4 Quick and Easy Recipes for the 4th of July

It's the Fourth of July and the living is easy! So why shouldn't your Fourth of July menu be just as laid back? With a few simple semi homemade recipes and some pre planning, you can make your celebration this Fourth low maintenance and high flavor!

Frozen Margarita Slush

A few simple steps three days prior to your celebration will yield countless compliments and a simple drink to serve alongside the soda, beer and wine. This frozen margarita recipe ditches the blender and makes a refreshing beverage, self serve!

2 cups sugar

9 cups water

1 cup tequila

1 cup triple sec

1 12-oz can frozen lemonade

1 12-oz can frozen limeade

Lemon-lime carbonated drink

In a large kettle, boil sugar and water for one minute. Remove from heat and add tequila, triple sec, limeade and lemonade, stirring until well mixed. Let cool.

Pour into a 5 quart container with a cover. Freeze for at least three days. Stir 2-3 times per day.

To serve, spoon into glass, approximately half full. Pour lemon-lime carbonated drink over top; stir and enjoy! For a festive touch, thread strawberries and blueberries on a toothpick and add to drink. Yield: 30 servings

For a festive Fourth of July twist, thread raspberries, strawberries and blueberries on a toothpick and use for garnish.

Cucumber Sandwiches

Dishes of pickles, olives and vegetable crudités add a healthy touch next to the standard chips and dips. Add a plate of these open faced cucumber sandwiches for a homemade addition to the snack table!

1 loaf cocktail rye bread

8 oz cream cheese, softened

1 packet Italian dressing mix

¼ c. mayonnaise

2 cucumbers, sliced in rounds

Paprika

Combine cream cheese, mayonnaise and Italian dressing mix in a bowl. Mix until combined. Spread on slices of rye bread, top with a cucumber slice. Sprinkle with paprika for color. Refrigerate until serving.

Fourth of July Snack Mix

Simply mix a few sweet and savory ingredients in a red, white and blue bowl for a snack mix your guests won't be able to keep their hands out of.

1 c. dried cherries

½ c. dried cranberries

1 c. dried blueberries

3 c. rice chex cereal

3 c. salty pretzels

1 c. candied walnuts

2 c. white mini marshmallows

Mix together in a patriotic bowl and serve! Adjust quantities of ingredients to suit your tastes.

So what to throw on the grill? Hot dogs and cheeseburgers are American classics and are found in nearly every backyard on July 4^th. Add a barbecue style flavor with pork tenderloin sandwiches. Simply rub trimmed tenderloins with garlic powder, salt and pepper and grill until the center temperature is 160 degrees. For a two pound tenderloin, this will be approximately 20-25 minutes over medium heat. Slice cooked tenderloin and serve on bakery buns with barbecue sauce.

Angel Food Coconut Berry Cake

This simply couldn't be easier! A store bought cake foundation with a few simple ingredients makes for a light and effortless finish to your holiday meal.

1 store bought angel food cake

2 containers Cool Whip

2 t. coconut extract

1 c. shredded coconut

3 c. blueberries, strawberries and raspberries cleaned and dried

Slice cake horizontally in half. Add coconut extract to Cool Whip - one to each container. Mix half of one Cool Whip container with 2 c. berries. Spread on bottom half of cake in a thick layer. Replace the top layer of the cake and frost the entire cake with remaining Cool Whip. Top the cake with remaining berries and cover the sides with coconut. Refrigerate until serving.

The Fourth of July shouldn't be spent in the kitchen. With just a few quick and easy recipes, you can join in the celebration of our country's birth instead of mixing and chopping. So with a margarita in one hand and a sparkler in another, sit back and enjoy the fireworks!