July is a time for Americans to come together and watch things get blown up for no reason. They listen to classical music when they would rarely do so on their own and it gives them another reason to go get drunk.  But my favorite part is the grillin’!! I have always loved to cook and in my opinion, the best way to do so is firin’ up the charcoal and burnin’ some flesh.  Nothing brings people together more than food. When the outdoors is combined with good people, food and music, what could be better. Every culture has their version of a cookout which usually incorporates all of those aspects and then some.

            

 So I begin this introductory “blog” with an old staple of what would be seen at almost every meat eating Americans cookout…a Cheeseburger.

 

 

            Now there are basic elements to making a sandwich of any style, as is such when making music. Hip-Hop’s essentials are the Boom and Bap and our burger needs beef and a bun. Now the rest of the ingredients are what makes the beat or burger unique and different to the rest. My ingredients would be as follows.

 

Serving 5 we would need:

- 1½ lbs of 85% lean beef

- 1 packet of Lipton onion soup mix

- 2 tbls of Worcestershire sauce

- 2 tbls of Tabasco sauce (Chipotle style)

- 5 slices of a cheddar jack cheese (sliced thick)

 

            Mix all ingredients, except cheese, together into a large mixing bowl and create 5 patties about an inch thick. Cook over a nice hot grill for about five minutes each side.

                             * DO NOT squish or press patties with spatula *

For the last minute of grilling the burger, place a slice of cheese on each patty to warm cheese. Grab your bun and your favorite condiments and serve it up!!

 

We do need to get our good healthy veggies in so I went with a side salad and corn on the cob. Everyone has a hype-man or backups or even sometimes a suave and popular so-called R&B singer to add to their record for sales of singles. So that’s what I am adding, a taste of what you may not like all the time but every once in a while you’ll throw it in the mix.

            You can start with the corn. Husk some Silver Queen corn and grill right next to the burgers for 5 to 7 minutes and butter and salt to taste.

 

 

Now a nice garden salad I say only because I don’t like to clutter my burger with nonsense. If I really need to tell you how to make a salad then maybe you should just buy a pre-made bag of lettuce-n-things at the grocery store. But since I am creating this meal I will tell you what some of my favorite ingredients for a salad are. With the lettuce, tomatoes and onions, I also like carrots, olives, a sliced hard boiled egg and my favorite fruit, sliced up avocado. Then I would drizzle it with a bit of balsamic vinaigrette. Maybe touch it up with a sprinkle of crushed red pepper, but that’s just me.

 

            

              For a tasty beverage one could reach for the standard MC’s favorite beer… Heineken comes to mind. But I don’t drink alcohol so here’s what I got for you.

 

 

I like my MC’s with bite as well as a smooth way of going about it all, like a Rakim. This drink has both parts, let’s say halves. With one part lemonade and the other iced tea, a Half-n-Half.  In Texas, my father and I would sun brew tea in the heat of the summer’s sun. Just throw a couple of tea bags in a gallon of water and let sit. When the time came, we would remove the tea bags, sweeten and chill… but I digress.  First you would combine 2 cups of freshly squeezed lemon juice, 1 cup simple syrup and 8 cups of water and mix well. Pour about ⅓ of mixture into empty ice trays and freeze. Put the remainder of lemonade in refrigerator. Second, brew your tea. You’ll need a quart (4 cups), and set aside. When the cubes are frozen, transfer all lemonade cubes into a large pitcher. Pour tea and about half of the remaining lemonade. Mix well and serve.

            To end a meal in the summer, there is only one way to do so. While enjoying the friends and family that you are so graciously hosting, serving up the “Meal Of The Month,” savoring the flavors of a fresh salad, a juicy burger and a side of corn on the cob, washing it all down with a cold brew or an iced out half-n-half, you go and grab you and yours your favorite flavor or ice cream. You put two scoops on your cone and ask whoever is playing DJ to throw on a classic…Juicy by B.I.G.

            As you sit back watching the kids play in the sprinklers and the big, I mean round kinda big, uncle takes his shirt off and hops in the inflatable kiddy pool and plays Jaws with the neighborhood kids you think to yourself… we should do this more often.  Now go fire up the grill and give me a call, cause I’m hungry damn it!

 

KUSTO

SLS