Celebrate America’s Birthday with America’s Favorite Foods

When it comes to celebrating the Fourth of July, there is nothing like dishing up some Great American classics that will put family and friends into the holiday spirit.

Taste of Home recently asked its readers to contribute their most popular and celebrated dishes to mark America’s birthday. The magazine receives tens of thousands of recipes each year, and those published are thoroughly tasted by the Taste of Home kitchen.

Based on feedback from its readers, Taste of Home has selected the Top 10 Iconic American Dishes for its “United Tastes of America” feature, which is highlighted in the current June/July print and digital editions.

The United Tastes of America menu includes these top 10 dishes:

1. Dutch Apple Pie – Apple pie hits America’s high-notes with this delightful recipe submitted by Brenda DuFresne, of Midland, Mich.
2. Best-Ever Fried Chicken – Crisped to perfection, Lola Clifton of Vinton, Va. knows how to make her family happy with this fried chicken recipe.
3. Cobb Salad with Chili-Lime Dressing – Made on the fly by Hollywood restaurateur Bob Cobb in 1937, this salad is one of the most famous American dishes. This zesty rendition is submitted by Mary Meek of Toledo, Ohio.
4. Shrimp Po' Boys  – This Creole classic, submitted by Betty Jean Jordan of Monticello, Ga., adds a little Louisiana flair to any table.
5. Chicago-Style Deep-Dish Pizza  – Try out this Chicago-favorite from Lynn Hamilton, of Naperville, Ill.
6. Molasses-Glazed Baby-Back Ribs – Ribs are a perfect way to celebrate summer outside on the grill. According to Kim Braley of Dunedin, Fla., the secret to her recipe is cola.
7. Double-Cheese Macaroni – Nothing says crowd-pleaser better than an ooey, gooey bowl of macaroni and cheese. This recipe, submitted by Sabrina DeWitt of Cumberland, Md., is sure to cause fireworks for all guests.
8. All-American Bacon Cheeseburgers – Silverdale, Wash., resident Jackie Burns’ great juicy bacon cheeseburger recipe captures everything glorious about American burger-making.
9. Chocolate Chip Cookies  – The chocolate chip cookie accidentally got its start when Ruth Wakefield used a regular chocolate candy bar as a substitute for baker’s chocolate. When the chocolate didn’t melt, the chocolate chip cookie was born. This receipt was submitted by Bethany Thayer of Troutville, Va.  
10. Old-Fashioned Ice Cream Sodas – Ice cream sodas will take the whole family down memory lane and are the perfect addition to your Fourth of July Bash, submitted by Anna Erickson of Terrebonne, Ore.

For the complete list of “The United Tastes of America,” check out TasteofHome.com/4thofJuly for other Fourth of July favorite recipes and tips. Or follow Taste of Home on Facebook: www.facebook.com/tasteofhome or on Twitter: @tasteofhome.

Source: Alyson Buck, Current Public Relations, ABuck@TalktoCurrent.com