4th of July Smorgasbord

Next week is one of my favorite times of year: the 4th of July.  The holiday to me means more than a day off from work.  It means water slides, sparklers, cookouts, beachside fireworks and potato salad.  All in a lovely red, white and blue theme, if possible.

Because of the risk of wildfires in Los Angeles, it's hard to find a decent fireworks show.  A few years ago I watched the one they do from a barge in Malibu.  I kept waiting for them to actually start the show... and then after a few microscopic misfires people were leaving and apparently it was over.  No formations, no crazy colors, no excessive twenty-minute long finale set to the Star Spangled Banner.  It was so pathetic I almost ate a hot dog to get the 4th of July magic feeling back.  The East Coast has the right idea when it comes to fireworks, but when it comes to cookouts, California is king.   And a very vegetarian-minded one, at that.  I've put together some of my favorite Independence Day recipes for my fellow grill-loving, vegetarian patriots.  

Spinach Burgers

Smoked Corn

Veggie Potato Salad

Peach Summer Salad

Deviled Eggs

4th of July Blueberry Cobbler

Grilled Rosemary Lemonade 

Your Golden Girl,

Olive

Images appear courtesy of TheVillageCook.com, Myrecipes.com and Southern Living Magazine