First, allow me to say to all of my US readers; a happy, safe, and celebratory 4th of July to you, the next time we meet, the 4th will be over.
A WHOLE lot happened this past week, which I will go into detail more below; suffice it to say, hold your loved ones close, and don’t waste any opportunity to tell them you love them.
I could only get one recipe posted this week, but it’s great! Plus, I’ve got oodles of your favorite 4th of July barbecue foods, desserts, and drinks to plan your menu.
What I’m Makin’ & Bakin’ | Healthy Mexican Chopped Salad
I have been making this salad on repeat this summer for our family as well as for potlucks and parties. Everyone has loved it, especially the simple honey lime dressing (which I’ve included in the recipe). Loaded with all of the best, fresh summer veggies!
Best Healthy Mexican Chopped Salad with Lime Dressing
A Healthy Mexican Chopped Salad recipe with honey lime dressing full of fresh corn, creamy avocado, juicy tomatoes, jicama, and black beans.
Real reader reviews
Check out what readers are saying about a few of our recipes, I think you will love them too!
Crumbl Sugar Cookie Recipe
“These cookies are AMAZING!!! My family went crazy!” ~Teresa
“I don’t think I’ve ever left a review on a recipe blog before, but I’m just not over how good these cookies are yet. I made these pink sugar cookies last Sunday, and they were SUCH A HIT! Everyone who tried them was obsessed. These are 10x better than the crumbl cookie, and I’ll be making these again and again!!!” ~ Taralynn
Brown Butter Rice Crispy Treats
LOVE these, as does everyone who tries them! I did not use the full 9 cups of cereal this last time making them. More like 8 cups, which was plenty. ~ Kristi via Pinterest
In the here and now | (Scary) Real-life stories
If you are like me, you probably skipped over everything and jumped straight to this section.
I had just put the final touches on my Fresh Fridays newsletter last Thursday afternoon and scheduled it to be sent when our area was hit with a HUGE monsoonal rain storm with threats of tornadoes (you might have heard about the Highlands Ranch tornado last week, just a few miles from our house). We’ve had so much rain this year that it’s all hands on deck when we get rain, so we don’t have flooding in our basement. Our son, my husband, and I were outside, covering our exposed car from hail and then bailing out an area by some windows.
When my husband saw some gutters overflowing from a clogged downspout because of the volume of rain, he was hurrying and threw up the ladder to reach up and unclog it, and in a second, our lives changed. In his hurry, the ladder wasn’t stable, and between the water and rushing, he slipped after about four steps up on the ladder, falling onto the concrete slab below.
He sustained a nasty head injury and laceration, along with a broken scapula, clavicle and elbow. My son and I were outside and saw the whole thing happen, so were immediately on him; he was unconscious when I got to him, and it didn’t look good, my son called 911, and while I held traction on his head and kept his airway open, he also ran and got our neighbor who is a physician.
This all happened in minutes. The paramedics were here within 4 minutes and took over. Oh how I was praying, and I honestly felt like the Lord did a miracle before my eyes. He started coming too and moving around, slurring his words a bit and fuzzy.
As soon as we were in the ambulance, I texted my family and friends and started an amazing prayer chain — my friends, I hope you know that prayer matters. He hears our cry! I held onto this verse below, and I truly did experience God’s peace, exceeding all of my earthly understanding.
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.“
Philippians 4:6-7 NLT
We later discovered that when he hit his head, it caused a small stroke (a tiny brain bleed); they kept him overnight in ICU to monitor the bleed, he was cleared by neuro the next day after several more CT scans, the bleed had not increased or changed. Another thanks be to God.
They did surgery Friday afternoon to repair his clavicle and elbow, both with plates and lots of screws — the scapula will heal on its own. They kept him one more night just to be sure, but he was downgraded to non-ICU status. We came home Saturday, and he was SO happy to be home and in our bed.
Each day we wake up with praise and gratitude; we both know that it could have been so much worse, and we thank the Lord our Savior for His grace in sparing his life. Every day this week, he’s gotten better, just on OTC pain reliever and anti-inflammatory; we’ve even been walking a mile or two a day to ward off any blood clots.
Our neighbors, friends and church family have been incredible and have showered us with more food than I know what to do with — and I’m a food blogger, lol! We have received countless notes, texts, and well wishes. And we are all PROFOUNDLY GRATEFUL! We are so grateful to the first responders, the Emergency dept. team, ICU nurses, PA’s, therapists, pharmacists, Trauma docs and surgeons — each one was kind, compassionate, understanding, tender and professional.
