À La Carte: The July 4th edition 🎉

Must-make sandwiches, herby potato salad, eggplant "caviar" + more

Hi friends,

I’ve been watching “Sirens” this week, which is about - among other things - an extremely wealthy family summering on their compound in New England.

There are a lot of flowy dresses, colorful cocktails in tiny crystal coupes, more house staff than residents, and all the interpersonal drama is punctuated with wide-angle shots of their private beach.

As I was putting together this newsletter and thinking about what real-life people might find themselves doing to celebrate July 4th, snapshots of the show kept popping into my head. I had to check myself because, like, 99% of us will definitely not be attending the types of parties the show centers around.

Instead, we’ll probably be going over to a friend’s barbecue, toting canned beers to the beach in a cooler, or just enjoying the day at home in the comfort of the air conditioner. (I, for one, will be camping!)

Below, I’ve put together some ideas for down-to-earth gatherings, including party snacks, a fun no-bake dessert, and more. As always, if you try one of these, please let me know how it goes in the comments section or tag me on Instagram with your creation!

P.S. By the time you get this, I’ll be on my annual camping hiatus, so you’ll be hearing from me less than usual for a bit. I’ll be back with new recipes in two weeks!

1. Barbecued Tempeh Sandwiches

This sticky-sweet, smoky tempeh is glazed in a simple homemade mix of tomato paste, maple syrup, soy sauce, and spices = i.e. way better than sugary bottled barbecue sauce. And yes, you can make this in advance and bring it with you potluck-style.

2. Dill Potato Salad with Capers

A ton of fresh herbs, capers, and an olive oil vinaigrette replace Hellman’s as the star ingredient in my beloved potato salad.

3. Ukrainian Roasted Eggplant “Caviar”

This zingy spread is a staple of Ukrainian summer cooking. Made with roasted eggplants and bell peppers, plus raw tomatoes and onion, think of it as an Eastern European bruschetta. Serve on crostini or as a dip with chips.

4. Sesame Garlic Edamame

Basic edamame is a pretty great party snack on its own. But dress it in soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and chili flakes, and it transforms into something irresistible.

5. Dark Chocolate Peanut-Date Bark

A salty, crunchy base - made of peanuts, peanut butter, coconut, and dates - gets topped with a generous layer of melted dark chocolate, plus coarse sea salt. The perfect no-bake summer dessert.