9 Salads And Sides To Flag For The 4th Of July

Fireworks, friends and -- most importantly -- food! Flag these easy salad and side recipes for your Independence Day party. They're keepers.
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Fireworks, friends and -- most importantly -- food! Flag these easy salad and side recipes for your Independence Day party. They're keepers.

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Usually we think of fresh berries as something to eat for breakfast or dessert, but here they make an elegant addition to a salad of baby spinach, pecans and goat cheese. The colors of red, white and blue make it perfect for the 4th! GET THE RECIPE

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Perfect for a backyard BBQ, these baby potatoes are boldly flavored with a thick Dijon mustard marinade, then grilled until crispy and charred. GET THE RECIPE

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Often referred to as "veggie crack" because it's so addictive, this is one of my most popular recipes. Whether you serve it as a side dish or a dip with tortilla chips (highly recommend!), the bowl is always empty and the mouths are always full. GET THE RECIPE

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Crisp zucchini, burst cherry tomatoes and meltingly sweet red onions make an easy but elegant side dish for a party. Make it ahead and pair it with grilled chicken, salmon or steak. GET THE RECIPE

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Instead of the usual corn on the cob, try a fresh corn salad that you can make ahead of time. This one is a breeze to make...and eat. GET THE RECIPE

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So simple and so good -- this grilled asparagus and feta salad is the kind of dish that makes you wonder if you might possibly be a very happy vegetarian. GET THE RECIPE

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These tender and sweet cornbread muffins are the perfect accompaniment to any Southern barbecue or Southwestern-style dish. My kids love them so much that I'm constantly swatting their little hands away from the bread basket so they don't fill up. GET THE RECIPE

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Next time you're asked to bring a veggie or salad to a summer party, try these sweet and smoky bell peppers topped with feta, toasted pine nuts, basil and olives. The salad looks gorgeous on a platter, and is delicious with toasted pita bread, grilled lamb burgers or chicken kebabs. GET THE RECIPE

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Old Bay is typically used on seafood, especially on the Eastern Shore, but here it infuses sweet summer corn and tomatoes with a subtle kick of flavor. GET THE RECIPE

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