted those helicopters. He was muscular, very fit and he saluted just like he had done it before. He was obviously ex-military and showed great respect. It sent chills up my spine.
That was the defining moment in July the Fourth weekend. That moment encompassed who we are as a country and why we celebrate the way we do. I’ve never been more proud to be an American and we may forever let freedom ring!
