What are your Independence Day plans? Neighborhood barbecue? Fireworks? Dancing? For me I think it will be all of the above. But I’m feel a little rushed, since the 4th fell mid-week (I usually have at least one weekend day to prepare something to bring to the neighbors’ annual party). While looking through my fridge, I realized that other people might be in my same predicament today, so here are two quick and easy summer recipes that you could whip up right now!

Tuna(free) Salad is one of my favorite summer dishes. Although it’s traditionally made into sandwiches, for a party I love to serve it on crackers with halved cherry tomatoes or other veggie pieces as garnish. You may need to run to the store for the nori flakes (or you can tear up a sheet of nori and grind it in a spice mill) but I highly recommend taking the extra steps for this one ingredient. It really makes the “tuna’s” flavor come alive.

With only a few ingredients, all of them (almost) guaranteed to be in your fridge, whip up some easy and delicious All-American Potato Salad. For a patriotic twist try using a mixture of red, blue and white (or yellow) potatoes.

And, of course, no hot summer day would be complete without something cold to drink. Brew up some iced tea to share, or create perfect iced coffee with your favorite fair-trade coffee variety.

Happy 4th!