A Foodie Guide to Celebrating the 4th of July
In America, the Fourth of July is a day to celebrate your country’s independence with the ones you love. Many people spend the day attending cookouts with their friends and families, indulging in delicious food throughout the day and watching the fireworks at night. While the celebration may look a little different this year, putting together a few Fourth of July inspired foods is sure to make the day special. Here are three simple recipes inspired by the holiday.
Chocolate Chip Cookies
Not much feels more American than a good old fashioned chocolate chip cookie. The first known recipe dates back to the late 1930’s, when Ruth Wakefield crafted the delicious cookies in Whitman, Massachusetts. At the time, she was running the Toll House restaurant and later sold the rights to the Toll House name along with her chocolate chip recipe to Nestle. To this day, her recipe is found on the back of every bag of Nestle chocolate chips.
Yields: 60 cookies
Ingredients:
136 grams all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
227 grams butter, softened
150 grams sugar
150 grams firmly packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 large eggs
340 grams semi-sweet chocolate chips
117 grams chopped nuts
Steps:
Preheat the oven to 190.5˚C
Mix flour, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl and put to the side.
In a larger bowl, combine butter, sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla. This should be done at a high speed until the mixture is creamy. Add eggs one at a time, while mixing well in between. Slowly add the dry ingredient mixture while continuing to beat at a low speed. Finally, stir in chocolate chips and nuts.
After placing on a cookie sheet, bake in the oven for about 10-12 minutes or until crispy on the edges. Enjoy!
Recipe adapted from Land O'Lakes.
Watermelon Strawberry Caprese Salad
Photo: Delish
Eating fresh watermelon on a hot summer day is an unparalleled feeling. Throw in some strawberries and feta cheese, what’s not to love? A refreshing watermelon strawberry caprese salad is the perfect side dish for so many go-to fourth of July foods like hamburgers, hot dogs, or ribs. This 3-step recipe only takes ten minutes to prepare and takes even less time to enjoy!
Serves: 4
Ingredients:
456 grams watermelon, cubed
152 grams strawberries, chopped
150 grams Feta, crumbled
32.5 grams extra-virgin olive oil
Salt and ground black pepper
5 grams fresh basil, torn
Steps:
Combine watermelon, strawberries, feta, and olive oil in a large bowl.
Season with salt and pepper and toss to coat.
Garnish with basil and serve.
Recipe adapted from Delish.
Patriotic Cheese Board
Photo: Fashionable Hostess
When serving a lot of people, it can be hard to find a lot of appetizers unique to the occasion that don’t feel overused. This charcuterie board style dish is perfect for an outdoor gathering no matter the size and it doesn’t require any actual cooking. To fit with the fourth of July theme, be sure to keep the red, white, and blue colors in mind when arranging the ingredients. Also, cutting the cheese into star shapes really gives the dish that extra Star-Spangled Banner touch.
Ingredients:
3-4 types of cheese
Salami
Grapes
Raspberries
Strawberries
Blueberries
Pita bread
Crackers
Hummus
Steps:
Prepare cheese by cutting into pieces, either square or star-shaped. Cheese can also be left in blocks for easy serving.
Assemble all ingredients onto a large dish or platter.
Serve and enjoy!
Recipe adapted from The Preppy Hostess.
Vocabulary list:
Cookout (n): A gathering where a meal is cooked and eaten outdoors; barbecue
Indulging (v): Allowing oneself to enjoy the pleasures of something
Unparalleled (adj.): Having no parallel or equal; exceptional
Garnish (v): To decorate something, typically used with food
Charcuterie (french term): A branch of cooking focused on the preparing of meats
The Star-Spangled Banner (n): The name of the national anthem of the United States
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kalyna is an undergraduate student at The Ohio State University studying business marketing and psychology. On campus, she gives tours as a University Ambassador and is also involved in greek life. In her free time, she enjoys going to the gym, being in the sun, and spending time with her friends and family.