The Fourth of July is America’s Independence Day. Remember that red, white, and blue can be excellent colors for your fantastic 4th food and will be firework-worthy. Unfortunately, for many people in the States, the weather conditions on the 4th of July will be slightly warm or hot. Because of this, think about preparing your food selection according to the weather and foods that will thaw quick or won’t look as enticing in hot weather; keep cool as long as possible. This post is all about how to Plan a Perfect Outdoors 4th of July Menu!
Cooler/Ice Chest
For cooled dishes or meals that need to be kept cooled, make sure to have lots of ice gel packs or ice on hand and coolers or proper containers, particularly if you’re going to be preparing or camping out away from home. Think about storing food in cool places as long as you can before taking it out. Taking proper precautions like using appropriate containers and keeping foods cool will help keep foods from spoiling. There are many great containers. I love using zip-top containers. They’re easy, flexible, and ready to eat out of. They make the clean-up super easy.
Dutch Oven
If you’re camping out or enjoying the great outdoors on the 4th, think about foods you can prepare with a Dutch oven. You can find many excellent dishes at http://www.freshoffthegrid.com like chili mac, steamed clams, chili and cornbread, apple pie, banana bread, mac n cheese, enchiladas, pizza, garlic bread, nachos, to name a few. There are so many great recipes you can make with a Dutch oven. It’s beneficial to have one of these on hand. And as long as you prepare in advance, you can promptly make any of these meals.
Aluminum Foil Packets
Aluminum foil packets are also great options for your 4th of July adventures. These leave little mess, little hassle, and the dish always comes out terrific. You can find a slew of foil recipes at http://www.littlefamilyadventure.com. Aluminum foil packets are a fantastic selection for food prep on a grill or a Dutch stove if you have one at your disposal. These are great for the 4th of July and any time you’re cooking outdoors.
Classic Foods
Don’t forget the simplicity of burgers, hot dogs, and brats as terrific and classic 4th of July dishes. The less time you invest in prepping dishes, the more time you have to appreciate the great outdoors with family and friends.
When preparing dishes away from home on the 4th of July, the idea is to keep it simple. The easier and simple things are when eating outdoors, the more you can enjoy nature. So sit down and plan a perfect outdoor 4th of July menu, and you will inevitably have great food without the fuss and muss! Adventure awaits you, so keep it simple! Happy 4th!