Patriotic Holidays

Memorial Day and the Fourth of July call for the same kind of menu – easy, crowd-friendly food that works just as well poolside as it does at a backyard cookout. This collection covers both holidays with the salads, sips, and desserts that make a summer gathering feel festive.

For the spread, BLT Salad and Ranch Pasta Salad are the sides I bring to every cookout, and Mexican Street Corn Dip never lasts long on the table. To drink, Watermelon Sangria and Strawberry Lemonade Sangria are red-white-and-blue ready, and Angel Food Cake Berry Trifle is a fun, festive way to finish the meal.

  • Red Velvet Pound Cake

  • Berry Pie

  • Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries

  • Triple Berry Crepes

  • Watermelon Limeade

  • Mini Red, White & Blueberry Bundt Cakes

  • Hawaiian Macaroni Salad

  • No Bake Red White and Blue Cake

  • Red White and Blue Cheesecake Poke Cake

  • Best Three Cheese Ranch Pasta Salad

  • Berry Salad Fruit Lettuce Wraps

  • Boozy Strawberry Shortcake Milkshake

  • Cherry Limeade Sangria

  • Raspberry Lemonade Sorbet

  • Love Potion Cocktail

  • Cherry Moscow Mules

  • Individual Cherry Cheesecake Desserts

  • Strawberry & Goat Cheese Spinach Salad

  • Apple Pie Bourbon Smash

  • Brined Pork Roast

  • Boozy Strawberry Basil Lemonade Popsicles

  • Strawberry Lemonade Sangria

  • Red, White & Blue Berry Frozen Dessert

  • Hibiscus Tea Lemonade Cocktail