Fourth of July Recipes for a Festive Feast

Each year, on July 4^th, as Americans celebrate Independence Day, families and friends gather for food, fellowship, fun and fireworks.

What wonderful all-American Fourth of July recipes can you prepare and share at your Independence Day barbecue, picnic or potluck?

Here are a few of our favorite Fourth of July recipes, certain to get guests gallantly streaming to the all-American holiday picnic table for second helpings.

Liberty Lemonade

Johnny will come running, not merely marching, home for this delicious thirst quencher. Simple to make, Liberty Lemonade is a surefire all-American crowd pleaser, especially at a Fourth of July barbecue, picnic or potluck.

This Fourth of July recipe, Liberty Lemonade, is an all-American Independence Day favorite.

Liberty Lemonade Ingredients:

8 cups cold water
1 1/2 cups white granulated sugar
2 cups lemon juice concentrate
(or juice from fresh-squeezed lemons)

Liberty Lemonade Instructions:

In a medium saucepan, combine 2 cups of water and sugar over low heat. Stir constantly, until sugar is dissolved, making a sweet syrup.

Remove pan from heat. Allow sugar mixture to cool, then pour it into a large pitcher. Add lemon juice and additional water, and stir well. (Add more or less water, according to your taste.)

Refrigerate Liberty Lemonade before serving. Serve Liberty Lemonade over ice in stemmed glasses, tied with American red, white and blue ribbons. Garnish with sliced lemons and maraschino cherries.

Note:

This Fourth of July recipe, for Liberty Lemonade serves 12 people. The all-American holiday recipe may be doubled for a larger crowd at a Fourth of July barbecue, picnic or potluck.

Patriotic Potato Salad

No Independence Day barbecue, picnic or potluck is complete without a delicious all-American holiday potato salad, using this Fourth of July recipe. Of course, you could buy a basic potato salad in any delicatessen. Still, would you rather offer something a little zippier like this tangy all-American dish?

Try Patriotic Potato Salad, a Fourth of July recipe. The proof is in the pickle!

Patriotic Potato Salad Ingredients:

4 medium russet potatoes (unpeeled)
3 tablespoons kosher dill pickle juice (drained from the jar)
2-4 pickles (chopped)
1/3 cup fresh parsley (chopped)
1/4 cup fresh onion (chopped)
3 stalks fresh celery (chopped)
3 fresh scallions (chopped)
1/8 cup pimentos (chopped)
2 hard-boiled eggs (peeled and chopped)
3/4 cup mayonnaise (or plain salad dressing)
1/8 cup dijon mustard
1/8 teaspoon black pepper (ground)

Patriotic Potato Salad Instructions:

Cut potatoes into bite-sized wedges, and place in large kettle, half-filled with boiling water.

Simmer 15 minutes, until potatoes grow tender (but not mushy). You should be able to puncture the potatoes easily with a fork, but not mash them.

Remove potatoes from heat, drain off water, and let them cool.

In a large bowl, mix pickle juice, chopped pickles, parsley, onion, celery, scallions, pimentos, and eggs.

In a smaller bowl, combine mayonnaise, mustard, and pepper. Gently fold dressing into potato mixture.

Cover tightly, and chill until ready to serve for your Fourth of July barbecue, picnic or potluck. (Be sure to refrigerate leftover Patriotic Potato Salad promptly, as mayonnaise can spoil quickly on a hot day.)

You may choose to offer printed copies of this Fourth of July recipe, as it is bound to be popular with your all-American Independence Day guests.

Uncle Sam's Super Salad

This Fourth of July recipe is practically a Constitutional requirement for an Independence Day celebration. At least, it ought to be.

Uncle Sam's Super Salad is a healthy and fresh all-American addition to a Fourth of July barbecue, picnic or potluck. Toss in additional fresh vegetables, if you wish, for color and flavor.

Uncle Sam's Super Salad Ingredients:

1 large bag lettuce (mixed greens)
1 large ripe tomato (sliced thinly)
2 medium zucchini (sliced thinly)
1 orange (with rind and membranes removed)
1 red onion (sliced thinly)
1/4 cup fresh parsley (chopped)
1/4 cup fresh oregano (chopped)
1/4 cup fresh basil (chopped)

Uncle Sam's Super Salad Instructions:

Mix all ingredients in large salad bowl. Toss gently with balsamic vinaigrette dressing (see below).

Uncle Sam's Super Salad Dressing
(Balsamic Vinaigrette)

3 tablespoons olive oil
2 1/2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar (or red wine vinegar)
1 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/8 teaspoon black pepper (ground)

Mix all ingredients in a shaker-cup or a tightly sealed sealed jar. Shake well until thoroughly blended. Chill before using. Toss Uncle Sam's Super Salad with dressing immediately before serving at your Fourth of July barbecue, picnic or potluck.

Be sure to have copies of this all-American Fourth of July recipe on hand, as your fellow Independence Day celebrants are certain to ask.

Constitution Corn Roast

What could be more fun for a Fourth of July barbecue, picnic or potluck than an old-fashioned all-American corn roast? On the grill or even an open fire, Constitution Corn Roast is a red-hot hit. Here's the Fourth of July recipe.

Constitution Corn Roast Ingredients:

Fresh sweet corn-on-the-cob
(at least one ear per person)
Butter (to taste)
Salt and pepper (to taste)

Constitution Corn Roast Instructions:

Remove the outer husk of each ear of sweet corn. Peel back the inner layers of husk, and remove the corn silks. Fold the inner corn husks back over the kernels, and place the ears on the grill (or on hot coals in a fire).

Roast corn for approximately 12 minutes. The husks will brown and char. This is normal.