And this goes as a tip to all of the men out there, let things flood, I cannot tell you how many people we’ve met who have fallen off of ladders during storms or hanging lights. The surgeon said he does more repairs from ladder falls during the holiday season (lights!) than at any other time.
Why do I share this? Because it seemed like a normal day, never in our wildest dreams did we think we’d spend the next few days in the hospital — I write this to 1) encourage you to talk to your loved ones, tell them often how much you love them and what you appreciate about them and 2) talk to God, tell Him what is on your mind and heart, ask Jesus to come live in your heart; He never leaves us or forsakes us. His will might not always be our will, but I know I can trust Him to have my best interest in mind and yours too.
We have been studying Psalm 23 this year, it is such a beautiful, gritty, and comforting Psalm and something that has stood out to us both is He promises to walk with us THROUGH the valley of the shadow of death. Not around the valley — but through it, but with the assurance that I have nothing to fear because HE walks with me through those shadowy valleys. He is with us, and He comforts us. I felt that more than ever this past weekend. If you have questions, I am here for you. I love this community and I am also so very grateful for each of you!
4th of July Main Dish
These are a few of our favorite mains to grill on the barbecue! If you don’t mind turning on your oven, make my fall-apart tender, oven-baked brisket or this Crockpot Pulled Pork.
Best Chicken Marinade | Coconut Lime Chicken
Moist, bursting with flavor, this grilled coconut lime chicken is sure to please. Freezer and kid friendly, perfect for your next BBQ. Whole30, Paleo, Keto, Gluten & Dairy Free!
Best Smash Burger Recipe with Onions on a Blackstone
Delicious Smashburger Recipe: Juicy patties sizzling on a Blackstone griddle, topped with caramelized onions. Your taste buds will thank you!
Famous Flank Steak Marinade
Shish Kebabs {Beef or Chicken Marinade}
An amazingly simple but delicious marinade for beef, pork or chicken. Skewer it up with your favorite veggies and you've got dinner with these summertime shish kebabs.
The Best Bison Burger Recipe with Caramelized Onions
Juicy, tasty, flavorful, healthier bison burger, loaded with caramelized onions on a salty pretzel bun! (Or easily convert to beef, chicken or turkey), using pantry staples!
Favorite 4th Sides
I have so many be sure to check out all of our sides here and use the search function on the website. Also, make up a batch of this Carrabba’s Grill seasoning and put it on everything and these easy refrigerator-pickled red onions, delicious on everything from burgers, to dogs, brats, salads and more!
Easy Italian Chopped Salad Recipe
Loaded Italian chopped salad with fresh veggies, salami, provolone, kalamata olives, and homemade Italian vinaigrette. A light and delicious meal that will make you love salads!
Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad Recipe
This Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad recipe is loaded with chicken, bacon, vegetables, ranch dressing, and perfectly cooked farfalle pasta.
Bacon Balsamic Macaroni Salad
Crisp bacon pieces strewn throughout this delectable, creamy bacon balsamic macaroni salad that is loaded with crunchy celery, bright red grape tomatoes, sharp cheddar cheese and topped with a mouthwatering creamy balsamic ranch dressing.
Italian Pasta Salad with Sun Dried Tomatoes
All the right flavors, bright and colorful, packed into this beautiful pasta salad. Great for a crowd or your family, the leftovers are even better!
Mexican Fruit Salad Recipe
This Mexican fruit salad recipe is refreshing, and bursting with juicy and sweet fruits that will make your taste buds salsa dance! Tropical fruits paired with citrus, strawberries, and grapes in a light honey-lime Tajin dressing.
Healthy Mexican Chopped Salad with Lime Dressing
A Healthy Mexican Chopped Salad recipe with honey lime dressing full of fresh corn, creamy avocado, juicy tomatoes, jicama, and black beans.
Best Ever Cowboy Baked Beans
BEST EVER Cowboy Baked Beans are the perfect hearty side dish for your summer BBQ, enhanced canned beans and topped with bacon! Legendary!
Crockpot Cracker Barrel Hashbrown Casserole Recipe
Crockpot Cracker Barrel Hashbrown Casserole is rich, cheesy, and the ultimate comfort food! It's almost effortless, made with frozen hashbrowns, butter, and sour cream all tossed into the slow cooker, for the easiest side dish ever!
