All American Feast-With A Southern Accent

~Doc Lawrence~

Thomas Jefferson entertained when he wasn't writing revolutionary documents like the Declaration of Independence. He was also a master gardener who introduced the great wines of Europe into America, dreaming that the new nation might become a major wine producing country.

Emmy winner Lara Lyn Carter accomplished a bit of a miracle with her Public TV show, "Thyme for Sharing," by earning access to Jefferson's Monticello for her first episode. Many believe that this accomplishment tipped the Emmy votes in her favor. Before reviewing her original 4th of July Holiday recipes, take a few moments and join Chef Lara Lyn at the home of our third president. It's a perfect way to celebrate the birth of our wonderful country.

The fun is just beginning. Here are the recipes in time to shop, plan and do some advance work.  The Jefferson Culinary Heritage always includes good wines and cocktails. Let's keep everything in America, another way to pay homage to arguably our best home entertainer ever.

Liberty Bell Boston Butt  

5 pound pork Boston butt

1 tbsp. smoked paprika

1 tbsp. garlic powder

2 tbsp. brown sugar

1 tbsp. seasoned salt

Combine seasoning together and rub meat with mixture. Put pork in the crock pot high for 4 hours then reduce to low setting for 4 more hours until it falls apart.

Land of the Free Chicken Marinade

1/4 cup Jack Daniel’s Whiskey

2 tablespoons soy sauce

2 tablespoons maple syrup

1 clove minced garlic

1/2 cup chopped scallions

1/4 cup fresh orange juice

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

1 teaspoon coarse salt

4 chicken breasts

Mix all ingredients together then pour over chicken allowing the chicken to marinate 2-4 hours before grilling.

        Independence Chocolate  Mousse Pie

2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
2 cups whipping cream divided

1/4 cup plus 1 tbsp. confectioners sugar

2 tbsp. plus 1 tsp. Jack Daniel’s Whiskey

1 chocolate cookie crust

Combine chocolate chips with 1/2 cup of the whipping cream and melt in the microwave for two minutes, stopping to stir every 30 seconds. Allow this chocolate mixture to cool to room temperature. Stir 1/4 cup of confectioners sugar and 2 tbsp. of Jack Daniel’s Whiskey into the chocolate mixture. In a mixing bowl, whip 1 cup of whipping cream until soft peaks form. With the mixer on high speed, slowly add the chocolate mixture to the mixing bowl and mix well. Spoon the mousse into the pie crust and chill for 3 hours. Whip the remaining 1/2 cup of whipping cream, 1 tbsp. confectioners sugar and 1 tsp. of Jack Daniel’s together. Slice the pie into 8 pieces and place a spoonful of whipped cream on top of slices before serving.

Jack Daniel’s Whiskey Baked Beans

1 lb. dry kidney beans

1 sweet onion quartered

4 quarts of water divided

Soak beans in 2 quarts of water overnight. Drain beans and discard the water. In a large pot, cook beans and onion in 2 quarts of water over medium-high heat for 45 minutes. Remove beans from heat, cover and allow beans to rest for 30 minutes.

Sauce

1/2 cup sorghum

1/2 cup ketchup

1/2 cup dark brown sugar

1 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. ground ginger

1/4 tsp. ground clove

3 tbsp. Jack Daniel’s Whiskey

In a saucepan over medium heat, combine the sorghum, ketchup, brown sugar, salt, ginger, clove, and whiskey. Stir constantly until all of the ingredients have blended well and the sugar has dissolved. Pour beans with the water in a Dutch oven and pour sauce over beans and stir well. Cover beans and bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour.

Home of the Brave Vanilla Ice Cream

                                                                  1 cup sugar.

                                         3.75 ounce package of French vanilla pudding

2 tsp. vanilla extract

1 ¼ cups cream

1 can sweetened condensed milk

2 cups half and half

2 cups whole milk

2 tbsp. Jack Daniels

4 tbsp. pecan halves

2 tbsp. butter

Combine ingredients stirring until mixed well. Pour mixture into ice cream churn and freeze according to machine directions. In a skillet toast the pecans  with the butter and Jack Daniels and drizzle the sauce and pecans over the ice cream when serving.

Wines

Cynthiana is a native American grape. Jefferson was familiar with it and it was first produced into fine red wine in Virginia. Some Southern and Midwestern wineries have truly delicious, dry and food friendly bottles. Georgia's Three Sisters, Bean's Creek in Tennessee, Virginia's Horton Vineyards and Pontchartrain Vineyards in Louisiana produce wonderful Cynthiana that would make Jefferson proud. Also called Norton, it's the state wine grape of Missouri.

Blanc Du Bois was developed in Florida and is available throughout the country. This white wine has aspects of wines from Alsace in France, but it belongs to America.