Inspire "Patriotic" Food for Independence Day

I have mentioned several times on this blog that summer is my favorite season. There is so much to enjoy about the sunny, warm time of the year. Last week, I featured five ways to host a fun summer barbecue. I talked about offering a gourmet hamburger or hotdog bar. This is a great idea, which is why I'm adding more to the topic of food. I'll be featuring more summer food later this season, but for the purpose of this blog, I'm discussing what to offer at a barbecue/cookout on Independence Day, otherwise known as the Fourth of July.

You can offer so many delicious, refreshing foods for the patriotic holiday. Feature red, white, and blue as much as you can, but also offer traditional Fourth of July dishes--including hamburgers, hotdogs, potato salad, and of course, a cold, refreshing dessert. Enjoy these five simple "patriotic" recipes you might want to try for this year's Independence Day celebration. You never know, you might inspire someone else to try the recipes, too. 

1. Hamburger 

You can't celebrate Independence Day without a hamburger. It's a classic summer barbecue/cookout dish. You need hamburgers on the grill to get the party started. There are several recipes for hamburgers. You can make them super fancy or as simple as you want. It's up to you. Personally, I prefer simple hamburgers, so I'm going to offer you an easy recipe for the perfect hamburger you can serve anyone at your Fourth of July barbecue.

Hamburgers are the perfect food for a Fourth of July barbecue.

You will need the following ingredients for your hamburger: 

• 1 lb. ground beef lean
• 1/2 c. minced onion
• 1/4 c. salt
• 1/4 tsp. pepper
• Hamburger buns
• 1/4 c. ketchup (or mustard, mayonnaise, etc.)
• Iceberg lettuce
• Tomato
• Pickles
• 4 thin slices of red onion

In a bowl, mix together the ground beef, 1/2 c. of minced onion, salt, and pepper until well-combined. Divide this mixture into equal portions and shape into patties. 

Lay the burgers on an oiled barbecue grill on high heat. Grill the burgers until they are brown on both sides. Cut to test to make sure there's no pink inside. This should take about seven or eight minutes, and then remove the burgers from the grill. 

Lay the buns (cut side down) on the grill and cook until they're lightly toasted. This should only take about 30 seconds. Then, spread your ketchup (or mustard, mayonnaise, Country Bob's, etc.) on the bun bottoms. Add lettuce, tomato, red onion, pickles, and additional condiments to the hamburger. Place the top bun on the burger to complete the perfect barbecue dish. Enjoy! 

2. Potato Salad 

Can you have a July 4th barbecue without potato salad? I didn't think so! The classic barbecue dish is enjoyed by basically everyone. It pairs well with hamburgers, hotdogs, and more. It's the perfect side dish for your barbecue. Everyone has their own recipe for potato salad, but this is my family's recipe. 

You will need the following ingredients to make this dish: 

Potato salad is the perfect side dish at a barbecue.

• 3 lb. potatoes
• 2 hard-boiled eggs, finely chopped 
• 3 sweet Gherkin pickles
• 3 Tbsp. pickle juice
• 1 tsp. yellow mustard
• 3 Tbsp. light mayonnaise
• 2 Tbsp. sugar
• Salt and pepper, for taste

Peel and dice the potatoes. Cook until slightly tender, drain them and place them in a large mixing bowl. Add salt and pepper, to taste. Stir and then add the two hard-boiled eggs. Dice the three sweet Gherkin pickles and add to the bowl. Then, add the pickle juice, yellow mustard, and light mayonnaise. Stir until everything is well-combined. Add the sugar and stir thoroughly. Add more mayonnaise and pickle juice, if needed.

Sprinkle the top of the potato salad with paprika. Cover the dish and chill in the fridge. Potato salad is always best when it's cold. Enjoy! 

3. Baked Beans 

Another classic barbecue side dish, baked beans go well with hamburgers. It's another dish that is usually only enjoyed in the summer at a barbecue. I don't know anyone who eats baked beans during any other time of the year except for summer parties and Fourth of July celebrations. Now, once again, everyone has their favorite recipe for baked beans, but this simple recipe has always been a favorite with my family.

Baked beans.

You will need the following ingredients to prepare this dish:

• Can of pork and beans (brand of your choice) 
• Green pepper, diced
• 1/4 c. bacon bits
• 1 tsp. mustard
• 1/4 c. brown sugar
• 1/3 c. ketchup 

First, pour the pork and beans into a baking dish. Stir in the additional ingredients (diced green pepper, bacon bits, mustard, brown sugar, and ketchup). Stir until everything is well-combined. Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 20-25 minutes, or until the liquid has cooked down. Yes, it's just that easy! Enjoy! 

4. Patriotic Kebabs

I have always loved watermelon. Again, it's a classic summer fruit that is refreshing on a hot day. Whether you're eating it outside at a barbecue or even indoors, it'll satisfy your tastebuds every time. If you're like me, it's fun to try something new and change a classic dish. That can even apply to something as simple as watermelon.

Patriotic kebabs are a fun snack.

These patriotic kebabs are the perfect snack to bring to a Fourth of July barbecue. Not only are they adorable, but they're also healthy, which is a clear win for everyone. These are easy to prepare, but they're also fun, too!

You will need the following ingredients to prepare this fun snack:

• A set of skewers (your preference) 
• A large watermelon 
• Black or blue grapes or blueberries (Black grapes actually look blue.) 
• Star cookie cutter 

To begin, wash the grapes or blueberries and skewers. Set them aside while you slice the watermelon. Then, slide the grapes or blueberries onto the skewer, with the pointed end of the skewer facing upward. 

Then, use the cookie cutter to gently create a star shape out of the watermelon. Be careful with this step. It's very easy for the watermelon pieces to "break off" or lose their shape. Place the star at the top of the skewer, making sure the pointed stick isn't exposed beyond the watermelon. Enjoy! You're ready to celebrate Independence Day! 

5. Patriotic Fruit Dessert 

This Fourth of July berry dessert needs to be at the top of your list of festive foods to make for the upcoming holiday. The combination of juicy, sweet fruits and cream cheese filling on a Graham cracker crust is absolutely delicious. You'll definitely be going back for seconds with this dessert! Summer desserts don't get any better than this. 

Everyone will love this patriotic berry dessert.

To prepare this berry dessert, you will need the following ingredients: 

• Pre-made Graham cracker crust 
• 8 oz. package of cream cheese, softened 
• 8 oz. package of Cool Whip
• 1/2 c. powdered sugar
• 2 tsp. lemon zest
• 1 c. strawberries, sliced
• 1 c. black or blue grapes (or blueberries, if you prefer)

To begin, use a hand mixer to whip the cream cheese, Cool Whip, and powdered sugar on high speed until the mixture is nice and smooth. Add in the lemon zest and mix again until everything is creamy. You want to make sure you don't over mix the filling. 

Spread the filling over the entire Graham cracker crust. Cover and chill in the refrigerator for about three or four hours. Then, decorate the dessert with circles of alternating strawberries and grapes (or blueberries). The dessert can look however you want. It's up to you, which makes it fun! Serve immediately. Enjoy! Your guests will absolutely love this dessert. 

---

As always, these recipes aren't "new," but these are some of my family's favorite dishes to prepare for the Fourth of July. This is how we prepare the dishes, so maybe you have never tried our potato salad recipe. Or, maybe you have never seen the fruit dessert. There are so many dishes you can make for Independence Day, so I hope this list can get you started. Remember to have fun on the Fourth of July. It's a great day to spend time with family and friends! 

-KJL-