Fourth of July

Brush thick slices of country-style bread with olive oil and grill until golden, about two minutes per side. Serve alongside steaks. What to drink: Beckmen Vineyards 2000 Syrah, Estate, Santa Ynez Valley, or another light-bodied Syrah.

Buttermilk and lemon juice add some tang; carrots and celery add crunch.

Ripe tomatoes, basil and fresh corn enhance a terrific side dish.

This is the one potato salad that purists dream of-plenty of tangy dressing and just a bit of crunch. Low-fat or nonfat mayonnaise and sour cream can be used.

Dry-rubbed before grilling, the delicious bird is then generously drizzled with a zesty sauce at the table-twice the firepower for twice the fun.

This salad is excellent with burgers and corn on the cob.

We liked fleur de sel or Malden flaked sea salt best in this recipe, though other types work fine. If using coarse sea salt instead of flaked or fine, crush it lightly.

Enriched with a little cream and sugar, jumbo-size refrigerator biscuits become shortcakes worthy of the season's best berries. Since there are more biscuits in the tube than you'll need, you could bake extras at the same time and save them for breakfast the next day.

Crumbled amaretti add great crunch and nice almond flavor to this layered dessert.

The instructions given here are for a standard 22-inch Weber kettle barbecue. Grilling times and vent adjustments will vary with different types of barbecues.

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less. The pickles add crunch and tangy flavor to an old-time favorite.

Sweet and hot Italian sausages are delicious grilled over charcoal.

Active time: 30 minutes Start to finish: 1 1/2 hours

Zingerman's is one of the best-known corner delis in the Midwest. This classic creamy potato salad, which has just the right amount of mayonnaise tang, is a mainstay on the menu there.