Carefully peel back corn husks before serving. That's all there is to it. Could a Fourth of July recipe be any easier?

Some Fourth of July barbecue, picnic or potluck hosts offer deep kettles of melted butter, so guests can dip their corn ears directly into it before enjoying this delicious all-American Fourth of July treat.

For added flair, why not print out a copy of the preamble to the U.S. Constitution to place under your Constitution Corn Roast serving dish or platter?

Home-of-the-Brave Chicken

On the Fourth of July, you can celebrate the birthday of the home of the brave with all-American holiday barbecued chicken. Cooked on the grill, this Fourth of July recipe is a perennial favorite for a Fourth of July barbecue, picnic or potluck.

Home-of-the-Brave Chicken Ingredients:

Several chicken parts
(breasts, drumsticks, thighs) with skin-on and bones-in
Olive oil
Salt and pepper
Barbecue sauce (your pick)

Home-of-the-Brave Chicken Instructions:

Wash chicken well under running cold water. Pat chicken parts with clean paper towels.

Put all chicken parts in a flat baking dish. Brush both sides of each piece with olive oil.

Before lighting the barbecue grill, spray or coat the grill grate with olive oil.

Heat grill to medium, or prepare hibachi coals to a glowing heat.

Place chicken parts on the grill grate, with the skin side facing down. Cook for 20 minutes, uncovered. Turn chicken pieces over every five minutes.

Brush chicken pieces with barbecue sauce. Cook for an additional 10 minutes. (If your chicken seems to become too crispy or charred, move it away from the main heat source on the grill.)

Poke chicken pieces with a barbecue fork to test doneness. Juices should run clear.

You can serve Home-of-the-Brave Chickenwith an additional dish of fresh barbecue sauce, if desired, at your Fourth of July barbecue, picnic or potluck.

Make your own homemade barbecue sauce, if you wish, or choose your favorite brand and flavor for this all-American Fourth of July recipe.

Minuteman Meatballs

During the American Revolutionary war, the colonists formed a home-grown militia. Farmers and tradesmen would drop their tasks, take up arms and head for the battlefield immediately to fight for freedom. They quickly became known as the Minutemen.

Meatballs are minute, but delicious, making them popular all-American fare for a Fourth of July barbecue, picnic or potluck. And Minuteman Meatballs, a savory Fourth of July recipe, are easy to make.

Minuteman Meatballs Ingredients:

Vegetable spray
1 pound ground beef
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
1/2 cup bread crumbs
2 tablespoons ketchup
2 eggs
1 tablespoon onion flakes
1 tablespoon dried parsley
Salt and pepper (to taste)

Minuteman Meatballs Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 (F) degrees. Spray a flat baking pan or rimmed cookie sheet with vegetable spray.

In a large bowl, blend all ingredients well with a hand mixer.

Form Minuteman Meatballs by hand. Smaller, bite-sized meatballs tend to cook more evenly. Ideally, Minuteman Meatballs should be slightly larger than bigger marbles and slightly smaller than standard-sized golf balls. (Diners should be able to pick up Minuteman Meatballs with toothpicks.

Place Minuteman Meatballs in the prepared baking pan (or on the prepared cookie sheet). Meatballs should not touch one another.

Bake Minuteman Meatballs for 15 to 20 minutes, until they are slightly browned. Test one of the meatballs by cutting it in half. The inside should be light brown, not pink.

Serve Minuteman Meatballs with American flag toothpicks for your Fourth of July barbecue, picnic or potluck. Offer ketchup or barbecue sauce as a topping.

Plated or offered as finger-food, all-American Minuteman Meatballs are a must-have Fourth of July recipe for any Independence Day celebration.

Fireworks Fruit Salad

The tangy dressing in this Fourth of July recipe makes Fireworks Fruit Saladstand out from the rest of the all-American salads you might find at a Fourth of July barbecue, picnic or potluck.

Fireworks Fruit Salad Ingredients:

2 fresh red apples (unpeeled, but sliced thinly)
20-30 seedless green grapes (may substitute red ones)
1/2 cantaloupe (cleaned and diced)
1 can (16 oz.) pineapple chunks (drained)
10-12 large strawberries (cleaned and quartered)
1/2 cup fresh blueberries (in season)
1 can (11 oz.) mandarin oranges (drained)
1/4 cup raisins (brown or green)
1/2 cup granola (optional)

Fireworks Fruit Salad Dressing:

1/2 cup sour cream (or half-and-half)
1 cup cottage cheese
1 cup vanilla yogurt
2 tablespoons honey
2 teaspoons lime juice
1/4 teaspoon ginger

Combine all dressing ingredients in large mixing bowl. Using hand mixer, combine these well.

Add cut-up fruit, and stir gently.

Remove fruit salad neatly into large glass bowl.

Top with granola, and serve immediately, or cover tightly and refrigerate until serving at your Fourth of July barbecue, picnic or potluck.

For extra Fourth of July fun, you might stick a few fiery all-American sparklers into your Fireworks Fruit Salad, as you present it.

Again, be prepared for guests to ask for copies of your Fourth of July recipe for Fireworks Fruit Salad Dressing. This all-American dish is simply delicious.

Happy Fourth of July!

With this multi-course all-American assortment of Fourth of July recipes, your Independence Day barbecue, picnic or potluck is sure to be a blast, from the dawn's early light to the twilight's last gleaming.

A Terrific Toast

Of course, no festive feast is complete (even with the finest Fourth of July recipes) on Independence Day without a terrific all-American toast. Why not read a patriotic poem, as you and your guests toast America at your Fourth of July barbecue, picnic or potluck?

Click here to read "Wave of Glory - A Poetic Manner on the American Banner."