4th of July Recipe Round Up

The 4^th of July is just around the corner and that means fun, frolicking, and most importantly FOOD. Most years I find myself making sweet treats for my niece Lucy, as her birthday falls on the 4th. We all like to gather in Fire Island to celebrate as we sing happy birthday and watch the fire works.

To say Lucy loves dessert is an understatement, so I always try my best to put a smile on her sweet little sugar addicted face and make her some incredible treats. No matter what you are making this July 4^th it should be easy, should make people smile and if it happens to also be red white and blue than even better. So here are some of my favorite July 4^th recipes that will make your weekend that much more sweet.

Red, White + Blue Sangria  by Crista at Peace.Love.Quinoa

Let’s start this 4th of July with fizzy and refreshing white wine sangria's! In this recipe she finishes her sangria off with sparkling water; I think I'm going to skip that part and finish it with some bubbly champagne! The best part about sangria is you can use whatever wine, fruit and juice you like.

Roasted Garlic and Basil Hummus

Hummus has really become a family affair. Healthy adults dip veggies into it, kids bring it to school on a sandwich, and I've seen more than one dog try to sneak a lick of it. Hummus is just plain tasty and it's a perfect thing to have out when your guests arrive. My favorite thing to do is to grill up some bread to serve along side the hummus. If your looking to bring some veggies to the party, some grilled carrots, zucchini and even turnips are great accompaniments to this sweet and garlicky hummus.

Bunnies in Blankets

Though you may be focused on the main dishes this July 4^th, you don't want to forget about the appetizers. Besides some fruit and cheese and maybe some sliced salami, it's always nice to serve a hot appetizer. So get some of these Bunnies in Blankets in the oven and in no time you will have a precious little app thats almost as cute as it is delicious.

Portobello Mushroom Burger with Blue Cheese and Caramelized Red Onions

from Saveur

What 4th of July party is complete without a good burger? This burger is actually made of ground up steamed Portobello mushrooms combined with a hint of steak sauce and garlic which make it taste super meaty. It’s finished on the grill then topped with blue cheese and caramelized red onions. If you want to make it a Meat on the Side dish, you could add some crispy bacon.

Brussels Sprouts + Wild Rice Salad with Sliced Pork

Pork tenderloin is great for grilling because of how quickly it cooks; Serving it on the side of this Brussels sprouts + wild rice salad is perfect for your outside (or inside) entertaining! Here are a few tips to alter the recipe for outdoor grilling:  prepare the salad and dressing regularly, add in some sliced strawberries if you want to be really festive and have all red, white and blue colors in the salad! For the pork tenderloin and the cheese, just cook both of them on the grill instead of in a pan.

Pickled Strawberry and Giant Corn Salad

Strawberries and a good salad are always a necessity at any 4^th of July celebration. But why not combine them to create a suped up summer salad! By pickling the strawberries you make them sweet and tart at the same time, which in turn makes this salad totally addictive. Add on a honey coconut vinaigrette and people just may be getting seconds over at the salad table instead of at the grill.

Hawaiian Chicken Kabobs by Christine at Apple of My Eye

Who doesn’t love a good Kabob? These Hawaiian chicken kabobs are filled with juicy chunks of pineapple, sweet red peppers, and tender marinated chicken.

Red, White and Blue Potato Salad from Eatsy

Potato salad is a staple that everyone grew up with eating at summer BBQ's.  However this one isn’t your traditional white potatoes, mayonnaise, and hard-boiled egg potato salad. This salad has (you guessed it) red, white and blue potatoes, tomatoes, and green beans which are all tossed in tangy mustard vinaigrette.

Brownie Bites with Caramel Centers

When I'm at a party I like as many things as possible to be bite sized. I don't have time to find a seat and eat a piece of pie. I need to be able to chase down my nieces and nephew before I get attached with another water balloon that has a tendency to consistently find it's way to my once dry hair. So when you need a dessert on the go you want my Brownie Bites with Caramel Centers. They are bites sized, chewy and moist and best of all they have a rolo hiding inside. 

Oreo Cheesecake Truffles with Red + Blue Sprinkles by Amy at Living Locurto

These things are crazy good, quick to make, and SCREAM Happy 4th of July... Ok so they don’t actually scream, but they are delicious little festive bites that will be long gone before the fireworks even start.

Brown Butter Nutella Stuffed Cookies

July 4^th brings out the kid in us. It's about running through the sprinkler, chilling in the shade of your favorite tree and going to town on every dessert in sight. Or maybe just one dessert, if you make these Brown Butter Nuttella Stuffed Cookies there is only one dessert that people are going to be talking about, and it's these cookies. The name says it all, so bake up a batch and be sure to save some for yourself, because they will be gone in an instant and there is nothing sadder than missing the last cookie.

Have a safe and Happy 4th of  July!

You might also like these recipes:

• Brown Butter Cucumbers + Popped Amaranth
• Brie + Honey Crostini
• Veggie Bolognese
• Chard Sandwich w/ Sundried Tomato Smear
• Cauliflower Alfredo