Who is ready for a Fourth of July cook-out? This Fourth promises to be HOT! Southern and central states are blazing hot already, and only the far western states are enjoying cooler temps. But regardless of where you live, most likely you’ll head to the beach, swimming pool, or the backyard to celebrate Independence Day and you’ll be doing so in the company of friends. While the traditional Fourth of July feast of hamburgers, BBQ, hotdogs, etc, is always good, why not include a few delicious twists to your menu? You know, surprise people with the unexpected? To help you with the wow factor, I’ve put together a collection of some fun and easy menu options for a delicious twist on the Fourth of July get together.
Grilled Grouper Burgers
First things up, I know hamburgers are always delicious but my favorite alternative to the hamburger is to make grilled grouper burgers. My favorite grouper burger is Shaw’s Southern Belle frozen grouper burgers. Although it’s frozen, they taste fresh and are perfect for a low-fat alternative to the hamburger. I like to prepare mine with a sprinkle of Tony Chachere’s cajun seasoning, a sprinkle of lime juice, and then top it off with grilled pineapple. Sometimes I’ll switch out the pineapple for avocado and chipotle mayo. Drop the bun on either option and save even more calories. Either way, you do it, this is delicious!
Spiral Cut Hotdogs
The next fun twist I came across while browsing the web the other day. Spiral cut hotdogs on the grill! Looks super easy and sounds delicious. The spirals allow the hotdogs to caramelize across more areas making for a delicious “twist” to this American classic. I love this idea and I’ll definitely be giving it a try tomorrow. Check out the super-easy video.
Grilled Barbecue Chicken Pizza
Next up, try a grilled barbecue chicken pizza. I made this the other day and it was so easy. Since you are already grilling, you may have some chicken on the grill, barbecuing. If not, do the “cheat method” and buy a roasted BBQ chicken at the deli at the grocery store and cut it up. Set aside the chicken for the pizza. You can make your dough from scratch, or you can buy pre-made dough from your local pizzeria. Our grocery store Publix, has a great pre-made dough in traditional or wheat. The next steps are simple, use your fingers to flatten out the dough, then brush one side with olive oil. Place the flattened out dough on top of the grill on medium heat for about 5-7 minutes or until the bottom side has grilled marks and is cooked. Take the dough off the grill and then top it off with your favorite BBQ sauce, cheese (I prefer gouda, you can also do mild goat cheese), then caramelize some Vidalia onions, sprinkle over the other toppings, then finish off on the grill until cheese is melted and pizza is golden brown. This will be so good, you won’t regret departing from the usual menu for the Fourth of July.
Carved Watermelon Animal
Lastly, I can’t end this post without including my carved watermelon animal which has been a hit! Watermelons are in season and they are so sweet this time of year. This little guy makes the perfect addition to any Fourth of July cookout. You can read how I made my carved watermelon animal here.
As for that cake up there? It was delicious, but not my recipe. My sister-in-law is the lady behind that one. I’ll have to get the recipe from her and share it with you all– one day soon.
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