Hooray for Independance Day!

I hope all of you have great plans for this 4th of July. How perfect that it lands on a Friday! At home we are having the usual all-American celebration with burgers, dogs and finger lickin' onion rings. Yummy! (all served on the above festive plates!) This year we are planning to actually see the fireworks as well. I can't wait! There is nothing that sparks your patriotism quite like watching the night light up to the sounds of our country's anthem.

Happy 4th!

-m.

Here is the onion ring recipe compliments of Martha Stewart:

Beer-Battered Onion Rings
(serves 6)
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon coarse salt
Cayenne pepper
¾ cup buttermilk
¾ cup beer, preferably lager or pilsner
1 large egg
1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
Vegetable oil, for frying (about 4 cups)
2 large white onions, cut crosswise into
½-inch-thick slices, separated into rings
Sea salt, preferably melon
1 lemon, cut into wedges, for serving

1. Combine flour, salt, and a pinch of cayenne in a medium bowl. Whisk in buttermilk, beer, egg, and lemon zest, and let stand for 20 minutes.
2. Preheat oven to 200°. Place a baking sheet on middle rack of oven. Heat oil to 380° in a large, heavy saucepan over medium-high heat. Dip a few slices of onion in batter, turning to coat. Gently drop slices into oil. Cook, turning once with a wire-mesh skimmer, until golden brown, about 2 minutes. Transfer rings to paper towels, season with salt immediately, then transfer onions to the baking sheet to keep warm. Repeat with remaining onions. (Adjust heat as necessary to keep oil at a steady temperature.) Serve with lemon wedges for squeezing.