Monique from Open Gate Quilts has organized a fun blog hop for you this week! I hope you checked out her cute project yesterday...if you didn't, be sure to stop by her blog and check it out...and don't forget to leave a comment to be entered in her drawing!
Here is the line up for the blog hop~
July 4th - Open Gate - Monique, http://opengatequilts.blogspot.com/
July 5th - Stashmaster - Lisa - http://stashmaster.typepad.com/
This & That - Sherri, http://thisandthatpatterns.typepad.com/
July 6th - Sweetwater - Lisa, http://www.sweetwater.typepad.com/
July 7th - Quilter's Window - Denise, http://www.quilterswindow.com/blog/
A Quilting Life - Sherri, http://www.aquiltinglife.com/
July 8th - Cupcakes 'n Daisies - Thelma - http://www.cupcakesndaisies.blogspot.com/
And it's July 5th, so it's my day to share with you!
The project I have for you is an easy and fun table topper called Firecracker. Yes, I know that the 4th was yesterday but I really this table topper and you can make it for next year or you can make it out of Halloween or Christmas fabric and it would be super cute out of one of those too.
Click here to download your copy of the Firecracker pattern.
Now for a big-time family favorite recipe for summer time grilling~
~BBQ RIBS~
What you need~
2 racks of pork ribs. (Cut in half, so you have 4 smaller racks.)
1 onion cut into big chunks.
2 tablespoons butter.
5-7 beers.
28 ozs of Sweet Baby's Ray's BBQ sauce.
(You can use your favorite kind instead if you want)
2-3 tbsp. Franks Hot sauce.
Let's begin~
In large pot, put beer, butter and onion. Add rib racks. Bring to simmer and simmer ribs for 45 minutes to and hour. (Beer should cover the ribs and you may need to skim off the foam...that's what I do....don't like the brown foam that come to the top...you will see what I mean.)
Mix BBQ sauce and hot sauce together in bowl. Remove ribs from beer pot and baste with BBQ/hot sauce.
Heat grill to med-high. (Depending on the grill.) Place ribs on grill, brown both sides as desired, basting often with sauce.
The ribs are done cooking when you take them out of the beer pot...you are grilling them to give the grill flavor and to caramelize the BBQ sauce. Be careful not to over grill, as you will dry them out!
(We brown each side for approx 5 mins...it really has alot to do with the look or how brown you want your ribs. We like them medium brown. We baste each side a few times....I like them full of sauce!)
Hope you enjoyed the 4th...we spend the day boating, grilling and hanging out with family...ending the day with fireworks. Great way to celebrate America!
Now be sure to leave me a comment on your favorite holiday tradition or anything you feel like saying and you will be entered in the drawing for my new book "Cardinal Christmas" and some fat 1/4's of the Cardinal Christmas fabric...I will even throw in the panel fabric... they are so pretty! So please leave a comment here and I will let you know on friday who the lucky winner is!
Until friday~Sherri
Thank you for the sweet table topper pattern Sherri! Our favorite new tradition for holidays is calling our kids via Skype. We get to see our grandkids, too! We've even opened Christmas gifts together, with the grandkids running up to the computer to show each gift as they open them. Since we need to stay close to my MIL, traveling for the holidays is out of the question. Skype and Facetime give us our holidays together again!
Posted by: sheryl | July 05, 2011 at 12:51 AM
I like the 4th of July because it is my brothers birthday and I get to spend time with family. I also thank all the service men and women fighting for our rights past and present. Thanks for the free pattern. I can't wait to make it.
Posted by: Lori C. | July 05, 2011 at 06:15 AM
I really love this table topper and I'm thinking I need at least two of them, maybe more...I definitely want to get one made with some fun bright Spring/Summer fabric, then I will be in my sewing room later going through my tiny little Christmas stash to see if I can get one made that is Christmasy and Festive without a trip to the LQS. Thanks so much for this pattern!!! I'm also completely in love with the Northern Cardinal fabrics. OH, be still my heart, they are so beautiful. Thanks for a chance to have some
Posted by: Nancy | July 05, 2011 at 06:31 AM
Great pattern thanks so much. Can't wait to try the BBQ ribs too.
Posted by: nami 11 | July 05, 2011 at 06:32 AM
Thanks so much for the cute project. I like your idea of using other holiday themed fabric. I may have to make several.
