Going "Grill-less" and Guiltless on the 4th of July

We're not barbecue-ers.  Don't get me wrong.  We love eating smoke-encrusted, grilled-to-perfection chicken, trip-tip, burgers, ribs, corn-on-the-cob, and the like. We're just not in the headspace, or have the yard space, to make it happen easily.  We are among the few who fly in the face of convention on this day of "sauced" celebration.  In fact, we will probably go to a movie (check out a couple of recommendations at the end of this post).

So, what can you eat or serve if you're not "firing up" in the yard?  Here is an idea to get your creative cooking (or food arranging) juices flowing:

Picnic - Ours will be on our balcony, looking down at the main street (aptly named Main Street) of our lovely town.  So think adirondack chairs and checkered napkins.  Take a look at the menu.  It's easy to prepare and is very packable.

     Caprese sandwiches
     Watermelon, mint, and feta salad
     Gourmet potato chips
     Candy bar brownies

What is a caprese sandwich?  Here are the ingredients (meat lovers can add sliced rotisserie chicken breast to make it heartier):

a.  A French baguette cut crosswise into 4 pieces
b.  1 tablespoon olive oil and good quality balsamic vinegar to drizzle
c.  2 large heirloom tomatoes (aah, the joy of summer) cut into thick slices
d.  4 oz. of fresh mozzarella cheese also sliced
e.  Lots of fresh basil leaves
f.   A topping of kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
g.  Assemble and enjoy

Here are the ingredients for the watermelon, mint, and feta salad:

a.  Chilled and cubed watermelon
b.  A drizzle of olive oil
c.  A squeeze of fresh lime
d.  Salt and freshly ground pepper
e.  Chopped fresh mint leaves
f.   A topping of crumbled feta

Do you want to know how to make candy bar brownies (love, love, love these!)?  Well, you're in luck:

a.  Bake your favorite boxed brownies (I use Betty Crocker, family size mix)
b.  Add a generous (or gargantuan) handful of chocolate chips to the batter
c.  Bake (don't overbake) as instructed on the box
d.  When warm, top with your favorite chopped candy bar (we love Reese's peanut butter cups)
e.  Spread them warm like a frosting or leave them in chunky pieces on top
f.   If the brownies are gooey, scoop them up and serve in a bowl, topped with ice cream (my preference)
g.  You can also chill and cut into pristine squares, especially if heading to the park or beach

Here are the movie recommendations for those "plan-less" few, like us, on this holiday:

1.  American Animals - This movie is the "fact-based" story of a group of kids who plan and carry out the heist of some rare books from a college library.  It is entertaining, and the rare fresh mix of the actual characters and actors woven into movie magic.  A MUST SEE!

2.  Hearts Beat Loud - A lovely heartwarming tale of an ex-band member and his "off-to-college" daughter forming a duo and creating a wonderful bond, with some toe-tapping original music to boot.  You'll feel great after, uplifted and glad you went.

Happy 4th of July Food Sage-ers!