Easy 4th of July Meal

A great 4th of July meal cannot be topped. What could be better than sitting down with family and friends around a smoldering grill, enjoying some cold drinks and watching the fireworks? For a holiday meal that you can't beat, stick to the following suggestions for a complete menu:

First, the burgers:
Kicked-Up Burgers(from Gerry Garvin's series, Turn up the Heat on T.V. One)

Ingredients:
1 pound ground beef
3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons minced garlic
2 teaspoons minced shallot
2 teaspoons snipped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1/4 teaspoon salt
Pinch cayenne pepper
1 egg, beaten
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 tablespoons bread crumbs
5 tablespoons olive oil
3 tablespoons mayonnaise
3 teaspoons Dijon-style mustard
3 sourdough hamburger buns, split

1. Combine ground beef and all ingredients from Worcestershire sauce to cayenne pepper in a large glass bowl. Add egg and ground black pepper. Add bread crumbs. Roll into patties.

2. Heat olive oil over medium high heat in a medium skillet. Add patties until desired doneness (or, cook patties on a grill for superb flavor!).

3. Spread 1 tablespoon mayo and 1 teaspoon mustard on each bun. Sprinkle with black pepper to taste; add your favorite burger toppings.

Now, onto the colorful side:
Really Red Coleslaw(from Stacy Morris, Grilling magazine, 2007 issue)
Ingredients:
1 10-ounce bag shredded red cabbage (about 6 cups)
1 medium red onion, slivered (1 cup)
1/2 cup dried tart red cherries
1/2 cup red raspberry vinaigrette
1 tablespoon seedless red raspberry preserves

1. Combine cabbage, red onion, and dried cherries in an extra-large bowl; set aside. Combine vinaigrette and preserves; pour over slaw and toss to coat. Serve at room temperature or cover and refrigerate up to 6 hours. Makes 8 servings.

No 4th of July meal would be complete without a Jello dessert!
Wave Your Flag Cheesecake (coolwhip.com)
Ingredients:
1 qt. strawberries, divided
1 1/2 cups boiling water
2 pkg. (4-serving size each) Jell-O Brand Strawberry Flavor Gelatin
1 cup cold water plus ice cubes
1 pkg. (12 oz) pound cake, cut into 10 slices
1 1/3 cups blueberries, divided
2 pkg. (8 oz) Philadelphia Cream Cheese, softened
1/4 cup sugar
1 tub (8 oz) Cool Whip Whipped Topping, thawed

1. Slice 1 cup of the strawberries; set aside. Halve the remaining 3 cups strawberries; set aside.

2. Stir boiling water into dry gelatin mixes in large bowl at least 2 min. until completely dissolved. Add enough ice to cold water to measure 2 cups.

3. Add gelatin; stir until ice is completely melted. Refrigerate 5 min. or until gelatin is slightly thickened (consistency of unbeaten egg whites).

4. Meanwhile, line bottom of 13x9-inch dish with the cake slices. Add sliced strawberries and 1 cup of the blueberries to thickened gelatin; stir gently. Spoon over cake slices. Refrigerate 4 hours or until set.

5. Beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth; stir in whipped topping. Spread mixture over gelatin. Arrange berries to create your flag. Makes 20 servings.

Finally, sit back and relax with a drink while watching the fireworks
Raging Rita Margarita (Grilling magazine, 2007 issue)
Ingredients (makes one):
3 tablespoons tequila
3 tablespoons Fresh Sour Mix
3 tablespoons fresh orange juice
1 to 2 tablespoons Cointreau or other orange liqueur
Ice Cubes

Fresh Sour Mix
Stir together 2/3 cup sugar and 2/3 cup water in a small saucepan. Bring to boiling, stirring to dissolve sugar. Remove from heat and cool. Stir together 1 1/2 cups fresh lime juice, 1 cup fresh lemon juice, and syrup in a pitcher. Cover; refrigerate up to 1 week.

1. Place salt or sugar in a shallow dish. Rub the rim of a margarita glass with a lime wedge. Invert glass and dip rim into salt or sugar. Shake off any excess and set glass aside.

2. Place tequila, Fresh Sour Mix, orange juice, and Cointreau in a cocktail shaker with ice. Cover; shake vigorously. Strain into the prepared glass. Garnish with an orange wedge.

And, you're done! Have a delicious, fun 4th of July, y'all! That's how we do it in Texas!