No holiday is as synonymous with summer as the 4th of July. Warm weather, friends, long sunny afternoons, fireworks and of course, FOOD.
Our family’s typical Independence Day starts with either running the Firecracker 5K or completing a Donut Ruck – an annual event through our gym where we walk with weighted vests to 7 different donut shops (8-10 miles total!). Both activities are fun, but one is certainly more delicious 🍩.
Afterwards (after sneaking in a shower and maybe a quick nap), we typically hang out with friends and relax. At night, we’ll watch the fireworks over the lake. Some years, we’ve even taken the paddleboards out on the lake to watch. Watching the water light up along with the sky is truly magical! I have many precious memories of our family spending time together to celebrate.
This year, we’re going classic and holding a blowout 4th of July BBQ with family and friends. Food possibilities for Independence Day are endless, but it’s also difficult to shake things up and make your dishes stand out.
To make our BBQs extra memorable, we mix things up with creative sauces and marinades. We also like to ensure we have something for everyone – vegetarians, vegans and carnivores alike. Along with our favorite Red, White and Blue Potato Salad (always needed for the 4th), here are a few of our go to marinades and sauces:
Harissa-Fig Marinade – great for chicken!
Chipotle-Pineapple Marinade - Great on any protein (even tofu!)
Avocado Chimichurri Sauce with Pinot Noir Vinegar – One of our favs! Serve on steak, grilled veggies or use as a dip!
Ultimate Balsamic BBQ Sauce – Honestly, we’ve used this for everything, even as a dipping sauce for fresh cut veggies.
Ciao!
Andi
