Fourth Of July

These easy to make, customizable bars are packed with enough virtuous things that you might almost forget they’re dessert. Pack them in lunches, take them on road trips, or serve them for family movie nights—everyone will be happy.

To test boiled potatoes for doneness, use a skewer or the tines of a fork rather than the tip of a knife so you know they’re truly tender (a knife slides through the flesh way too easily). To test boiled eggs for doneness—wait, you can’t! Just make sure the eggs are room temperature when you drop them in the water (otherwise they’re prone to cracking), set a timer right away, and have an ice bath at the ready.

Cooking bacon in the oven on a sheet tray is so hands-off, so splatter-free, and so easy, it just might convince you to eat a lot more bacon in the future.

Potatoes can take a lot of salt. Even though they’re cooked in seasoned liquid, they might need a little more when you toss the dish together.

These super-flavorful, no-fry chicken wings turn out best when they’re seasoned ahead of time. You can do this as little as 1 hour in advance, but letting them hang out with salt and those spices overnight is a complete game changer.

Plus: the secret ingredient for a much creamier flavor.

Skirt steak is the ultimate summer steak for grilling—quick cooking, buttery, and versatile.

A little meat-mallet action transforms this tough cut of beef into a quick-grilling all-star.

This basil-infused puréed watermelon punch will go fast, trust us!

Never mad about shishito peppers making an appearance.

Give your knife a few swipes on the sharpener and try to slice the grilled tenderloin as thinly as possible (think roast beef from the deli). It’ll make these open-faced pork sandwiches a lot easier to eat and such a difference in texture.

We can confidently say that we love these more than the ones from the ice cream truck–plus you can customize them with your favorite ice cream flavors.

This recipe from Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q in Atlanta is—how do we put this–epic.

Peewee Dutch Yellow Potatoes are the perfect tiny potato for this recipe, but if you can’t find them, just use the smallest fingerling or Yukon Gold potatoes you can buy.

This trifle recipe was inspired by our love for The Great British Baking Show. These instructions will help you get even, beautiful layers. If you want to loosen it up a bit, Mary Berry might not approve, but it’ll still be delicious.

Summer dessert should be anything but complicated. These buttery crumbs work on pretty much anything.

Not a fan of blackberries? This cocktail recipe will be just as good with blueberries—or any other berry you like.

Psst…you don’t need to presoak or preshuck corn before grilling it. Just put the whole ears on the grate and the husks and silk will slip right off afterward. You’re welcome.

Board dressing: take all of those flavorful juices that accumulate when the meat rests off your cutting board and pour them back over the meat, where they belong.

This cherry salsa recipe is also delicious as a condiment for grilled or roast pork or pulsed in a food processor to make a vinaigrette for a salad of tender greens.

Meet your summer cocktail, a pinky and bubbly rosé wine spritz with Aperol and passion fruit juice. Now all you need is a pool to drink it next to.

You deserve only the best, so throw your corn on the grill.

Vodka in the dough hydrates the flour without developing gluten, which makes for an especially pliable dough and tender crust.