Millions of burgers will be grilled July 4th. But we eat burgers every day. How can you make them special for your July 4th celebration?

Use a large star cookie cutter to create an Independence Day cheeseburger.

 
Now we’ve got red and white, but where does the blue come from?
 
Tint pickle slices with blue food color! Add one drop of color at a time until you get the desired result. Place a pickle slice on the center of the cheese star or put a few slices between the tomato and the cheese.

Everyone will be tickled red, white and blue with your presentation.

Photo courtesy Idaho Potato Commission.

As fond as people may be of potato salad with mayonnaise, there are many great potato salad recipes waiting to be made. One we like from the Idaho Potato Commission—people who know how to cook with potatoes—includes a red wine Dijon vinaigrette that means no cholesterol, a heart-healthy fat and a potato salad that stands up better in the heat.

The recipe is enlivened with green beans, cherry tomatoes, corn kernels, black olives, celery and parsley. You can add optional chopped red onion. Get the recipe.