Yankee Doodle Brandy: Combine white wine and Grand Marnier orange brandy for July 4th (photo courtesy Elegant Affairs).

This fun and arty sangria recipe is from caterer Andrea Correale of Elegant Affairs (www.elegantaffairscaterers.com):

RECIPE: JULY 4TH SANGRIA

Ingredients For 1 Large Pitcher

 
The Fresh Fruit

1. MAKE the simple syrup: Boil 1/2 cup water, then add 1/2 cup granulated white sugar. Turn the heat to simmer and stir until dissolved. Turn off the heat and let the syrup cool.

2.COMBINE all ingredients except the fresh fruit (but including the simple syrup) in a large punch bowl or pitcher. Stir well and add the fruit. Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours.

3. SERVE well-chilled with a good scoop of fruit floating in each drink. If you plan to serve over ice, consider making star-shaped ice cubes.
 
FOR A MOCKTAIL

Here’s a mocktail option for kids and adults who don’t drink:

Native to Southeast Asia and India, starfruit was brought back to Europe by sailors and traders in the late 1700s. Rare and costly, it became popular among wealthy Europeans.

Starfruit was brought to Hawaii by Chinese traders in the late 1800s. Yet, it was introduced to mainland America—Florida—only about 75 years ago. Today the state is the largest producer of American-consumed starfruit. Puerto Rico and Hawaii are the other major producers. These domestic fruits are sold in the U.S., because of import restrictions due to potential pests that often accompany the fruit.

The closer you are to the orchard, the better. Like most fruits, starfruit has much more flavor and sweetness when it is allowed to ripen on the tree or vine.
 
WHAT ARE STARFRUIT?

Starfruit or carambola (star fruit is an alternate spelling) is the fruit of a species of tree (Averrhoa carambola) that is native to Southeast Asia. The tree is now cultivated throughout the subtropical belt.

Named for the five-pointed star shaped slices it yields when cut horizontally, the pale yellow, juicy flesh with a distinctly tropical orange-pineapple flavor contains a few small, flat seeds. If the fruit is greenish, it isn’t fully ripe but will have white flesh and a tart apple flavor and texture.

 
HOW TO USE STARFRUIT

For July 4th, Christmas or any other starry occasion, these “edible stars” can be used just about everywhere, with savory as well as sweet foods.

 
BUYING TIPS

 
 
NEED RECIPES FOR JULY 4TH?

Here are “patriotic” recipes for everything from breakfast to after-dinner drinks.

[2] Greenish, but still fine to eat (photo courtesy Melissas.com).

[3] A starfruit upside-down cake (here’s the recipe from Noshon.it).

[4] Starfruit drink garnish, cocktail or mocktail (photo courtesy STK | LA).

[2] Good news for lactose intolerant cheesecake lovers: Green Valley Organics makes delicious lactose-free cream cheese, as well as lactose-free sour cream and yogurt (photo © MyLilikoiKitchen.com.

This All American Strawberry, Banana, and Blueberry Cheesecake recipe was developed by Tom Fraker, Corporate Chef at Melissas.com.

You can use the decorating theme on a custard pie, cream pie, or cake.

Don’t want to turn on the oven? Purchase a plain cheesecake and add the fresh fruit.

Before you start, check out the history of cheesecake.
 
 
RECIPE: JULY 4TH CHEESECAKE IN RED, WHITE & BLUE

This recipe makes a tart-size cheesecake, meaning that it’s not as tall as a conventional New York-style cheesecake. The benefit: fewer calories per slice!

Ingredients For 12-14 Servings

1. PREHEAT the oven to 325ºF.

2. COMBINE the graham cracker crumbs, 3 tablespoons of sugar and the melted butter in a bowl. Press the mixture into a tart pan or springform pan.

3. ADD the cream cheese, 1 cup of sugar and vanilla extract to the bowl of a standing mixer. Split the vanilla beans in half lengthwise and scrape the pulp into the bowl. Whisk until well combined.

4. ADD the eggs one at a time, allowing them to completely incorporate before adding the next egg. Pour the mixture into the pan and smooth the top. Bake in the oven for 60-75 minutes, or until completely set.

5. REMOVE the cheesecake from the oven, let cool and then chill for at least 4 hours.

6. DECORATE the top: Run a row of the blueberries around the outside edge and then fill the center with alternating rows of strawberries and bananas. Before you slice the bananas, keep them from turning brown by squeezing the juice of an orange or other citrus fruit into a bowl. Slice the bananas into the juice. Toss gently with your fingers to coat all sides, and drain away the juice before topping the cake.
 
 

Even if you’re spending a quiet weekend at home, you can celebrate our Independence Day with a patriotic bite or two. Here’s a group of recipes to bite into, and we’ll be showcasing more between now and the 4th.

Some are so easy—no cooking—that all you have to do is put the pieces together.

JULY 4TH BREAKFAST RECIPES

 
JULY 4TH SIDE & MAIN DISH RECIPES

 
JULY 4TH SNACK RECIPES

COULDN’T BE EASIER: [1] Yogurt plus berries. For fun, cut star-shaped toast with cookie cutters (photo courtesy Smuckers). [2] American Flag fruit skewers (photo courtesy Stix Mediterranean Grill | NYC).

COULDN’T BE EASIER: [1] Red, white & blue pink lemonade (photo courtesy Blueberry Council). [2] Red and blue berries on store-bought cupcakes (photo courtesy Go Bold With Butter)

 
JULY 4TH DESSERT RECIPES

 
MORE JULY 4TH RECIPE IDEAS

Oregon craft brewer Rogue Ales toasts America with the annual release of its American Amber Ale.

It’s the brew’s 28th year, and has been our beer of choice for July 4th celebrations since we first came across it.

 
AMERICAN AMBER ALES

American Amber Ales are a beer category known for being balanced and refreshing, with toasted malt characteristics and a light fruitiness. (See the differences between beer and ale below.)

Rogue’s American Amber Ale is tawny amber in color and medium- to full-bodied. It has a toffee/caramel aroma, a nice malt accent and a pleasantly bitter, smooth finish.

Celebrating the “ideals of the Revolution,” Rogue brews the beer with “Rebel hops” (they’re actually Kent Golding and Cascade hops) and “Dare and Risk barley,” not to mention what the company calls “free range coastal water.” (Get it?)
 
Rogue’s American Amber Ale is now available in 22-ounce serigraphed bottles (the image is screened onto the bottle, a nice gift for party hosts or for a party favor) and 12-ounce bottles with the same label design on paper, and can be found draft at establishments that feature Rogue Ale.

Rogue makes world-class ale, kolsch, lager, mead, porter and stout, along with excellent spirits:

 
We haven’t had them all, but what we’ve tried, we really liked.

For more information about Rogue products, visit Rogue.com.
 
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF BEER, visit THE NIBBLE’s BEER GLOSSARY.
 
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BEER & ALE

Top: Toast to the U.S.A. with American Amber Ale (photo courtesy Rogue). Center: Liberty Ale from Anchor Brewing Company (photo courtesy HiConsumption.com). Bottom: The Statue Of Liberty graces the cans of Hell Or High Water (photo courtesy 21st Amendment Brewery).

Ales tend to be fruity-estery in aroma and flavor, while lagers are clean-tasting and crisp. These differences are created by: