The Fourth of July is one of the most festive and beloved holidays of the year. It is all about bright colors and long-lasting traditions. When planning a party, the food you serve should be similarly bright and festive. Here’s a list of foods that stay true to traditions, but are also interesting and exciting:

1. Summertime Hot Dogs with Dr. Pepper Barbecue Sauce

Grilling out is a popular activity during the summer, particularly on the Fourth of July. Summertime hot dogs with Dr. Pepper barbeque sauce is from the Better Homes and Gardens website. This recipe revitalizes the traditional hot dog by adding an interesting, yet easy-to-make sauce. 

Ingredients:

4 tablespoons unsalted butter

1 large yellow onion, chopped

4 cloves garlic, chopped

1 12-ounce can Dr. Pepper

1 cup ketchup

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup cider vinegar

1/3 cup Worcestershire sauce

3 tablespoons tomato paste

2 teaspoons ancho chili powder

1 teaspoon finely ground white pepper

1 teaspoon kosher salt

8 hot dogs

8 hot dog buns, split and toasted

Directions:

1. Cook and stir onion and garlic in hot butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat for about 10 minutes, continuing until onions are tender.

2. Add all ingredients except hot dogs and buns to the saucepan.

3. Reduce heat, and let ingredients simmer while covered for 15 minutes.

4. Cook, uncovered, for 20 to 30 minutes until sauce begins to thicken.

5. Remove pan from heat and let sauce cool for 10 minutes.

6. Pour sauce into a blender and blend it until smooth. 

7. Grill hot dogs on a grill for five to seven minutes, until all are cooked through.

8. Place hot dogs in buns and pour sauce on each one.

9. Add any toppings you desire (onions, pickles, peppers, etc.) and serve. 

 

2. Uncle Sam Ice Cream Cone

Each year, when the Fourth of July rolls around, the weather in Iowa is usually extremely warm. Most people will be looking for respite from this heat. Cold foods provide at least a little relief on a hot summer day.  This recipe, taken from the Disney Family Fun website will not only cool you down, but also bring a smile to your face. 

Ingredients:

1 wafer ice cream cone

White frosting

Blue fruit leather

Red and blue decorating gels

Red and blue M&M’s

Whipped cream

Directions:

1. Place a scoop of vanilla ice cream on a plate and return the ice cream to the freezer to harden.

2. Coat the upper edge of the wafer ice cream cone with white frosting, and attach the blue fruit leather to the frosting, wrapping it all the way around the cone.

3. Draw lines on the cone with red decorating gel, leading from the base and continuing until you reach the fruit leather. Using the blue gel, draw a ring around the base.

4. Decorate the fruit leather by drawing stars with the white frosting.

5. Remove the ice cream from the freezer and place the cone on the ice cream. 

6. Add blue M&M’s for the eyes and red M&M’s for the nose.

7. Squirt some whipped cream on the ice cream to make a beard.

8. Serve the Uncle Sam ice cream cone.

3. Grilled Corn with Honey-Ancho Chili Butter

This bonappetit.com recipe uses Iowa’s most famous crop: corn. Grilled corn is the perfect side dish for most summer meals. Honey-ancho chili butter adds a zing to the classic vegetable.

Ingredients:

8 tablespoon unsalted butter

1 tablespoon ancho chili powder

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 tablespoon honey

1/3 teaspoon dried oregano

1/2 teaspoon coarse kosher salt

1/4 teaspoon granulated garlic

1/4 teaspoon onion powder

8 ears of corn

Directions:

1. Melt two tablespoons butter in a small skillet over medium-low heat.

2. Add chili powder and cumin, and stir for 10 seconds.

3. Transfer mixture into medium bowl, stir in honey, and cool.

4. Add oregano, salt, garlic, onion powder and six tablespoons butter, and mix until smooth.

5. Grill corn, until charred in spots, for about 13 minutes. 

6. Transfer corn to platter, and serve with honey-ancho butter. 

4. Cream cheese and pecan stuffed berries

Like corn, strawberries are also extremely popular in Iowa during the summer months. This foodnetwork.com recipe was created by Paula Deen. Although they aren’t the healthiest recipes, Deen’s food dishes are superb. By adding creem cheese, Deen transformed an otherwise boring snack into a flavorful, filling dessert.

Ingredients:

20 whole strawberries, hulled

8 ounces cream cheese

1/4 cup confectioners’ powdered sugar

1/4 cup teaspoon vanilla or almond extract

2/3 cup chopped pecans

Directions:

1. Cut a thin slice from the bottom of each strawberry to make the berries stand upright. 

2. Cut the berries into four wedges without cutting through the bottoms.

3. Mix together the cream cheese, sugar and vanilla until stiff. 

4. Fill the strawberries with cream cheese using a teaspoon or pastry bag with a decorative tip.

5. Sprinke chopped pecans on top of the berries, and serve.

5. Edible Eagles

This is another recipe from the Disney Family Fun website. Like the Uncle Sam Ice Cream Cone Recipe, this recipe creates a very cute-looking dessert. Beyond how they look, Edible Eagles also taste great!

Ingredients:

1/4 cup white chocolate chips

6 large marshmallows

6 cashews

Finely shredded coconut

Chocolate sandwich cookie

Black decorators’ gel

Directions:

1. Melt the white chocolate chips.

2. Add a large marshmallow into the chocolate for each bird you plan to make, and coat the marshmallows using a spatula.

3. Remove the marshmallow and roll it in coconut leaving one end uncovered. 

4. Set the marshmallow on a chocolate sandwich cookie with its coconut-free end down. 

5. Let the chocolate set, then use a toothpick to make a hole in the marshmallow.

6. Insert cashew into hole, add black decorators’-gel eyes and serve.