Traditional Fourth of July Menu

This is the menu we always had for the Fourth of July when I was growing up. We started looking forward to the steak, potato salad, and strawberry shortcake when school let out in June! Everything, from the stuffed cherry tomato appetizers, to the perfect potato salad, to the juicy and tender grilled steak, to the strawberry shortcake dessert, is perfect.

Try it and you'll make this your traditional summer holiday dinner menu too!

Traditional Fourth of July Dinner Menu

• Bacon Stuffed Cherry Tomatoes
  These little gems are like a BLT sandwich, but to the 10th power. They're sweet, salty, crunchy, smooth, and just plain delicious.
• Best Lemonade
  I love this easy lemonade recipe. The simple syrup is really essential for the best lemonade, because the sugar is always completely dissolved.
• Basil-Cheese Breadsticks
  For an indulgent breadstick, this recipe takes the cake. The toasted bread is surrounded with butter, cheese, and garlic. Yum!
• My Mother's Potato Salad
  I've said it before and I'll say it again: this is the best potato salad ever. I don't make it often because it's too easy to eat a ton of it, but when I do we savor every last drop.
• Fresh Fruit Salad with Poppyseed Dressing
  Use the best fruits you can find at the market for this sweet and cool salad. It's the perfect thing to add to this rich menu.
• Grilled Ribeye Steaks
  All you need is a really good steak and a hot grill for this excellent main dish. Watch the steaks carefully on the grill and then enjoy every smoky, juicy, tender bite.
• Easy Strawberry Shortcake
  And this is the perfect dessert for a cookout. Juicy strawberries meld with pound cake and soft whipped cream in this wonderful combination.