With Independence Day almost upon us, we thought we would do a salute to the Backyard BBQ. In addition to commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, the 4th of July is traditionally a time when friends and family get together, cook, eat, and drink. The 4th also seems to bring out the competitive spirit in people, with various cook-offs, sporting events, firework displays and neighborhood parties. Well, RokuGuide readers, we are going to provide a little help with some channel suggestions to help give you a leg up on the competition and inspire your cookout.
The BBQ Pit Boys channel is a must for any backyard BBQ enthusiast. This channel offers quite an extensive menu of easy to make meals on your home grill from the traditional burgers, chicken, and steaks to less traditional dishes like Atomic Fireball Whiskey Meatballs. The channel also covers all the side dishes and desserts you need to make your party a success.
The Outdoor Cooking Channel is a slightly more versatile channel that is not solely focused on the BBQ. This channel offers a broad spectrum of recipes from Smoked Eggs and Grilled Pickles to the more traditional Mac & Cheese and Potato Salad. There is still plenty of content covering how to make a perfect steak or slow cook chicken. There are over 13 different video tabs to choose from all with expert advice on how to be an outdoor chef. In addition to on demand there is also a live stream.
Finish your meal with a 4th of July themed dessert. Allrecipes.com offers a video on how to make an American Flag Cake, while AOL On shows you how to make a Rasperry-Ricotta Ice cream, billed as "a healthy and delicious July 4th Recipe."
What's a backyard celebration without a refreshing beverage? The Drinks channel has you covered. Whether it is refreshing Watermelon Slushies or something a little stronger like Patron Margaritas, you will find it here. There are several options to choose from, and not all the beverages contain alcohol. There are tutorials on how to make smoothies, breakfast drinks and juices as well as adult beverages and how to properly taste spirits.
Don't forget to check the weather before you plan out this long weekend. Whether you are staying at home or hitting the road for the long weekend, here are a few long-range national weather sites that we recommend to check out just in case you need a back-up plan. Weather Nation TV and Weather Underground provide 24/7 local, regional, and national weather conditions and forecasts.
