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Desserts and Sides for July 4th

The Fourth of July is a national holiday that most Americans celebrate with parades, barbeques, beach parties, picnics and other types of summer social gatherings. Whether you are hosting your own July 4th party or are attending a potluck, try some of these delicious summer recipes to bring new flavors and excitement to this year’s celebration!

Buttermilk Coleslaw (serves 8 to 10)

This tasty, easy-to-make coleslaw is a July 4^th favorite and makes a great side dish to grilled burgers and hot dogs.

½ cup sugar

½ cup mayonnaise

¼ cup milk

¼ cup buttermilk

2½ tbsp. lemon juice

1½ tbsp. white vinegar

½ tsp. salt

1/8 tsp. pepper

2, 10 oz. packages of finely shredded cabbage

1 carrot shredded (use more or less, depending on your preference)

Using a whisk and a large bowl, mix together all ingredients except the cabbage and carrot.
Once the mixture is well blended, add the cabbage and carrot.
Mix until all the ingredients are well coated. Cover the bowl and chill for at least two hours prior to serving.

This recipe takes approximately 15 minutes to prepare.

Grilled Sweet Corn

Nothing complements a July 4^th barbecue quite like sweet corn! Try this easy recipe for grilled sweet corn to serve at your Fourth of July barbecue.

corn on the cob with husks still attached, estimate 1-2 cobs per guest

bowl of ice water

cooking oil

melted butter

Peel back cornhusks to remove silk from corn. Replace husks.
Soak corn in ice water for thirty minutes. Shake off excess water.
Preheat the grill and coat with nonstick cooking spray or oil.
Grill corn over medium heat, about five inches above heat source. Turn regularly.
Grill until corn is tender, approximately 30 minutes.
Remove from heat. Carefully open husks and brush with butter.

Fourth of July Baked Beans (serves 12)

Baked beans is another side dish that complements any barbeque. Experiment with this unique variation on the traditional picnic favorite.

½ lb. bacon, diced

½ lb. ground beef

1 cup chopped sweet onions

1 can (28 oz.) Pork & Beans

2 cans (30 oz.) Kidney beans

½ cup barbecue sauce

½ cup ketchup

½ cup sugar

½ cup packed brown sugar

2 tbsp. mustard

2 tbsp. molasses

1 tsp. salt

½ tsp. chili powder

In a large skillet, cook bacon, beef and onions until meat is browned and onions are tender. Drain.
Transfer meat to a greased 2½-quart baking dish, add beans and mix well.
In a separate bowl, combine the remaining ingredients: barbecue sauce, ketchup, sugars, mustard, molasses, salt and chili powder.
Add sauce mix to beef and beans in the baking dish.
Cover and bake at 350°F for 45 minutes.
Uncover and bake for fifteen additional minutes.

Patriotic Fruit Salad (serves 6)

This delicious red, white and blue fruit salad is not only festive, but it is a healthy, guilt-free dessert that everyone can enjoy. It can be served as a salad or a dessert.

3 cups cubed seeded watermelon

2 cups blueberries

1 cup julienned jicama

¼ cup lemon juice

2 tbsp. oil

2 tbsp. honey

¼ tsp. salt

1/8 tsp. white pepper

Combine lemon juice, oil, honey, salt and pepper in small bowl and blend well.
Mix immediately with the fruits and jicama.
Chill well before serving. Serves six.

Gooey Chocolate Brownies (makes about 12 to 18 brownies)

Once guests have finished the main meal, tempt them with these decadent, tasty treats.

1 cup butter or margarine

4 oz. unsweetened chocolate

2 cups sugar

4 eggs

1 cup flour or pancake mix

½ to 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

In a saucepan, melt butter and chocolate over low heat, stirring occasionally.
Add sugar, stirring until dissolved. Remove from heat.
Allow the mixture to cool for 15 to 20 minutes.
Beat in the eggs one at a time.
Stir in the flour and chocolate chips.
Pour mixture into a well-greased 9 x 12-inch pan.
Bake 20 to 25 minutes at 350°F.
Cool for 5 to 10 minutes.
Cut into squares

Serve alone, with whipped cream or with vanilla ice cream.

Cool Whip Flag Cake (serves 15)

This delicious cake serves as a festive July 4^th decoration until your guests are ready to dive into dessert!

2 pints strawberries

1 12-oz. pound cake, cut into ten slices

1 1/3 c. blueberries

1 12-oz. container Cool Whip

Slice one cup strawberries, set aside.
Halve remaining strawberries, set aside.
Line bottom of 12 x 8-inch baking dish with cake slices.
Top with whipped cream.
Place strawberries and blueberries on whipped topping to create a flag design, using the strawberries to create stripes and the blueberries as the background for the stars.
Refrigerate until ready to serve.

American Flag Giant Cookie

This delicious cookie recipe is another eye-catching, decorative dessert that your guests will enjoy!

1 pkg. (15 oz.) sugar cookie mix

2 tbsp. vanilla yogurt

2 tbsp. powdered sugar

1 tbsp. lemon juice

1 tsp., grated lemon rind

1 pkg. (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened

Blueberries, raspberries and strawberries

Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Follow the package instructions for the sugar cookie mix.
Lightly grease a cookie sheet, and then press the cookie dough into a rectangle that is about 1/8" thick.
Press your thumbs into the edges to create a scalloped look.
Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until the edges begin to brown.
Remove from the oven and cool.
While the crust cools, mix the cream cheese, yogurt, sugar, lemon juice and lemon rind.
Spread frosting over the cooled cookie.
Arrange the fruit in an American flag design. Blueberries will form the blue field in the upper left hand corner. Raspberries and strawberries will be the horizontal stripes.

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