Family friendly 4th of July recipes from appetizers to dessert

June 30, 8:29 AMHouston Family ExaminerLisa Carey

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Cyndi Allison/Yes! You Can Grill 

As families prepare for the 4th of July holiday many of us are making grocery lists and checking it twice and also making sure the grill is clean and ready for grilling and bar-b-ques. But what should be on our grocery list? Find out some of my favorite 4th of July recipes for entertaining friends and family or even for just celebrating the day with my immediate family.

Appetizer Recipes for the 4th of July
Veggie Pizza
Ingredients: 1 pkg cream cheese, 1 cup (more or less to taste) Ranch or Light Ranch Dressing, 1 package Pillsbury Crescent Rolls (or you can use frozen pizza dough or premade pizza rounds like Boboli), 1 package shredded cheddar cheese, 1 package shredded pizza cheese, assorted vegetables (broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, mushrooms, green onions, etc) bagged and cut already.

To prepare: Allow cream cheese to soften. Roll crescent rolls to out into rectangular baking pan and back according to package instructions (or pizza dough or warm premade pizza crust). While baking, mix together cream cheese and Ranch dressing. Remove crescent rolls from oven and let cool. Spread cream cheese across the cooled crescent rolls and top with handfuls of the vegetables and shredded cheeses.

This is a cool twist on pizza that even children can enjoy. Who says they won’t eat their vegetables. One nice thing about the recipe is everyone in the family can help to prepare it.

Sweet and Sour Meatballs
While everyone is waiting for the chicken, burgers, brisket, ribs or steaks to grill include these easy to make sweet and sour meatballs for snacking on. In Crockpot the morning of your 4th of July celebration place premade meatballs, barbeque sauce of your choice (I like the Jack Daniels) and one can drained pineapple chunks. Allow to “cook” or warm for 4 hours stirring occasionally. Put out the toothpicks and have a snack while waiting for the “real meat” of the meal.

Grilling Recipes for the 4th of July
YES! You can Grill is a website dedicated to everything grills from cleaning to using to great tasting recipes, instructions, sauces and marinades. So, even if you are not the greatest at grilling this site can answer all your questions and even give you a few ideas for unique sides dishes you can make on the grill, keeping you with your guests and out of the kitchen.

Dessert Recipes for the Fourth of July
Try this easy red, white and blue dessert that everyone will still have room for.
Ingredients: Angel food cake (make your own or purchase one). Strawberries, blueberries and whipped cream.

To prepare: Slice Angel food cake and place slices on their side. Wash and cut strawberries. Wash blueberries. Top Angel Food cake with berries and whipped cream. That’s it – it’s that easy.

You can also offer a variety of melons in star shaped cut outs. Using watermelon, cantaloupe, and honeydew and a star shaped cookie cutter you can decorate a tray with delicious and nutritious snacks and desserts of fresh fruit.
 

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