4th of July BBQ Foods

I love a party!  This is just a quick post in case you are here looking for picnic or barbecue ideas for the weekend.  We usually have a family breakfast and a burgers/dogs on the grill at some point. Happy Birthday America!

Scones are a family favorite with us.  This recipe is a dream for a gathering in that you can make it days before and let it wait in the fridge until your ready for it.  You can plug in an electric skillet and fry these on the patio.  Set out the honey butter and let people eat them as they cook, hot and scrumptious! It will feed a crowd.  Our family standard for celebration breakfasts is Oatmeal Pancakes (batter prepared night before).

America should have a birthday cake, right?  Here are my summer favorites, as they are make-ahead and come out of the fridge cool and oh, so nice! Easy Jello Pudding Cake, Tres Leches Cake, Brownie Swirl Cheesecake, Frankie's No-Bake Cheesecake.  Here are two that travel really well, and are fast to make (and will feed a big crew!) Texas Sheet Cake; White Texas Sheet  Cake.

Salads and Sides: This is the list when someone says, "Just bring a side dish, dear."  Potato Salad is one of my personal favorites.  Cornbread Salad is the one I'm hoping my sister-in-law will bring. Snickers Salad is going to be one of the favorites on any table (this one you need to assemble just before eating). Two nice crunchy alternatives to the proverbial green salad are Broccoli Cauliflower Salad and Ramen Noodle Salad.  And no self-respecting relative in my family has a gathering without the Baked Beans.

There is a wonderful barbecue sauce for chicken with this recipe for Zesty Chicken Wings. Sloppy Joe's are nice to tuck into after a morning at the parade.  The meat can be hot and ready in your crock pot while you're away. Fried Chicken is classic for a picnic. If you don't have a grill, but you like a charred hot dog, try Hot Dogs and Onions.

What's more American than Apple Pie? Pie in general is one of my weaknesses!  Here are some favorites:

Aunt Elaine's Rhubarb Pie; Luscious Lime Pie; Cream Cheese Pie; and knock-your-socks-off Cheddar Pear Pie. Pie is welcome where ever it goes.

Just some ideas to get your mouth watering!  Eat watermelon.  Eat corn on the cob.  Let your taste buds know you're celebrating!

Jenny