Easy Fourth of July Feast

Menu:

Recipe: Deviled Eggs with Assorted Toppings

Recipe: Grilled Jalapeño-Lime Corn on the Cob

Recipe: Hot Bacon Potato Salad with Green Beans

Recipe: Smoky Chicken Barbecue Kabobs

Recipe: Smoky Barbecue Rub

Recipe: White Barbecue Sauce

There's no need to get stressed out if you're entertaining for Independence Day. Just use this easy party prep timeline, decorating ideas and time-saving tips.

Set the Scene: String lights attach easily to bamboo poles anchored with sand in buckets.

Recipe: Grilled Jalapeño-Lime Corn on the Cob

Prepare barbecue sauce, rub, and butter mixture for corn.

Recipe: Deviled Eggs with Assorted Toppings

Speed up your Deviled Eggs by picking up hard-cooked eggs in your grocer’s deli section.

Fill eggs; chop toppings, and place in bowls. Thread kabob skewers.

Topping Ideas: chopped cooked bacon, smoked salmon, chopped black olives, chopped Spanish olives, sour cream, chopped sun-dried tomatoes, and chopped fresh herbs (dill, parsley, chives)

Recipe: Hot Bacon Potato Salad with Green Beans

Prepare potato salad. Ice down eggs and drinks.

Recipe: Smoky Chicken Barbecue Kabobs

Recipe: Smoky Barbecue Rub

Recipe: White Barbecue Sauce

Grill kabobs and corn. Metal skewers are available at amazon.com for as little as $3 per package of six.

Fizzy, Fruity Ice-cream Floats: Let guests pour their favorite fruit-flavored soft drinks (such as grape, lime, or black cherry) over scoops of vanilla ice cream. Striped straws add a retro touch (greenpartygoods.com or jackandlulu.com).

Small bursts of Queen Anne’s lace echo the sparklers. Create the centerpiece with a simple setting of Queen Anne's lace, vintage bottles, and sparklers.