July 4th at the Beach

The beach is always crowded with our neighbors' families and filled with smiles and laughter. We set up our chairs on the sandbar at low tide and enjoy the cool breeze from the Long Island Sound. Sand castles are built, swims are taken and feet are covered in sand.

Once the tide comes in, we head home and clean up for the evening’s fun: barbecuing and watching the awesome fireworks shows.

 
But no year would be complete without our neighborhood parade. The kids from our street get together with parents and grandparents and march around the block, singing the whole way. It’s a tradition that dates back more than a decade. Although the original band of marchers are all grown up now, there’s a whole new generation clamoring to be in the parade before dinner.

Now, about that dinner. What exactly do we eat at our barbecue?

Our menu is all American—hamburgers, hot dogs, an array of picnic-friendly salads and grilled clams (we are by the beach, after all!). Our salads include potato salad (like my Deviled Egg Potato Salad, which combines two dishes we love), pasta salad, tossed salad and coleslaw.

For more red, white and blue party and food ideas, visit our July 4th party page.

When my grandfather used to make clams, it was on a charcoal grill. He’d pour a bottle of beer over the coals, creating a steam to cook the clams. But these days, I do the cooking on a gas grill. Still, I steam the clams with beer using an easy method I’ve developed over the years. I use a grill-proof pan to hold the beer while the clams cook. With the grill cover closed, the steam circulates inside, beautifully flavoring the clams. They’re a big favorite.

After talking about all this, I seriously cannot wait for Independence Day. What are your family’s July 4th traditions?