One tequila, two tequila, three tequila… four! Here are four fabulous tequila cocktails to make your July 4th sparkle. Pair these fabulous Fourth of July cocktails with some delicious bites inspired by all the cultures that make up our big, beautiful country: America!

1800 Mula de mericaMula de ‘Merica – Courtesy of 1800 Tequila

2 oz. 1800® Silver

**1 tsp chipotle peppers

Pinch of cilantro

½ oz. cane sugar

¾ oz. lime

1 oz. ginger beer

Method: Add all ingredients except ginger beer into shaker. Shake and double strain into iced Collins glass. Top with ginger beer. Garnish with cilantro. **Substitution: chipotle powder

1800 Stars and StripesStars + Stripes Smash- Courtesy of 1800 Tequila

2 oz. 1800® Coconut

3 slices papaya

¼ oz. honey

Pinch of basil

1/4 lime

Method:Add all ingredients to shaker. Shake and strain into highball glass. Garnish with basil sprig. 

1800 The Americana FashionedThe Americana FashionedCourtesy of 1800 Tequila

2 oz. 1800 Añejo

Dash of Chocolate Bitters

Dash of Angostura Bitters

Cane Sugar cube

Fresh Raspberries

Method: Muddle Raspberries thoroughly in shaker combined with 1800 Anejo. Add dash of chocolate bitters + dash of Angostura bitters.  Serve in rocks glass over ice and garnish with additional raspberries and orange peel.

1800_Liberty LemonadeLiberty Lemonade- Courtesy of 1800 Tequila

2 oz. 1800 Reposado

1 oz. lemon

¾ oz. agave

1 sweet pepper

Sprig of lemongrass

Top with soda water

Method: Muddle sweet pepper with lemongrass thoroughly in shaker. Add remaining ingredients, then add soda water. Double strain into rocks glass. Garnish with halved sweet pepper.

For those attending a bbq, hosting a bbq, or want to have some great Fourth of July BBQ Bites that are easy to whip up, semi-homemade, and delicious for kids and adults, here are three great bite-able options!

Sweet Chili Spring Roll Shooters- Courtesy of LING LING

image001-3112 Frozen LING LING® Mini Vegetable Spring Rolls

or Mini Chicken Spring Rolls

1 1⁄2 cups Seedless cucumber, thinly sliced

1⁄4 cup Sweet chili sauce

1⁄4 cup Red onion, finely sliced

1⁄4 cup Roasted Red Pepper (jarred), sliced

2 teaspoons Chinese 5 Spice powder

DIRECTIONS:

 1. Pre‐heat oven to 350°F

2. In a bowl, combine cucumbers and sweet chili sauce, stir to coat and set aside.

3. While cucumbers are marinating, cook spring rolls according to package directions. Add onion and roasted red pepper to cucumber, stir to combine, and place an equal portion in 8 small shot classes or cups.

4. Toss LING LING Spring Rolls in Chinese 5 spice powder, place 1 spring roll in each cup of cucumbers, and serve.

image002-8Backyard BBQ Taquitos: Courtesy of José Olé

12 José Olé Chicken Taquitos

1 ½ Cup BBQ Sauce, divided

1 Cup Coleslaw

DIRECTIONS: Preheat an outdoor grill to medium heat and lightly oil the grate. In a large baking dish, coat the Chicken Taquitos with 1 cup of the BBQ sauce. Add the Chicken Taquitos to the grill and cook for 6 to 8 minutes, rolling them along the grates until cooked on all sides and warmed through, brushing them with the remaining BBQ sauce. Serve with coleslaw.

image003

Photo by: David St. Louis.

Cheesy Bruschetta: Recipe by Molly Reynolds

1 package of Pepperidge Farm Texas Toast

2 medium tomatoes (diced)

2 tablespoons of fresh basil (finely chopped)

1 tablespoon of minced garlic

1 tablespoon of olive oil

DIRECTIONS: Prepare Texas Toast to box directions. In a medium bowl, mix your diced tomatoes, basil, minced garlic, and olive oil. Add salt and pepper to taste. When the Texas Toast is out of the oven, distribute heaping helpings of the tomato mixture onto each and serve.