It’s the Fourth of July and what better way to celebrate this important holiday than to whip out some of your famous homestead recipes. Yep, just because you’re homesteading or living off the grid doesn’t mean you should miss out on a scrumptious feast. As a matter of fact, you’ll probably have a better Independence day feast thanks to the freshness of the ingredients you’ll be using.
Speaking of, one of the most popular ingredients used in some classic Fourth of July recipes is likely growing right in your garden. The potato is a staple in numerous homestead recipes and it’s just right to have it during this patriotic holiday.
Of course, potatoes are not the only thing homesteaders can serve on the Fourth of July. Below are some simple homestead recipes you can try for this year’s celebrations.
Potato salad
This potato salad recipe by the Homestead at Bridle Creek requires 5 pounds of your prized root crops. You also need to harvest some carrots, celery, green onions, radishes, and cucumber for this staple at homestead dinners and picnics. Get 7 to 8 eggs from your chicken coop, as well.
Scrub the potatoes clean then boil them in a pot filled with water. Use a fork to check if their tender enough. Once cooked, drain and let the potatoes cool, preferably overnight. Peel then dice the potatoes into half-inch or one-inch cubes. Cover then refrigerate.
Boil the eggs, chop 5 of them then add to the diced potatoes. Add 1/2 cup diced dill pickles, 1/2 cup thinly sliced celery, 1/2 cup chopped green onions, 1/2 cup diced cucumber, and 1/2 cup julienned carrot. Save some of the green onion and celery for garnish.
Grab some dill pickles from your pantry, chop them up and add about 1/2 cup to the rest of the ingredients. Add 4 to 5 thinly sliced radishes, as well.
For the dressing, combine 1 cup mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons prepared yellow mustard, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper in a small bowl. Pour over the rest of the ingredients and mix gently. Season with salt and pepper.
Cover and let it chill in the refrigerator for some hours. When it’s time to eat, simply take it out, season a little more if needed, slice the remaining boiled eggs, and top them on salad. Add the rest of the green onion and celery slices. Sprinkle with paprika, if you want.
Homestead Recipe for Maple BBQ Sauce
No Fourth of July celebration would be complete without a barbecue. There are probably hundreds of homestead recipes for barbecues out there and, of course, all of them require meat. If you’re not a vegan, chances are you raise your own livestock. Whether they’re cows, pigs, chickens, rabbits, or even quails, it pays to have your own source of meat especially when it’s time to whip out your special homemade BBQ sauce.
Maple BBQ sauce should be one of the homestead recipes in your arsenal. You’ll need maple syrup, of course. The best way to make this simple BBQ sauce is to use your own maple syrup. If you don’t have one and you’re pressed for time, you can use one bought from the store.
Homemade Maple Syrup
Of course, we’re all about self-sufficiency so here’s how you make your own maple syrup. First, collect sap from a maple tree by drilling on the tree and attaching a tap and a hose. Collect the sap that will run out through the tapping kit in a bucket. Make a hole on the cover of the bucket for the hose to pass through. This will prevent insects and dirt from contaminating the sap. It will take a few days to collect a significant amount.
Boil the sap in a huge pot until it attains a texture almost similar to syrup. Once the maple syrup is ready, strain it into a glass jar with cheesecloth or a clean shirt. When it cools down, it will get its syrupy texture.
Maple BBQ Sauce
Now that we have our homemade maple syrup, let’s proceed with this BBQ homestead recipe courtesy of the Homestead Prairie. Here are the ingredients (preferably home-made) you’ll need:
- 2 cups of tomato sauce
- 1 can of tomato paste
- 1/4 cup molasses
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 to 2 teaspoons liquid smoke (optional)
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
Combine all the ingredients in a saucepan and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes over medium heat. Stir continuously so the ingredients will mix well. Afterward, use what you need for your barbecue and pour the rest of your maple BBQ sauce into a jar. You keep this in the refrigerator for weeks.
A Fourth of July feast is not limited to potato dishes and grilled meat. There are lots of other homestead recipes you can try. But if you’re really into grilling and barbecues, you can check out these tips on how to make your own homemade BBQ sauce.
