Well, actually it was a kind of writing table that could fit on one’s lap! He also changed the wording of the Declaration of Independence from “the pursuit of property” to “the pursuit of happiness”. Read on for some more Independence Day fun facts!
Independence Day Fun Facts
- President John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe all died on July 4th.
- Approximately 150 million hot dogs and 700 million pounds of chicken are consumed on this day.
- In 2016, 70 of those dogs were scarfed down by Joey Chestnut, who won the annual Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Competition for the ninth time.
- The Liberty Bell had nothing to do with July 4th. It wasn’t called the “Liberty Bell” until the 1830s and that’s also when it got its famous crack.
- According to the American Pyrotechnics Association, around 15,000 fireworks displays will take place for July 4th holiday.
Speaking of chicken…here’s one of our favorite chicken recipes for the grill. It’s fun and delicious!
Beer Can Chicken
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 2 tablespoons paprika
- 2 teaspoons dry mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/2 (12 fluid ounce) can beer
- 1 (3 pound) whole chicken
Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat, about 375 degrees F.
- Mix the brown sugar, chili powder, paprika, dry mustard, salt, and ground black pepper in a small bowl.
- Place the half-full can of beer in the center of a plate.
- Rinse chicken under cold running water, drain and pat dry.
- Place the whole chicken over the can of beer with the legs on the bottom; keep upright. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon of the seasoning mix into the top cavity of the chicken. (The beer may foam up when the seasonings fall inside the can.) Rub the remaining seasoning mix over the entire surface of the chicken.
- Place the chicken, standing on the can, directly on the preheated grill. Close the lid and barbeque the chicken until no longer pink at the bone and the juices run clear, about 1 hour 15 minutes.
- Remove the chicken from the grill and discard the beer can. Cover the chicken with aluminum foil and allow to rest in a warm area for 10 minutes before slicing.
