Zinfandel is the wine I most associate with the 4th of July holiday, not just because it is such an American wine, but also because it is perfect with barbecue. While there are lots of great choices out there, I heartily recommend this 2009 Estancia Keyes Canyon Ranches Zinfandel from Paso Robles, California. More

Maybe it's the fact that this recipe combines two of my favorite things into a single dessert, or maybe it's the play on words, but no matter how you look at it, these "pies 'n' cream sandwiches" are just about the cutest thing ever and have 4th of July picnic written all over them. More

A good drink dispenser (see some favorites here) is helpful at summer cookouts — it keeps lemonade or boozy beverages cold and makes it easy for guests to serve themselves without the need to constantly refill smaller pitchers. But beverage dispensers often aren't cheap, and honestly, I don't have room for such a bulky thing in my kitchen. This is why this idea is so brilliant — make a drink keg out of a watermelon! More

Grilling is a beautiful thing. You can grill something (perhaps accidentally) until it's so blackened and beyond edible-looking that you think it won't be fit for anyone but the dog. But when you tentatively slice off a piece, it turns out to be absolutely perfect. This recipe for beer-brined chicken is a case in point. More

Red, white & blue — flag cakes with lines of blueberries and strawberries will adorn picnic tables all over the nation this weekend. As much as we love this classic Independence Day dessert, we were also in search of other, more creative ideas. We took a spin around the food blogosphere and found some delicious red, white & blue treats, from all-natural fruit pops to layered parfaits, to an amazing flag cake with all the color inside instead of on top. Come peek at all 15 treats! More

Looking for a cocktail to cool off with over the Fourth of July weekend? Something simple and not too fussy that can help max out your chillaxing time? Here are 20 quick-and-easy ones from our archives, each made from no more than three simple ingredients. Perfect for these lusciously lazy days of summer. More

Happy 4th of July! Is the grill fired up yet? We're taking the day off, but we still have a few summery goodies for you, including a great guest post. Watch for those later this morning. We hope that you're having a splendid summer holiday, full of good food, good company, and relaxation. Happy Independence Day! More

July 4th weekend and Thanksgiving are the two times in the year when I insist on serving only American wines. Every year the array to choose from grows, and can become mind-bogglingly confusing, especially if you want to stray from your habitual wines and venture into something different. Read on for some delicious suggestions to get your July 4th party going. More

There are times when you want dishes that are shiny and new, a little out of the ordinary. And then there are times when you want food that's familiar, that you know everyone will like, and makes you feel good just sitting down to eat it. In other words: classic. And that's exactly what we want this 4th of July. More

We've been on a real popcorn kick lately (you might have noticed). One of our recent discoveries has been a vendor at a local market selling several different varieties of popcorn. It's just a coincidence, but we happen to have red, white, and blue kernels stocked in our cupboard this holiday weekend! More