What’s a July 4th celebration without potato salad? While we previously published a July 4th potato salad recipe, this one is distinctly different. It uses apples for the white stars.

The apple stars are made with Envy apples (photo #3), a newer breed that was created to avoid beginning to brown (oxidize) for up to 10 hours, making it a variety to seek out for recipes.

As a regular eating apple (the trade term is “hand fruit,” the flavor is sweet and the texture is crisp, with a satisfying crunch.

Along with an elegant vinaigrette, the recipe is not your mother’s white-potatoes-with-mayo dish.

Check out the potato salad (photo #1), and also our first Red, White & Blue Potato Salad recipe made with bacon and a protein-packed walnut crunch (photo #2).

If you need more recipes for July 4th weekend, here are more than 60 red, white, and blue recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, snacks, cocktails, and non-alcoholic drinks.

> The history of potatoes.

> The different types of potatoes.
 
 
RECIPE: RED, WHITE & BLUE POTATO SALAD #2
 
Ingredients

 
For The Garnish

 
Preparation

1. BOIL the red and purple potatoes separately in salted water (should taste like the ocean) until tender. Drain.

2. WHISK together all ingredients for the vinaigrette and then toss with the warm potatoes.

3. FOLD in the diced apples and parsley and serve.
 
 
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*The different types of vinegar.

[1] A red, white and blue potato salad with crunchy white stars made from non-browning Envy apples (photos #1 and #3 © Envy Apple).

[2] Another red, white and blue potato salad with bacon, walnuts, and bell peppers. Here’s the recipe (photo © U.S. Potato Board | Potatoes USA).

[3] The Envy apple, a sweet and crispy apple that avoids browning for 10 hours or more. Here’s more about them.

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[1] Frozen grapes keep chilled drinks (photo © Foods & Wines From Spain).

[2] A medley of grape colors looks best (photo © Melissa’s Produce).

Here’s a way to keep cool your glass of white wine or other cold drinks that are served without ice: Use frozen grapes as ice cubes!

They’re decorative, and when the drink is finished, tasty grapes that have taken on a hint of the drink are left to enjoy.

In addition to white wine, rosé, sparkling wine, use frozen grapes to chill:

 
You can also use them in drinks that typically have ice:

 
You can mix and max types of grapes, but make them seedless for more elegant consumption (i.e., no need to dispose of the pits).

How do you eat the grapes at the bottom of the glass?

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Sprouted bread is typically a product sold in natural food stores. In our little municipality—the island of Manhattan—the supermarkets are very small and you have to go to a natural foods store to find anything sprouted.

Fortunately, we have more than a few Whole Foods Markets which carry sprouted breads (check both the fresh bread and freezer sections).

And Silver Hills Bakery is a sprouted brand worth seeking out. Their whole grain products are so much more delicious and nutritious than conventional whole-grain breads.

And tastier than other sprouted brands we’ve tried.

So if you’re already a whole-wheat guy or gal, try sprouted. And if you eat supermarket white bread (with allowances for baguettes, challah, focaccia, rustic Italian loaves, and artisan breads from bakeries)…you’re in for a taste treat.

One that’s good for you!
 
 
WHAT ARE SPROUTED FOODS?

Sprouting, also known as germination, is a common practice used to improve the digestibility and nutritional value of :

 
The sprouting process involves soaking the food for up to 24 hours, then draining and rinsing repeatedly over several days.

It’s labor-intensive, but beneficial nutritionally (more about that in a minute).

To make sprouted bread, sprouted whole grains are milled into flour. It’s that simple.

We typically consume whole-grain breads instead of refined grains, but we’ve taken the next step.

Beyond conventional whole-grain bread, we’ve become a convert to sprouted grain bread because… we’ve discovered that it’s delicious!

In particular, a sample of sprouted breads from Silver Hills Bakery arrived, and we couldn’t stop eating them—especially the most textured, seed-loaded varieties.

Silver Hills Bakery has converted us to sprouted-grain bread and is our Top Pick Of The Week.
 
 
THE BENEFITS OF SPROUTED BREAD

It’s great that a slice of sprouted bread has 22g or more of whole grains (depending on variety) and 6g of protein (there are 3.6g in regular whole-wheat bread).

The USDA’s 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines recommends that Americans consume at least 3 servings of whole-grain foods daily, which adds up to 48 grams of whole grains. Two slices of Silver Hills bread will get you there, almost.

Sprouted bread has 47% less gluten than regular bread, 75% of the carbohydrates, and about 40% of the fat of even conventional whole-grain bread. There’s a greater amount of naturally occurring fiber, vitamins, proteins, and other nutrients.

As a bonus, sprouted bread is low glycemic, and more easily digestible.

But we’re in it for the great flavor.

Whether it’s avocado toast or toast with cream cheese or jam for breakfast, in a ham and Swiss or grilled cheese sandwich for lunch, or in the dinner bread basket, give us sprouted grains!
 
 
ABOUT SILVER HILLS BAKERY

Silver Hills Bakery is a Canadian-based company that sells in Canada and the U.S. Its lines include loaves of bread, bagels, buns, and tortillas.

They’re better-for-you bread options: sprouted whole grain nutrition, low-carb, gluten-free, and allergy-friendly.

The products are:

 
We’ve tasted the breads and bagels:

The Loaves: There are 16 different loaves, of which the majority are organic. For the texture we love, pick Squirrelly (sprouted wheat stuffed with sesame and sunflower seeds) and The Big 16 (oat-topped sprouted wheat stuffed with 16 seeds and grains). A fan favorite we haven’t tried is Mack’s Flax (sprouted whole wheat with whole flax and ground flax).

The Bagels: While the bagel textures are conventional—you wouldn’t know they’re sprouted, since the crumb* is smooth—we enjoyed them for their lower carb, low-glycemic profile. And the flavor is far better than the leading brand of frozen bagels! The flavors: Cinnamon Raisin, Everything, Plain, and Sesame Sunflower.

Silver Hills products are sold fresh and frozen, depending on the variety and the store. Look for them at Target, Whole Foods, and on Amazon. Here’s a store locator.
 
We’ve tried some other sprouted brands, but nothing tastes as good as Silver Hills. It’s worth seeing out.

There are plenty of recipes on SilverHillsBakery.ca.
 
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*Bakers use the term “crumb” to describe the interior consistency of breads and cakes. They can be light or dense, smooth or textured, etc.

[1] Sprouted power! Silver Hills Bakery’s lines are loaded with it (all photos © Silver Hills Bakery).

[2] Breakfast or snack? A sprouted bagel with peanut butter and fresh strawberries.

[3] French toast with Silver Hill’s Cinnamon Raisin sprouted loaf.

[4] Sprouted power for lunch. Your sandwich will taste better, too.

[5] Snack or first course: cheesy cauliflower spread on toast. Here’s the recipe.

[6] There are also sprouted hot dog and hamburger buns.

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