For the greatest ease, and so you also have a wonderful time at your party, all of these recipes can be made ahead - except for the grilled meats. The potato and pasta salad recipes are actually best if made a day ahead, if you have the time. The Peanut Parfait Dessert and other chilled desserts are also best made ahead. Choose one or more recipes from the Red, White and Blue menu to add some patriotic flavor to any of the other menus too.
Dinner on the Grill
- Pork and Mango Skewers
- Grilled Steak with Herb Butter
- Fresh Corn Salad
- Garlic Bread
- Sherbet Fruit Pie
Traditional Menu
- Bacon Stuffed Cherry Tomatoes
- Best Lemonade
- Basil-Cheese Pull-Apart Breadsticks
- Fresh Fruit Salad with Poppyseed Dressing
- Rib Eye Steaks with Avocado Salsa
- Easy Strawberry Shortcake
Red, White, and Blue Menu
- Red, White and Blue Appetizers
- Patriotic Fruit Salad
- Red, White and Blue Potato Salad
- Red, White and Blue Slaw
- Ham Sandwiches with Blueberry Chutney
- American Flag Cookie Tart
- Red White and Blue Trifle
Make Ahead Menu
- Pesto Torte
- Cherry Chicken Salad
- Turkey Salad with Raspberry Mint Dressing
- My Mom's Potato Salad
- Peanut Parfait Dessert
Portable Picnic Menu
- Sour Cream Pesto Dip
- Oven Fried Picnic Chicken
- Ham and Cheese in Rye
- Couscous Vegetable Salad
- White Chocolate Chunk Wedges
Five Ingredient Menu
- Crab Spread
- Frosty Fresh Fruit
- Grilled New Potatoes
- Grilled Swordfish with Tomato Salsa
- Easy Tartufo
Feel free to substitute any deli foods for any of these recipes - remember, the key is to enjoy your own party! Set a lovely table, bring out all the food, and fire up the grill. Usually at any party, one person loves to be the grillmaster, so that job can be crossed off your list!
Food safety is always on my mind, especially when I'm entertaining. Here are the rules for summer.
- Keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold.
- The general rule is to not leave foods out at room temperature for more than two hours.
- Steamy summer weather changes this advice! If it's very hot, foods should be out of the fridge for only one hour. This way everything tastes better, stays fresher, and you can relax knowing everyone will have a great time.
- Make sure if you are taking any of these menus to a picnic spot that everything is well packed in a clean cooler, with lots of ice in double plastic bags. (See How to Pack a Picnic Basket.)
- Place the food that is most perishable (the meat, in this case) on the bottom. Don't place any uncooked food on top of cooked dishes, and remember as you grill the meat to serve the finished steaks on a clean platter to avoid cross-contamination.
One of my best Independence Day memories is swimming with my family at one of Minneapolis' many lakes, then going to my grandparents' house for a great meal and a perfect view of fireworks from their backyard.
Remember to enjoy yourself as you ooh and aah over the fireworks, well sated by your delicious meal. And have a wonderful and safe Fourth!
