The 4th of July might be the most fun holiday of the year. For some reason, this is the holiday I usually spend with friends. Whether we’re on a boat or in a backyard, everybody seems to let their hair down and relax.

But, this year the 4th of July falls on a Wednesday, which makes it hard to turn the holiday into a long weekend. Many of us will have to go back to work the next day, so we’ll have to keep our celebrations in check!

With that in mind, I’m inviting friends to my backyard for a fun day in the sun. We’ll listen to music and play yard games in between the real activity - eating! This menu plan goes light on the alcohol (and most recipes can be made non-alcoholic,) so everybody goes home in good shape for the next day!

Barbeque Brunch at 10 a.m.

• Grilled bacon

• Steak and Egg Hash with Rube’s Sirloin or Tri-Tip (depending in the size of your crowd)

• Bacon bloody Mary’s and Rosé spritzers

• Greek yogurt with fresh berries and smoked granola

• Toasted bread topped with tomato salad

• Fruit-infused water

Afternoon Snacks

• Grilled Fruits

• Cheese and charcuterie tray with local honey

• Wine and fruit slushies (Thank you to my friend, Emily, for introducing me to these. While delicious, I do not recommend blueberry (pictured below) as the skins stick in your teeth. Try strawberry!)

Dinner

• Rube’s burgers with a gourmet toppings bar: Truffle ketchup, candied jalapenos, bacon, brie, and more

• Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers

• Growler of local craft beer

Serving food and drinks all day might sound challenging, but the trick is to be prepared! Here’s how to make the best use of your time.

The day before:

• Make sure whatever fruit you’re using for the slushies is frozen and you have plenty of ice.

• Pick up a growler of beer from Rube’s

Morning the day-of:

• Grill (or cook on a griddle) a huge batch of bacon. Make enough for breakfast, bloody Mary garnishes and also as burger toppings for dinner.

• Assemble fruit skewers and jalapeno poppers.

• Arrange cheese and charcuterie platter and refrigerate (take out of the fridge 30 minutes to an hour before serving.)

• Prep burger toppings such as lettuce and tomatoes and then refrigerate until needed.

• Grill the sirloin. Set aside to rest and then slice to add to hash later in morning.

• Assemble the tomato salad so it’s ready to scoop onto toasted bread.

Don’t think you have to do all the work yourself. Ask your friends for help grilling - it’s a social activity! And keep cleanup easy. Use disposable plates, napkins, cups and utensils!

Be sure to share your holiday grilling pics! Post them to our Facebook page: Rube’s Meat Company. Have a fun and safe 4th of July!