July is here, and with it comes our country’s most famous holiday. Every year, we host a fireworks party on the 3rd of July for our neighborhood, and we always enjoy hamburgers, hot dogs, salads, and lots of laughs together. The Fourth of July is synonymous to “barbecue”, so pull out your grill and get ready to taste some fireworks this week!
Seafood Monday: Grilled Tilapia
I fell in love with seafood when our family lived in Seattle, and I still try to incorporate it into our meal rotation every week. This whole grilled tilapia is super crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. It’s a must-try!
Hot tips
- I buy whole tilapia from Costco, but you can also find it in the seafood section of most grocery stores.
- Dish up creamed new potatoes and grilled eggplant on the side.
Sweet and Sticky Tuesday: BBQ Pork Ribs
My boys are obsessed with these ribs. They’re fall-off-the-bone tender and irresistibly sticky — you’d never guess they take under two hours from start to finish!
Hot tips
- I LOVE this homemade barbecue sauce. Make a double batch and save it for this weekend!
- Complement the ribs with baked mac and cheese, Caprese pasta salad, and cabbage salad.
Veggie-Lover Wednesday: Baked Ratatouille
Ratatouille is a must in the summer! This vibrant and flavorful dish is so fun to assemble, and it’s one of my favorite ways to use up ripe veggies.
Hot tips
- Add protein with any leftover tilapia or rib meat. Or, make the meal more filling with a side of cilantro lime rice.
Toasty Thursday: Instant Pot Chili
With all the prep for this weekend’s festivities, I don’t have time for an elaborate meal — so chili it is! It’s got tons of protein, is loaded with flavor, and comes together in just 40 minutes.
Hot tips
- Use ground turkey or ground chicken to lighten it up.
- Save any leftovers for chili dogs tomorrow!
Fourth of July Friday: Grilled Chicken Thighs
Hot dogs and hamburgers are great, but have you tried ranch-marinated chicken thighs that are perfectly caramelized on the grill? Oh, and did I mention that they only take five minutes to prep??
Hot tips
- Make the ranch dressing yourself for more control over the flavor.
- Serve the chicken with olivier potato salad, marinated tomatoes, grilled corn, Caesar salad, and/or berry spinach salad.
Breakfast of the Week: Blueberry Pancakes
What better way is there to start off the festivities than with a steaming pile of fluffy buttermilk pancakes? Use fresh blueberries in the batter, and add strawberry jam and whipped cream on top for a red, white, and blue twist!
Dessert of the Week: Plombir
We may be celebrating America this weekend, but this classic Slavic dessert is a step back into my childhood. Smooth vanilla ice cream is packed into mini cones for a treat that everyone will devour!
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