Another American food thread. Fourth of July!

[giantwaterbottle]

I have had several American food threads (I love it, both the food and the threads).

Americans or ex pats in America, please tell me all about your 4th of July food traditions.
What do you eat?
Do people across the country all way similar things?
Is it like thanksgiving tradition-wise?

I did thanksgiving here last year and loved it, I will definitely be doing 4th July.

Many Americans bbq on the 4th. Hot dogs, hamburgers, potato chips, potato salad, macaroni salad. There is also a tradition of a red, white, and blue dessert. Some do strawberries and blueberries in a white frosted cake to make a flag, or, better, make a simple dish in a trifle glass of layers of strawberries and. Lie errors with whipped cream layers in between.

Layers not lie errors…sorry

DP makes something called Bacon Explosion for 4th July (which he also sometimes makes for Thanksgiving and Labor Day, though this may just be a DP Thing or a Detroit Thing) - basically sausagemeat, cheese, jalapenos, barbecue sauce and various other condiments of your choice shaped into a football, wrapped in a bacon jacket, smoked and barbecued: www.cutsandcrumbles.com/bacon-explosion/
I find it a bit too flavoursome, but lots of our friends seem to like it when he makes it.

Firecracker milkshake also a big favourite: www.readyseteat.com/recipes-Firecracker-Shakes-9606
Finding substitute ingredients for the pudding mix and Cool Whip that he likes to add in a UK supermarket is one of the best things about it.

We often have a cookout (note in the South it's a cookout: barbecue is a whole hog or large parts thereof cooked low and slow over the indirect heat of a wood fire. Burgers, hot dogs, or steaks cooked outside on a grill is a cookout.)

We do hot dogs, burgers, and Italian sausage. Sides are cole slaw, potato salad, baked beans, potato chips, and sweet pickles. Beer, soft drinks, and iced tea to drink. Peach ice cream with pound cake for dessert.

We usually focus on finding a parade and some fireworks, and maybe have a picnic at one of the oceanside state parks.

I now feel like we’re not trying and should do a big BBQ or something.