SELAH, WA--(Marketwire - Jun 25, 2012) - The Fourth of July is a time to kick back and celebrate. No party is complete without fireworks, parades and of course, barbeques featuring all-American favorites like fried chicken, barbecue, apple pie and iced tea. Tree Top, whose apple juice is made with 100 percent USA apples, offers up some great recipe ideas to complete your star spangled barbecue or picnic.
Fried Chicken
There are as many tips and tricks for fried chicken as there are cooks doing the frying! One of the lesser-known and prized secrets, however, includes soaking the chicken overnight in Tree Top Apple Juice, which will add extra flavor and tenderness.
Ingredients
1 to 2 1/2 pounds chicken, cut into pieces
Marinade:
8 cups Tree Top Apple Juice, made with 100 percent USA apples
Batter:
3 eggs
1/3 cup water
Hot red pepper sauce (to taste)
Seasoning:
1 cup salt
1/4 cup black pepper
1/4 cup garlic powder
Coating:
2 cups self-rising flour
1 teaspoon pepper
Peanut oil for frying
Directions
Soak chicken in Tree Top Apple Juice overnight in refrigerator.
In a medium size bowl, beat the eggs with the water. Add hot sauce to taste, so the egg mixture is orange.
In another bowl, combine the flour and pepper.
Season the chicken with salt, black pepper and garlic powder mixture. Dip the seasoned chicken in the batter and then coat well in the flour mixture.
Heat the oil to 350 degrees Fahrenheit in a deep pot. Do not fill the pot more than 1/2 full with oil.
Fry the chicken in the oil until brown and crisp. Dark meats take longer than white meat. It should take dark meat approximately 13 to 14 minutes, while white meat cooks in 8 to 10 minutes.
Barbecue Sauce
For meats that will be grilled, not fried, you'll want to marinade in a smoky and delicious barbecue sauce. Adding Tree Top Apple Juice to your regular barbecue sauce recipe enhances the sweet notes, tanginess and moisture in the meat.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons oil
3/4 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup ketchup
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
3/4 cup thawed Tree Top Frozen Concentrate Apple Juice, made with 100 percent USA Apples
1/4 chili sauce
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 teaspoon mild chili powder
2 teaspoons dry mustard
Directions
Place oil in a medium size saucepan over medium-high heat. Sauté chopped onion until soft.
Add remaining ingredients and cook until reduced by half.
Remove from heat and cool completely.
Use to baste the meat of your choice, or as a dip for your fried chicken.
Apple Pie
Linda Hawkins of Houston, Texas, and winner of numerous state baking competitions, says the key to a truly spectacular pie is to soak the apples in Tree Top Apple Juice, which adds an extra burst of apple flavor to the pie.
Ingredients
For Soaking:
4 cups Tree Top Apple Juice, made with 100 percent USA apples
Filling:
6 or 7 golden delicious apples
3/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons flour
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup Tree Top Apple Sauce
Dash nutmeg
Dash salt
2 tablespoons butter
Crust:
Pastry for 2 nine inch pie crusts (premade or with your favorite pie crust recipe)
Directions
Pare apples and slice thin. Soak in Tree Top Apple Juice for 30 minutes.
Combine sugar, flour, spices and salt. Mix with apples and apple sauce.
Line 9 inch pie plate with crust. Fill with apple mixture. Dot with butter.
Add top crust and seal. Sprinkle with sugar for sparkle.
Bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 50 minutes or until done.
Iced Tea
On a hot day, few things are more refreshing than a glass of iced tea. Instead of sweetening with sugar, try a dash of Tree Top Apple Juice for a perfect hint of sweetness.
Ingredients
3 cups Tree Top Apple Juice, made with 100 percent USA apples
3 cups boiling water
6 tea bags
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1/3 cup honey
Lemon slices (optional)
Directions
Add tea bags to boiling water. Let stand 5 minutes.
Remove and add allspice, honey and Tree Top Apple Juice. Simmer over low heat until honey is blended, approximately one minute.
Chill and serve over ice. Add lemon slices if desired.
For more information about the Tree Top and for additional recipes, visit www.treetop.com.
About Tree Top
Since 1960, Tree Top has provided premium, quality juices, fruit-based products and ingredients to consumers and most of the world's leading manufacturers. The grower-owned cooperative operates eight processing facilities in the heart of Washington's apple country, Oregon and California. With more than 1,100 growers, the co-op creates the widest array of fruit-based products and ingredients available on the market. Tree Top's passion and attention to quality and craftsmanship makes it the first choice for customers. For more information, visit www.treetop.com.
High-res photos available
Contact Information:
Media Contact:
Katie Stringer
503.546.7877
katie@lanepr.com