4th of july family barbeque

We had a small 3rd of July barbeque at the house this past weekend instead of a 4th of July one because my parents had another barbeque with friends on the 4th.  It was a grilling bonanza. 

Our fridge is still filled with grilled chicken wings, steaks and veggies.  But who am I to complain?

It was a nice, relaxing Sunday.  We sat out in the sun and ate from 3pm until the sun went down, there's really nothing better than that.  I think I also got sun burned, which never happens! I never get sun burned.  I used to sit out in the sun for hours on end in southern California and there wouldn't be a red patch of skin on my body.  But for some reason, this time, in San Francisco, I get sun burned.  Strange. 

Chicken wings, zucchini, and a test skewer of chicken gizzard.  I love all things skewered.  Although a little dry, I still thought the gizzard turned out well.  But we decided that we would much rather save them for another day and make drunken gizzard instead.

 

The view from half way up the stairs in my backyard.  I'm deathly afraid of heights, especially when I have to walk up stairs with gaps in between them.  And I guess it's not so much the height that scares me, it's the thought of having to come back down that I'm terrified of.  But anyways, isn't it nice?  If I had climbed up a little higher you would be able to see a little bit of the ocean--the top of the stairs is an excellent place to watch the sun set. 

Kona.

Moscato D'Asti that I picked up from work.  It's perfect for sipping outdoors, and it was a hit at the barbeque.



Even though the 4th of July has long passed, it's never a bad time to grill so I thought I'd throw in our family's chicken wing marinade.  It's really simply, flavorful, and affordable--it's made from ingredients that are staples in every Chinese household.

11/2 lbs chicken wings, rinsed
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 tbs sesame oil
2 tbs brandy
11/2 tsp sugar
pinch of salt
pinch of white pepper
2 tbs minced garlic
1 tbs minced ginger
1tsp fish sauce

You can marinade the wings for as little as 1 hour to as long as over night. 
For as long as I can remember, we've been using the same marinade recipe for grilling chicken so it's very nostalgic for me whenever we fire up the grill and throw these wings on. 
Enjoy!