Fourth of July wouldn’t be complete without American staples like ribs, coleslaw, corn on the cob, and fruit cobbler.  This year I turned to Pinterest for inspiration and new cooking methods for some of my favorite holiday weekend foods.  Here are some simple recipes of my own to try, I think you’ll like them as much as I do.
 
[ingredients]

Smokey Ribs

• 2-3 lbs Pork Ribs, St. Louis Style and hand-trimmed
• 1/2 jar of your favorite BBQ sauce. For this recipe, I prefer a smokey classic like Salt Lick, but you can use any favorite sauce you like
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp fresh cracked pepper

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Smother ribs with half the sauce and place in a baking dish.
2. Cover with foil and bake for 45 minutes.
3. Turn the heat to 350 degrees and uncover the ribs.
4. Slather the rest of the sauce on both sides and bake, uncovered for about 2 hours.
5. At this point, they will be ready, but for additional smokey flavor, place on a hot, covered grill for 20 more minutes, or place in the smoker, covered for 20 minutes.

[end-ingredients]
[ingredients]

My Favorite Mexican Corn

• 4 ears of corn
• Softened Butter
• Sea Salt
• 1 tbsp Mexican taco seasoning (I also like using just Cumin in a pinch, it’s smokey and so flavorful)
• Grated Cotija Cheese
• 1 green onion, sliced thin

Directions:

1. Brush the corn with butter on all sides, then sprinkle sea salt and taco seasoning on all sides.
2. Place in a baking dish and grate or crumble Cotija cheese, enough for a light sprinkling.
3. Bake at 400 degrees for about 10 minutes (you can also place these on the grill, without the cheese, then sprinkle it on top at the end).
4. Remove from oven and garnish with green onion slices.

[end-ingredients]
 

[ingredients]

Fruit Cobbler with Cereal Crust

• 4 cups of fresh strawberries, trimmed and sliced
• 1 cup cherries, pitted and sliced in half
• 1 cup of blueberries or blackberries
• 1/2 cup fairly packed brown sugar, divided
• 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 1 tbsp flour
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• 1 1/2 cups Shredded Wheat cereal
• 1/4 cup (half a stick) of melted, unsalted butter

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees.  In a mixing bowl, add the fruit, half of the brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, and lemon juice, and let sit for 10 minutes.
2. Place the Shredded Wheat bites into a large Ziplock bag and seal.  Pound lightly with a rolling pin until completely crushed.
3. In a separate mixing bowl, combine the melted butter and brown sugar and stir until dissolved.  Add the Shredded Wheat and toss.
4. Place the fruit in an engrossed baking dish, cover with the shredded wheat mixture, and bake, uncovered for 45 minutes or until fruit is bubbling and the top is golden.
5. Can be served hot or at room temperature.

[end-ingredients]
And just because they are so cute, I cut brownies with a star cookie cutter and decorated them with red, white, and blue frosting! Hope you have a wonderful Fourth of July with your family and friends!