4th Of July Recipes
I love the 4th of July, probably about as much as Christmas! I love the food, the music, the fireworks, BBQ’s, time with friends and family, and call me cheesy but I love the colors! Red, White & Blue. I have outfits for every day of the week leading up to this holiday (and yes they all involve those colors. Some even have stars & stripes on them, what? I told you I love it!). But today we are talking about the food involved. Those great 4th of July recipes you make and pack up to grandma’s house or the church potluck. Those flavors that just say Independence Day.
4th of July Memories
Every year we have a big BBQ (Think Thanksgiving but tell the turkey to wait its turn and add Mr. Cottage’s top secret BBQ Sauce- we take our BBQ very seriously), sometimes friends join us other times it’s just our family, but we always have a great time. Usually, while everyone else is asleep you can find at least two of our family around the neighborhood hunting out summer blackberries in the woods until our hands are stained purple and our arms are scratched up from an overzealous attempt at a very large berry that simply could not be left behind. If we’re lucky no one has fallen in a patch of them and its only starting to get hot.
Heading Home With The Treasure
We trudge home baskets full telling the members of our family that happen to have sticky fingers for berries that can’t eat them until they’ve been washed and baked. Yeah, that rule goes right out the window. You should see some of the strange looks we’ve gotten, dressed in tall boots, long shirts and pants saved for excursions like this (usually said pants are soaked to our knees because of the dew) trudging down the street with an assortment of buckets, bags and baskets, while “normal” people set out towels, or run to the store for that last minute item they forgot. But hey we’re a “balanced” family- or crazy, one of the two and if you asked the neighbors they would probably lean toward the latter. Unless bribed with blackberry crisp… It’s delicious! You know you want some!
Time To Fire Up The Grill For Some 4th of July Recipes
Later Mr. Cottage fires up the grill to prepare our 4th of July Recipes as we fix side dishes (the ones that weren’t complete the night before). We crank up our favorite patriotic CD (hey it blocks out the horrendous voice on the neighbor’s radio bleating out something about a bar, a broken heart or a mother-in-law. Come on! It’s the 4th, not mother-in-law day!
Now It’s Time For Fun
Through the day we fluctuate between pool, occasional dance offs (hey the swing music was calling! And when that horn section starts playing how do you say no??) There are games of badminton, and croquet (usually right here is where we end up with the sunburn we will triumph for the next week. But when your in the middle of an “intense” game of Marco Polo who has time to dry off and reapply sunscreen (no really, reapply the sunscreen)? We usually BBQ for lunch and dinner and then all gather on the front steps to watch Mr. Cottage’s 4th of July firework show. He loves it – much to Mrs. Cottage’s horror and sometimes the rest of us. Like the time the tube holding one of the ones that go up really high and explode tipped and hit the grass. Good thing we had had a wet week. After that one we were done for the year until the memory could fade enough that he was no longer in the dog house. Haha! Yeah guess again.
4th of July Is Not Just About Food
We have an unofficial challenge in our neighborhood of who got the best fireworks. I especially like to sit and watch everyone else’s 4th of July fireworks show before we let our own off. Hey its a free show and I love fireworks as much as my dad. And when the air is thick with the smell of them its time for bed and aloe (see reapply that sunscreen).
Apple Pie, there is nothing more American right? I mean apple pie, baseball and all that stuff. Well here is the iconic American Apple Pie. With a buttery flaky crust and sweet cinnamon flavored apples. Mmmmm, the perfect thing for your 4th of July party. Click for the recipe
All American Burger
Try our basic bacon cheeseburger our All American Burger. This burger has crisp bacon and delicious melted cheese. Get the recipe.
Take Me Out To The Ballgame Burger
This is a delicious hamburger. With crispy bacon and smoky barbecue sauce with the bases loaded (the tater tot bases that is). It is one great burger. Click for the recipe.
Texas Cheese Fries
Are so delicious. French fries covered with crispy bacon and melted cheddar cheese. They are the perfect side dish for your hamburger. Get the recipe.
4th Of July Taco Salad Casserole
This 4th of July Taco Salad Casserole is so delicious and a great addition to your 4th of July potluck. Tender ground beef and shredded cheese. Your guests will love it! Click for the Recipe
Fresh Berry Trifle
A Berry Trifle is just a beautiful dessert. It has the best of summer berries and angel food cake and it really is a delightful dessert on a hot summer day. Click for Recipe
Patriotic Blueberry Pie
Patriotic Cherry Pie
Angel Food Cake
Angel Food Cake and Strawberries. It just reminds me of the small town 4th of July celebrations of days gone by. Little ones sitting along the curb to wave at the parade and grandma in her apron making strawberry shortcake with hand whipped heavy cream on top sweetened to perfection.
Angel Food Cake
- 1 1/2 Cups Powdered Organic Sugar
- 1 Cup Organic Sifted Pastry Flour
- 1 1/2 Cups Free Range Egg Whites (11-12 Large Eggs)
- 1 1/2 Teaspoons Cream of Tartar
- 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 1 Cup Organic Sugar
- 1/4 Teaspoon Celtic Sea Salt
- Sift together powdered sugar and flour together twice. In a large bowl beat egg whites, cream of tartar, Vanilla and salt until you get soft peaks. Slowly add organic sugar about two tablespoons at a time until stiff peaks appear. Place one quarter of flour mixture back in your sifter and sift over eggs. Fold in by hand gently. Repeat this for the rest of the mix. Pour into an ungreased bunt pan. Bake on your lowest rake at 350 degrees about 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Remove from oven and invert pan. Cool completely. Serves 12.
Whipped-cream
Now like the beater. No one is looking!
Blackberry Crisp
There is nothing like hunting blackberries on a hot July day. The thrill of finding the big juicy berries and watching you baskets and buckets filling higher and higher. The excitements of knowing that when you get home and as you sort through the berries to put in the freezer that mom will be making one of these wonderful blackberry crisps. Get the recipe.
Stars & Stripes Kebabs
Watermelon
Cantaloupe
Take a star cookie cutter and cut watermelon. Slice cantaloupe chunks in rectangles. Use a long tooth pick and run it through the fruit.
Serve on a fun platter.
Before you go check these other posts
- 4th of July Party
- Independence Day Decorations
- Independence Day At the Cottage
- Mushroom Swiss Burger
- New York Burger
- Lone Star Burger
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