Posted by: Karen | July 05, 2011 at 06:44 AM
So glad the blog hop allowed me to discover your blog. The book and the fabrics look wonderful! And I may have to whip us some of the table toppers. My favorite thing about any & all holidays is getting together with extended family. Seems like those opportunities are too few and far between.
Posted by: Lisa Marie | July 05, 2011 at 06:52 AM
I'm having a great time with this blog hop! I love finding new-to-me blogs. Your table topper is darling! Thanks for the pattern. And your cardinals are so lovely!
Posted by: Dorian | July 05, 2011 at 06:55 AM
Love your cute table topper - thanks so much for the pattern. And that fabric is yummy! My favorite holiday has to be Christmas. I love the music, decorations, celebrating with family and even the snow!
Posted by: Julie Letvin | July 05, 2011 at 07:00 AM
Thankyou so much for the pattern, it is really cute!! Would be nice to have one for each holiday. I like all your patterns, the new ones with embroidery are really neat! I love cardinals, would be fun to win your book and the fabric!!
Posted by: Gail | July 05, 2011 at 07:01 AM
I love the free firecracker pattern - just the thing to make for next year. Our holidays start by inviting family and friends to gather and share a meal. Everything after that is just a bonus. The cardinal fabric is wonderful!
Posted by: DebrafromMD | July 05, 2011 at 07:13 AM
Fun table mat!! Lovin the yummy new fabric!!
Posted by: Rebecca | July 05, 2011 at 07:27 AM
Cute table topper! One for every special holiday or occasion would not be too many! Thanks!
Marsha
Posted by: Marsha | July 05, 2011 at 07:28 AM
Thank you for the wonderful pattern and the idea for a holiday theme. This would make a great gift for someone using their favorite colors!
Posted by: Nickelswap | July 05, 2011 at 07:32 AM
Thank you for the Firecracker table topper pattern. It's so cute. I love a family BBQ for the July 4th holiday. Those BBQ ribs sound so yummy! Thanks for the chance to win a copy of your Cardinal Christmas book & fabrics.
Posted by: sherry | July 05, 2011 at 07:43 AM
I really like your table topper. And those ribs look finger-licking-good delicious! Thanks for a chance at your giveaway. :)
Posted by: Shirley | July 05, 2011 at 07:53 AM
This table topper is adorable. It could be made up in so many different fabrics for every occasion. Thanks for the very generous giveaway! And thanks for the recipe :-)
Posted by: Jocelyn | July 05, 2011 at 08:05 AM
I love the table topper!! And the cardinal fabrics are so beautiful!! The recipe sounds so good, too!! My favorite 4th of July tradition is baseball with family, followed by fireworks! Thanks so much, and thanks for the opportunity!!
Posted by: Carol C. | July 05, 2011 at 08:13 AM
Thanks so much for the table topper. It is so cute! The ribs look great also. YOur book and fabrics look great and can't wait to check them out! Thanks
Posted by: Sheryn | July 05, 2011 at 08:17 AM
If I get busy, I could have a topper for Halloween AND Christmas. Thank you for the pattern.
Posted by: Jan Goerke | July 05, 2011 at 08:30 AM
When we were kids, the fireworks were set off out at the drive-in theater. Our church was about a mile away at the edge of town. So we'd all get in the station wagon with some blankets and watch the fireworks from the church parking lot. There were always lots of other families there, too.
Posted by: Barb Colvin | July 05, 2011 at 08:50 AM
I love this table topper. It would be perfect for my round coffee table so I am going to be making this today! I'll probably end up making it in every colorway for all the seasons.
Posted by: Chris | July 05, 2011 at 08:56 AM
I love getting together with family and catching up with each other's lives. Love your table topper.
Posted by: Brenda | July 05, 2011 at 08:56 AM
Thank you for sharing the pattern and for the lovely giveaway! what a fun hop! On July 4th I donate time to place flags on veterans graves for families at local cemeteries. Then we always have a family picnic. thank you!
Posted by: Lee | July 05, 2011 at 09:11 AM
We just love to sit and catch up with friends on the 4th. Having great food to eat makes the day even better! Always enjoy seeing fireworks, too. Thanks for the great giveaway!
Posted by: Darlene B | July 05, 2011 at 09:15 AM
I am so excited to find your blog. Thanks for the free pattern!!Blessings!!!
Posted by: Janet Lee Monnett | July 05, 2011 at 09:18 AM