Easy Corn Casserole without Jiffy
Easy corn casserole without Jiffy is so simple, using everyday, all-natural ingredients. This corn pudding recipe, simply put — is the best corn side dish. Plus easily adapt this recipe to be gluten-free.
Firecracker Desserts & Drinks
Be sure to check out my post with many options for Red, White and Blue desserts and drinks; here are a few of our favorites.
Blueberry Gin Cocktail
Learn how to make this gorgeous, layered Blueberry Gin Cocktail or as I like to call it, Blueberry Gin Gin Fizz. Made with a layer of homemade blueberry syrup on the bottom, spicy ginger beer in the middle and topped with this beautiful gin. Easy steps to create this lovely ombré layered look by a simple "float" process.
Copycat Starbucks Passion Tea Lemonade Recipe
Copycat Starbucks Passion Tea Lemonade is so refreshing with passion fruit flavors. Today I’m showing you how to make one at home for a fraction of the cost. It is my favorite drink, full of refreshing tart flavor perfect for summertime. This herbal tea will become your favorite summer drink!
Easy Iced Peach Green Tea Lemonade Recipe (Starbucks Copycat)
There is nothing more refreshing on a hot summer day than a tall glass of iced peach green tea lemonade. This copycat Starbucks version is a bit lighter, using all natural flavor, no sugar, fresh peach juice, light lemonade and Jade Citrus Mint Tea, a flavorful green tea.
Hibiscus Dark and Stormy Drink Recipe
This Hibiscus Dark and Stormy recipe is just the vibrant burst of tropical sunshine we need! Dark rum, spicy, floral hibiscus ginger beer and fresh lime juice is all it takes!
Pink Lemonade Vodka Cocktail
Looking for a simple, homemade pink lemonade vodka cocktail? With a few simple ingredients this fresh and delicious all-natural pink lemonade vodka drink will become a summer favorite! This easy cocktail recipe can be made by the glass or by the pitcher!
Easy Blueberry Limeade Drink
Using a homemade blueberry syrup, make this easy, refreshing Blueberry Limeade drink, or use lemonade for a blueberry lemonade either way, this is a sweet and easy, non-alcoholic summer drink recipe!
Cherry Bomb Recipe | Cherry Bourbon Smash
Cherry Bomb recipe, a fresh cocktail or mocktail made with fresh (or frozen) cherries muddled with bourbon, vanilla, maple syrup, lemon and club soda.
4th of July Cookie Cake (Patriotic Skillet Cookie)
This 4th of July Cookie Cake is just as beautiful as it is delicious. White chocolate chips and chocolatey red, white, and blue M&Ms mixed into a homemade sugar cookie base, and topped with buttercream frosting and festive sprinkles.
4th of July Ice Cream (Red, White, and Blue Ice Cream)
This year, celebrate Independence Day with this easy 4th of July ice cream. An easy red, white, and blue ice cream! This easy, 3 ingredient, plus mix-ins; this no-churn recipe has won rave reviews in our home.
Best Oreo Dessert Pudding (Oreo Delight)
My Oreo dessert pudding recipe features one delicious, indulgent layer after the next. A buttery Oreo cookie crust, a pillowy whipped cream and cream cheese layer, and rich, thick chocolate pudding all come together for an absolutely heavenly dessert!
The Best Key Lime Pie | A Traditional Key Lime Pie Recipe
This is the BEST Key Lime Pie, so easy too! A traditional Key Lime pie recipe that is, citrusy, sweet-tart — the perfect sweet to-pucker ratio; light and bright with a crisp not-to-sweet graham cracker crust! Award winning!
No Bake Lemon Icebox Pie Recipe
This recipe for easy lemon cream cheese pie is amazing! Ready to chill in about 30 minutes, made with real lemon juice, cream cheese, mascarpone and sweetened condensed milk all tucked into an amazing Golden Oreo cookie crust.
Lemon Dump Cake Recipe
Filled with tangy lemon curd, fluffy cake mix, and yummy cream cheese, my lemon dump cake recipe is the ultimate! This is one of those easy dessert recipes that comes together with just 15-minutes of prep time! Also called lemon cream cheese dump cake.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches
Creamy ice cream sandwiched between two amazing chocolate chip cookies, rolled in brightly covered sprinkles! The essence of summer in a handheld treat.
