This land is your land, and this land is my land
From California to the New York Island
From the Redwood Forest to the Gulf Stream Waters
This land was made for you and me

Woody Guthrie, “This Land is Your Land”

Good morning y’all, and happy July 4th. Safe travels and celebrations throughout the long weekend.

• Facebook
• Instagram

The hamburger is one of the many iconic symbols of American culture, right up there with the Statue of Liberty, denim jeans, and a full flight bald eagle. But while America’s fast food loving public popularized the combination of bread, ground beef patties, tomatoes, and cheese, the hamburger actually originated in Hamburg, Germany.

Food is often a representation of cultural influence, and the American melting pot has always cooked best when we are embracing the world outside of our borders. Apple pie is a Dutch dessert. Fried chicken started in the UK. Jambalaya is of Creole descent, and of course steak and french fries is simply called steak frites across the pond, courtesy of the French.*

*The school librarians always told us we weren’t allowed to cite Wikipedia.

So this July 4th, embrace an icon of Americana while also bringing the world to your kitchen table, and add in some flavor to the melting pot. Have fun with this Smashburger recipe, and turn up the Springsteen.

Let’s get supper on the table.

Commandment #13 – Improve even the boring meals with cast iron. Make a sandwich and put everything on the skillet at least once.

As always, thanks so much for subscribing to this page, it is truly appreciated. I hope it brings a little joy to your inbox and kitchen table each week.

Y’all be good. – Hendo