Everyone is heading out-of-town early for the 4th of July weekend, and we’re just wrapping our heads around the fact that it’s HERE! Since we’re unprepared for the celebration, we figured others may be, too. So we compiled our best quick n’ easy, truly do-able recipes — from cocktail to dessert— with ingredients you can easily pick up today or locally.
To start, The Cuban Table’s Fab Mojito (the essential base is lovely WITHOUT alcohol as well: a minty limeade)
Warm Crushed Olives (Olivada), (spoon onto toast or bread for an instant hors d’oeuvres)
Also perfect with cocktails: Popcorn Improvisations (sage+garlic, shallot, bacon, white truffle…)
The ultimate first course (or lunch): Mamma Lucia’s Insalata Di Pomodoro. Her son-in-law wine-writer Anthony Giglio (inventor of the brilliant wine-friendly frozen grape ice cubes) makes it every summer. He slices the tomatoes ahead of time then seasons them at the LAST minute so that they don’t lose all their juices. Perfect on a slab of fresh mozzarella with good bread to mop up the juices. The ultimate first course.
Another great first course or lunch: Sliced Sugar Snaps with Shaved Parmigiano (You can use this essential olive oil + lemon + garlic + Parmgiano formula for many fresh and cooked vegetables)
Blueberries, Feta and Mint Salad (lovely + surprising first course, lunch or BREAKFAST)
Fragrant Herb Salt (THE perfect seasoning to any meat, poultry or vegetables you want to roast or grill AS WELL AS cookies)
Cedar Planked Salmon for the Grill
Yogurt Sauce with Toasted Spices, Lime Peel and Basil (perfect on grilled fish like cedar-planked salmon, or lamb AS WELL AS fresh cut melon and berries)
Classic Cole Slaw and these Three Chopped Salads are the perfect accompaniment to ANYTHING.
And some quick desserts:
Strawberry and/or Rhubarb Shortcake (you can serve the foolproof Cream Biscuits as a side bread or for breakfast)
Strawberries in Beaujolais Sauce (for Ice Cream or Shortcake)
Strawberry Rhubarb Crumble (WAY faster than a pie with the same effect)
Whipped cream with sea salt (sublime with pies, tarts, crumbles)
Stout Ice Cream Floats (one of our all-time most popular posts)
We hope these recipes make your weekend chill and happy.
