A flag (of sorts), mac and cheese and ice cream sandwiches. That says Fourth of July to us!
American Flag Cutting Board from The Grommet
You’ve got to have something flag-decorated on your table and we think it should be something that’s not just decorative but incredibly useful as well. Not a flimsy disposable decoration you’ll use once and discard this cherry, walnut and maple cutting board will become a family heirloom. It’s 19 inches long and almost 10 inches wide, made in the same proportions as the American flag you’d have on your flagpole. It weighs 8 pounds so it’s good and sturdy and the only care it needs is a little wood conditioner when you first start using it.
$135. Available from The Grommet at thegrommet.com/brooklyn-butcher-blocks-long-grain-american-flag-cutting-board.
Macaroni and Cheese from Anna Bell’s Mac
You’re invited to a Fourth of July potluck. What should you take? We’re waving the flag for Anna Bell’s Macaroni and Cheese. We’re not sure when Atlantan Kevin Mobley takes off his software engineer hat and puts on his apron, but when he does, he channels his Virginia-born great-grandmother Anna Bell and whips up batch after batch of macaroni and cheese. Made with English cheddar and organic milk, cream and noodles, this is one decadent pan of mac and cheese. He’ll tell you the one-pound pan serves one or two, but we found it was plenty for four. It’s that rich. It freezes well and then can go right from freezer to oven. Or thaw it on the way to the party and bake it there. Mobley likes it best baked in a water bath, but you can also just bake it on a sheet pan.
$10 per one-pound pan serving 3-4. $35 per 5-pound pan serving 12-20, $55 per 10-pound pan serving 25-40. Available at on some Fridays at the Lilburn Farmers Market and some Saturdays at the Peachtree Road Farmers Market. Order online to pick up at a market or at Cultured South. .annabell.kitchen/.
Ice Cream Sandwich Maker from Chef’n
Long a fan of ice cream sandwiches, we were never any good at making these at home. That is until we met this set from Chef’n. It comes with two silicone molds for baking the cookies for your ice cream sandwich. (There’s a chocolate wafer recipe included with the directions that we’re continuing to tweak.) You spread the batter in the mold (about a tablespoon per indentation) and the cookies bake in about 10 minutes. Once they’re cooled, you snap on the rest of the mold and fill with ice cream, then top with the second batch of cookies. Freeze until the sandwiches firm up, then unmold and enjoy or wrap to enjoy later. The result is a picture perfect ice cream sandwich you’ve customized with your favorite ice cream flavor.
$19.95. Available at Williams Sonoma at Ponce City Market, Lenox Square, The Avenue at East Cobb, Forum on Peachtree Parkway and Avalon. williams-sonoma.com/products/chefn-ice-cream-sandwich-maker/.
RELATED:
Read more stories like this by liking Atlanta Restaurant Scene on Facebook, following @ATLDiningNews on Twitter and @ajcdining on Instagram.
About the Author
