Cajun Devils

I can't prove that deviled eggs were invented in the U.S., but Cajun foods definitely were. Spicier than the norm, these will make you very popular. (Packing them in crumpled plastic wrap will keep them from sliding all over the place on the way to the cookout.)

French Onion Dip

The French were are allies in the Revolutionary War, of course! Most people secretly love onion dip so much that they could eat it by the spoonful. But if they're offered this homemade version, they'll eat it by the bowlful, openly.

Light Three-Bean Salad

Traditional three-bean-salad is made with canned beans and tons of sugar. Here's a fresher-tasting alternative that will still ring people's three-bean chimes.

Minted Wild Rice Salad

Wild rice was being harvested by Native Americans long before Europeans reached this continent. This wild rice salad offers crunch (from the raw vegetables), rich taste (from the toasted pecans) and a surprising tang (from the fresh mint).

Red, White and Blueberry Salad

I think I've shown great restraint in not making every recipe red, white and blue this week. (That's coming next week.) But you have to have something R,W and B on the Fourth, right? Plus, the jicama stars are so pretty!

Quinoa & Smoked Tofu Salad

Quinoa is actually native to South America, not North. But I bet we've thought of more things to do with it than they have in South America. Here it stars in a delicious vegetarian main dish that can also serve as a side.

Oven-Roasted Chicken with Spicy Cornmeal Crust

Why is fried chicken a traditional Fourth of July food? July is such a hot time to stand around frying stuff! Start a new tradition with this crisp-and-spicy roasted version.

Apple-Bacon Barbecued Ribs

Park grills can be unreliable, so if you're planning a cookout away from home, it's best to grill these succulent ribs at home. Grill them for an hour less than the recipe calls for, then finish grilling them at the park. ("Sweating" the ribs in foil after grilling makes the meat more flavorful and juicy, so don't skip that step.)

Mocha Cookie Sandwiches

Take that, Oreos! Coffee and chocolate, both New World ingredients, combine to upgrade ordinary sandwich cookies into an extraordinary pleasure.

Sour Cherry Fruit Slump

Late June and early July are the season for fresh sour cherries, the brightest-tasting fruits on earth. Since they can be hard to find, this recipe suggests alternatives. Bring heavy cream (packed in ice) if you want a traditional topping.