THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, June 30, 1994 TAG: 9406300814
SECTION: FLAVOR PAGE: F1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: By Betty Douglass
DATELINE: 940630 LENGTH: Medium
But don't do it all yourself. The signing of the Declaration of Independence was a community affair. So why not ask family and friends to pitch in for this year's celebration?
{REST} While you're at it, free yourself from traditional picnic fare and the calories and fat that go with it. Forget the fried chicken, mayonnaise-laden potato salad, and pork-studded baked beans.
I have planned a menu for the deck or patio using the same foods, but with less fat and more fruits and vegetables. Everything is easy to shop for, and affordable.
Ask each guest to bring a dish. If it is a large gathering, ask people to bring the same dish. Except for the grilled chicken and pork chops, these foods are served at room temperature or chilled. So they're easy to tote, as well.
Serve the meal in several settings: the appetizers the vegetables and the dessert. Ask a friend to come early and help set up.
Have a few ``experts'' on hand to help with the grill; fill a cooler or two with ice for beverages; and your picnic is well on the way without a lot of effort.
Jicama - a sweet, bulbous, root vegetable - and fresh fruit make a delightful appetizer platter. The platter is marinated in lime juice and seasoned with salt and chili powder. Chopped egg and fresh dill spread are reminiscent of an old favorite, deviled eggs.
Grilled chicken drumsticks are marinated in garlic, rosemary and lemon juice. To lower the fat content more, skin the drumsticks and breast meat. Serve them with Sweet Pepper Relish. A little spicy, it goes well with other grilled meats, too.
The pork chops are rubbed with a mixture of mustard, honey and garlic and then grilled.
No Fourth of July is complete without potato salad, but this one has been streamlined with Buttermilk Basil Dressing. Buttermilk is surprisingly low in fat, but the dressing helps give the salad an old-fashioned taste.
Don't forget tomatoes and coleslaw, other musts for July 4. If you don't like marinated tomatoes, use plain slices with thin slices of onion. But do try Carolina Coleslaw, which is in an oil-and-vinegar dressing.
For a spectacular but light dessert, serve Chocolate Angel Food Cake with fresh berries. The long recipe may look intimidating, but the directions are so explicit, it comes out perfect. The cake is from Marion Cunningham's ``Fannie Farmer Baking Book.'' I like to top it with a glaze of confectioners' sugar, grated orange rind and orange juice. But my grandson talked me into the easy-to-prepare chocolate glaze I've shared here.
by CNB