Food is an important part of any national holiday in the good ol’ U S of A! As such, here are 5 easy and delicious recipes to make your 4th of July a memorable one.

Honey Mustard Grilled Chicken

This simple yet flavorful recipe is sure to impress even the most discerning of palates with its sweet and savory combination of flavors

Ingredients

• 4 - Skinless, boneless chicken breast halves.
• 2 tbsp- Mayonnaise
• 1/3 cup- Dijon mustard
• ¼ cup- Honey
• 1 tsp- Steak sauce

Preparation

1. Preheat the grill to medium heat.
2. Mix together honey, mustard, mayonnaise and steak sauce.
3. Separate some of the mixture for basting and dip the chicken breast halves into the remaining mixture and coat well.
4. Grill chicken for 18-20 minutes until juices start running clear.
5. Baste regularly with the set aside sauce and the juices for the last 10 minutes. Serve hot.

Slow Cooker BBQ Ribs

This instant classic is a staple at any American celebratory feast and the following recipe gives it a little extra flavor boost

Ingredients

• 4 pounds- Baby back ribs
• 2 cups- Tomato sauce
• 1 cup- Chili sauce
• ½ cup- Brown sugar
• 4 tbsp- Vinegar
• 2 tsp- Dried oregano
• 2 tsp- Worcestershire sauce
• 1 dash of hot sauce
• Salt and pepper to taste

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to high heat (400 degrees).
2. Rub the ribs with salt and pepper and place in a shallow pan.
3. Bake in oven for 15 minutes on each side and drain the fat.
4. Mix together the tomato sauce, brown sugar, vinegar, chili sauce, hot sauce, oregano, Worcestershire sauce and salt and pepper.
5. Cook on low heat for 6-8 hours until tender.
6. Serve with potato salad.

Lime Marinated Grilled Salmon

The tanginess of the lime and the light flakiness of the salmon really off-sets the hearty heft of the other meat dishes, making for a wonderful starter or main course.

Ingredients

• 4- Medium sized salmon steaks
• 2 tsp- Dijon Mustard
• 1 tbsp- Olive oil
• ¼ tsp- Ground ginger
• ¼ cup- Lime juice
• ¼ tsp- Garlic powder
• ¼ tsp-Cayenne pepper
• ¼ tsp-Ground black pepper

Preparation

1. In a bowl, whisk together the olive oil, mustard, ginger, garlic, lime juice black pepper and cayenne pepper and pour the mixture into a resalable bag.
2. Add the salmon and coat well with the marinade, seal the bag after squeezing out the excess air and marinade for an hour.
3. Preheat the grill to medium heat and grease the grate.
4. Remove the salmon from the bag and discard the marinade.
5. Grill until salmon starts flaking easily. Serve immediately.

Bacon Ranch Potato Salad

A wonderful side to meaty dishes but equally as hearty, this potato salad is reminiscent of the South and everything good about it.

Ingredients

• 12 cups- Cooked bacon, crumbled
• 2 pounds- Red potatoes, diced
• 1 ½ cup- Shredded cheddar or Parmesan cheese
• 2 cups- Sour cream
• 1 ounce- Ranch dressing
• 2 bunch- Spring onions, thinly chopped.

Preparation

1. Boil the potatoes in salted water at high heat then set to simmer on low heat for 15-20 minutes or till tender. Drain and run under cold water until cooled.
2. Blend the sour cream and ranch dressing in a bowl.
3. Combine all the ingredients and refrigerate for at least an hour before serving.

Grilled Pineapple

Sweet, salty and spicy all at the same time, this side is a party in the mouth as well as on the table!

Ingredients

• 1 Fresh Pineapple, cut into 1 inch slices
• 3 tbsp- Melted butter
• 1 dash of hot pepper sauce
• ¼ tsp-Honey
• Salt to taste

Preparation

1. Mix honey, butter, pepper sauce and salt and coat the pineapple slices with the mixture. Place into a sealable bag and marinate for at least 2-3 hours
2. Heat an outdoor grill on high.
3. Grill the slices until grill marks appear on each side.