I’m sure many of you have plans to do a cookout with friends and family this 4th of July – I know I do!  Well, I have put together a list of some of my Best Recipes for the 4th of July that are perfect for a summer gathering in order to help with your planning.

Outdoor BBQs full of fun and laughter are one of my favorite things about summertime holidays.  I have always found that three day weekends in the summer are the perfect excuse to gather everyone together, cook delicious food, enjoy a great cocktail or two (or three…), and enjoy the lighthearted feeling warm weather brings.  Personally, I always tend to get caught up in the minutiae of planning gatherings like these, such as obsessing about the menu and fretting over table decorations.  For me, these details often overshadow the true reason behind why we have these holidays in the first place.  However, I find myself lately reflecting more and more on how lucky I am to live in the United States.  Maybe it’s because Rob and I just recently went to Washington DC and were immersed in the history of our nation’s birth, or maybe it’s because of the turmoil happing in so many other countries right now that is broadcast all over the news, but I am incredibly grateful to be a US citizen.  Now, I know very well that our country is not without its faults and is far from perfect (the ridiculous election this year is just a microcosm), but we are afforded freedoms that people all over the world would, and do, die for every day.  So on this Fourth of July holiday, please take a moment in between sips of beer and bites of hamburger to reflect on all of those people who helped to make the United States one of the leading beacons of freedom back in 1776.

We on this continent should never forget that men first crossed the Atlantic not to find soil for their ploughs but to secure liberty for their souls.  ~Robert J. McCracken

 

Best Recipes for the Fourth of July

 

Fruit Salad with “Something Extra”

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Make a dressing with honey, orange and cinnamon to take your fruit salad from “meh” to “wow”

 

Farro Salad with Edamame

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The Farro Salad with Edamame is a delicious and healthy side for your cookout.

Mt Diablo Bean Dip (AKA Nine Layer Dip)

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I am asked over and over again to bring the Mt Diablo Bean Dip to almost every party.

Citrus Marinated Grilled Shrimp

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The Citrus Marinated Grilled Shrimp is a personal “Go-To” recipe in our household.

Chimichurri Marinated Flank Steak (or Tri Tip)

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The Chimichurri Marinated Flank Steak (Or Tri Tip) has so much flavor and serves a lot of people – perfect for the Fourth!

Brown Sugar Balsamic Grilled Strawberry Shortcake

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Put a delicious spin on a summer standard by marinating and grilling your strawberries.

Raspberry Beer Punch

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Ridiculously easy to make and even easier to drink, this Raspberry Beer Punch will be the star of your beverage lineup!

Stone Fruit Sangria

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Yes, I realize that there is WAAAAY too much fruit in this Stone Fruit Sangria, but isn’t that the best part??!!

 

Happy Fourth of July!

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