From crowd-pleasing appetizers to easy desserts -- everything you need for your July 4th cookout!
The secret to making great steakhouse burgers at home is to use 85 percent lean ground beef, a panade -- a mixture of bread and milk that keeps meat tender and juicy even when cooked to medium-well -- and lots of seasoning, like garlic and Worcestershire sauce. GET THE RECIPE
Classic Buffalo wings are fried but grilled wings are truly no fuss, no muss and finger lickin' good! The key is to cook them over a moderate flame so that the fat renders out and the skin gets nice and crispy. The seasoned Buffalo sauce takes them over the top; it's made with garlic and spices, which makes it more flavorful than your typical hot sauce. GET THE RECIPE
Nothing says summer like Peel n' Eat Shrimp. Here, they're prepared Maryland-style: simmered in beer, butter and Old Bay with homemade cocktail sauce on the side. GET THE RECIPE
This is a great basic grilled chicken recipe -- perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or cookout -- and so versatile. You can serve the fillets on their own (kids love them), topped with cheese on a toasted bun or sliced over a salad. The best part? They're quick and easy; you do all of the prep ahead of time and you won't even dirty a single bowl. GET THE RECIPE
These flavorful shrimp are perfect for entertaining -- either as an appetizer or main course -- because all of the prep is done ahead of time. All you have to do when your guests arrive is throw the skewers on the grill. But be forewarned: People will eat more than their fair share. Make extra! GET THE RECIPE
Here's a delicious corn salad that you can make ahead of time -- such a refreshing change from the usual corn on the cob! GET THE RECIPE
Without a doubt, one of the simplest, prettiest, most delicious cakes you'll ever make. GET THE RECIPE
These aptly named squares of chocolate indulgence are from Nick Malgieri's Chocolate cookbook, an excellent resource for all things chocolate. Typically brownie lovers fall into two camps: the "fudgy" and the "cakey." I dare say these brownies -- moist and fudgy in the center, and cakey and crisp on the surface -- will appeal to all. GET THE RECIPE
Banana pudding is an old-fashioned Southern dessert traditionally made with layers of Nilla wafers, vanilla pudding and sliced bananas. This version bucks tradition a bit but still tastes wonderfully nostalgic and delicious. GET THE RECIPE
Blondies are a classic American treat, and the best part is that they're so easy to make: less ingredients than cookies (plus, you don't have to roll the dough into balls) and easier than brownies because there's no chocolate to melt. GET THE RECIPE