Bubbles in my think tank

Independence Day Fun!! - Independence Day is commonly associated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, picnics, baseball games, and various other public and private events celebrating the history, government, and traditions of the United States. Fireworks have been associated with the Fourth of July since 1777. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independence_Day_(US)

AND THIS YEAR WAS NO DIFFERENT!!

Jacob, Comet, Tracie, Ben, Owen, Ian

We had several families over last night for dinner and fireworks. Sarah and Keith had been talking about doing a 'boil' so we thought that would be fun even though we had NO idea what a 'boil' meant. We were very excited about it though. This is how it was explained to us... It's an icebreaker of sorts and some other friends of ours, Mickey and Amy, taught Keith and Sarah how to do it.

We used Keith's big turkey fryer because you need something like that to fit everything you're cooking evidently. The 'boil' consists of: Corn Coblets, Potatoes, Kielbasa, Crab Legs, Shrimp, and a Boil Spice Bag. So you fill it with water to boil. When the water is almost boiling you add the Boil Spice Bag. When it's at a complete boil you put or 'throw' in the Corn and let that boil for 15 minutes. After that you 'throw' in the Potatoes with the corn and let that cook for another 15 minutes. Next comes the Kielbasa and it goes for another 15 minutes.

When the Kielbasa is almost done you add the seafood..Crab Legs first and then the Shrimp. Honestly I have no idea how long they let it cook after that. I was just so enamored with the idea of what they were about to do with it all that I stopped trying to remember times after that.

The Fitzpatricks

While all this is cooking you cover a table with brown craft paper...this is what we used but you can use paper bags or something like that.

Getting ready for food!
ON the tables you add DISPOSABLE salt and pepper, cocktail sauce, ketchup, tubs of butter and/or melted butter. Now, I say disposable because after you're done you're really going to want to throw EVERYTHING away because.....when the food is done you strain it in a colander, put it back in the pot and take it and DUMP it ALL on the table. Then you dig in. Literally. No plates, no forks. Just your fingers and some paper towels.

This is what it looks like...crazy, huh?

Full and Happy!

Michael & Jennifer Morrison

Scooter & Comet
The Pups were shocked that they actually had to stay IN the house instead of being put OUT this time! Boy did they try to get out!

After that you just fold up EVERYTHING on the table and pitch it in the garbage.

Shellie and her paper towel in the back pocket....
EASY CLEANUP!

Don't let the next pictures scare you...

this is just Comet, my Cujo Jack Russell after the fireworks started. He does NOT like fireworks at all. He doesn't even want to play with them like a lot of dogs do. Being a JR he is very territorial and very protective and I'm guessing he thought we were all in danger or something. He barked the whole time we were outside and his eyes make him look like he's got a little Satan in him!