Some 4th of July Food Ideas

The Fourth of July holiday is another great time for those backyard chefs to show their stuff and create some great foods that are easy and fun. I have tried these, except for the cocktail recipe, and they went over well. Here are my top 5 favorites.

5. Grilled Marinated Pork Tenderloin: Marinate lean pork tenderloins in a cumin-garlic mixture, then grill them over medium-high heat and serve with a sweet and tangy brown sugar-ketchup sauce and fresh summer corn.

4. Classic Fried Chicken: With crispy, golden-brown skin and tender, moist meat, this buttermilk-soaked chicken is a no-fail cookout dish.

3. Macaroni Salad: Loaded with crunchy celery, in-season tomatoes, red onions and fragrant parsley, and tossed with a simple mayonnaise-mustard dressing.

2. Fourth of July Cocktail: Combines watermelon schnapps, tequila, blue curacao and a splash of cranberry juice to create a refreshing summertime sipper that is shining with red, white and blue colors.

1. Flag Cake: Wow your guests with a soft sheet cake, blanketed in velvety cream-cheese frosting and finished with a patriotic presentation of blueberries and raspberries.

I have a special take on Potato Salad. When you are making the dressing, add a little red wine vinegar to it. It gives it a nice little extra kick. Enjoy!

You can find specific recipes for these goodies at foodnetwork.com