Best 4th of July Appetizers
When it comes to appetizers, I’m all about easy and quick, here are our faves.
Cowboy Crack Dip Recipe (Hot or Cold)
Not your average Philadelphia cream cheese dip recipe. Cowboy Crack Dip is cheesy, creamy, savory, and fresh — the perfect appetizer. Delicious hot or cold!
Zucchini Corn Fritters
Enjoy the bounty of summer veggies with this scrumptious appetizer for Zucchini Corn Fritters. These sweet corn fritters are loaded with healthy, fresh vegetables in a simple buttermilk batter, briefly fried and finished in the oven. They are light, easy, and you can make them gluten-free.
Best Crudite Dip Recipe for Veggie Platters
This is the best Crudite dip recipe you'll ever make! Throw together the ingredients in minutes, then serve with crisp raw vegetables, chips, or crackers. The perfect recipe for parties and potlucks, the dip that will have everyone begging for the recipe.
Charcuterie Cups – How to Pack a Perfect Charcuterie Board to Go
These individual charcuterie cups are everything you love about charcuterie boards but loads more fun! I'll show you how to pack a charcuterie board to go. These tasty single–serve treats are easy to make, portable, and perfect for gatherings large and small.
Easy Pigs in a Blanket Recipe (Air Fryer or Oven)
This easy Pigs in a Blanket Recipe includes savory cocktail sausages wrapped in buttery crescent rolls cooked quickly in the air fryer or oven. Plus, we have three different dipping sauces for you to try!
Easy Pesto Appetizer Recipe with Burrata and Roasted Tomatoes
This Easy Pesto Appetizer Recipe with Burrata and Roasted Tomatoes is gorgeous, versatile and delicious! This recipe includes fresh roasted cherry tomatoes, delicate burrata cheese, and warm and crispy baguette crostini topped with a pop of green with fresh basil pesto.
Weekly Deals Curated for You!
NEW! Every week, I’ll handpick a collection of my favorite deals from Amazon and other retailers — just for you. I will update this post each week so you have a convenient go-to resource whenever you seek inspiration!
Go HERE to find the best deals on Amazon & More for you this week! No gimmicks, I promise.
Favorite Finds
- Some day, when we have a beautiful patio, I would love one of these patio coolers!
- How about this beautiful sarong and cover-up?
- Digging these chambray American flag napkins (on sale), and this Americana Star Shaped pillow, bet it will go on sale next week!
- Loving these star-spangled shorts and this swing white -tshirt.
- Where were these reusable, magnetic splash balls when my boys were little? Not little ballon shards to pick up!
Weekly Inspiration
The 4th Of July is a great time to read the Declaration Of Independence, The Bill Of Rights, and our Constitution. And as we celebrate the birthday of our great country, remember to pray for all our countrymen and leaders.
“I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” 1 Tim 2:1-2
Stay tuned for exciting updates, recipes, and tips in our next Fresh Fridays newsletter. Until then, get out there and tell someone you love them, give them an extra hug today!
P.S. If you missed last week’s Fresh Fridays, recipes, sales, tips, ideas, and more!
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Cathy
So glad your hubbie is on the mend!
I will add him to our prayer circle in our little UMC.
Thank you so much, Cathy! That means so much to me!
Cyndi Mac
Kathleen, I am so thankful that your husband is improving! Thanks be to God!
Thank you so much, Cyndi!
Donna
Thank you for sharing this, Kathleen…. And thank God for being so merciful to you and your husband during this ordeal. Truly, “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22-23) I am praising God with you, and I’ll be praying for your husband’s recovery and healing! You are right – Every day is a gift! ❤️Our family has also experienced God’s mercy in a huge way. A story for another day. God is so good.
One I look forward to hearing sometime Donna! Thank you so much!
Debbie
Oh, Kathleen, my prayers are with you and your family! As we watched the news up here in Fort Collins, we couldn’t believe the weather that we saw you were getting. It reminded me of living in the midwest! Praise God for His love and protection!!! When we moved here 12 years ago, we thought we would end up living in your area, but God had other plans, He moved to a place we had never heard of before. He blessed us with a great neighborhood, a nice home, but most of all a Godly church.
Thank you so much, Debbie!! So appreciate your support and prayers!!
Aline Brown
I’m so thankful to God for taking care of Brad, God is so good.
We love you both Aline
Thank you, Aline! God is so good!