Four Easy All-American Recipes for July 4th

The 4^th of July is the one day each year where we celebrate our nation’s independence and the birth of our country. Next week, the USA turns 241 years old. This time honored national holiday is also when families and friends traditionally gather for cookouts, parades and fireworks. If you’re hosting a party this Independence Day and need a little all-American inspiration, try whipping up a few easy-to-make, delicious, savory and sweet Wild Blueberry recipes that will really ramp up the “blue” in your patriotic theme.

Here are four simple recipes that will make your Fourth of July celebration sparkle while allowing you plenty of time to enjoy the day.

1. Appetizers with Flair: Take your basic bruschetta and add some patriotic flair with a pop of blue from frozen Wild Blueberries! This simple Bruschetta with Tomatoes and Wild Blueberries appetizer is a cinch to put together. Before the guests arrive, you can mix-up a large batch of the topping and toast the baguette slices, and then pull it together right before serving. Add a layer of fresh ricotta or cream cheese to really make your red, white and blue combo pop.

2. Fire Up the Grill: Lighting up the grill is a big part of celebrating the 4th of July. Plain old burgers and hot dogs are cookout staples, but they can get a little boring. These Wild Blueberry & Spinach Turkey Burgers will jazz things up on the grill and impress your guests. They’re moist and juicy thanks to the spinach; the sweet Wild Blueberries perfectly complement the salty bacon and feta.

3. Festive, Flavorful Salads: Add a colorful summer salad like this Wild Blueberry Orzo and Asparagus Salad to your menu. Your guests will experience an unexpected pop of flavor and antioxidants, and enjoy the bright and gorgeous purple-blue hue. This salad features a Wild Blueberry vinaigrette that is zesty and simple to make and would also taste great drizzled over sautéed vegetables or used as a marinade for chicken or tofu.

4. Patriotic Desserts: At an outdoor picnic or barbeque, ice cream sandwiches are easy grab-and-go treats! These Wild Blueberry ‘Whoopie Pie’ Ice Cream Sandwiches are out-of-this-world and combine two very classic American desserts – cookies and ice cream. To make them festive and patriotic, make red velvet cookies using a simple box recipe, grab your favorite vanilla ice cream and then add a layer of frozen Wild Blueberries to the outside edges to get that red, white and blue look.

Wild Blueberries are one of the oldest native North American fruits. These special berries have occurred naturally in Maine for more than 10,000 years and have never been planted. Today, Wild Blueberries are nurtured and harvested by a variety of independent family growers – many of whom have done so for generations. Harvested berries are frozen within 24 hours, locking in nutrients and taste at the peak of perfection. These special berries taste the same now as they did 10,000 years ago – making Wild Blueberries a fruit that is as close to how nature intended them, as possible. By adding Wild Blueberries to your July 4^th menu, you might be enjoying one of the very same fruits our Founding Fathers did 241 years ago.

Happy July 4^th!