11 Tips And Tricks 

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11 Tips And Tricks That\'ll Guarantee An Amazing Fourth Of July Cookout

Fourth of July is upon us, and we all know what that means: an epic cookout. If all goes as it should, there will be lots of

burgers, lots of beer, a flag cake, and a great big display of fireworks. It will be great. But, it can be even better and we\'re going to show you how.

We\'ve put together a check list of sorts to make sure none of the delicious things that make cookouts great will be forgotten. Because everyone deserves greatness this coming Independence Day. Without further ado, here are the tips and tricks you need for an awesome July 4th cookout.

Up your watermelon game by turning it into an awesome salad.

It\'s the perfect combination of salty and sweet, plus watermelon makes for the most refreshing kind of salad.

While you\'re at it, make a boozy watermelon slushie too.

There\'s so much more that can top a dog than mustard, ketchup and relish. Think mac and cheese, guacamole or even 7-layer dip.

The concept is simple, but it\'s a little tricker than it seems -- especially if you\'re hoping for perfection. Learn the dos and don\'ts of grilling burgers, and never eat subpar burgers again.

Hot dogs and burgers are a must, no doubt, but there\'s a whole lot more you can and should make on the grill. Asparagus, potato salad and even brie cheese taste better after spending a little time on the hot grates of the grill.

A well-made potato salad tastes like food from the heavens. One that\'s not put together that well is often left behind for the flies. These are the mistakes to avoid when making potato salad. Listen up and you\'ll be well on your way to greatness. (To make the recipe pictured above, head on over here.)

They\'re even more refreshing than cocktails -- and the perfect excuse to eat more than one popsicle. Get the recipes here.

If you\'re going to serve cocktails, make them fruity, seasonal and strong.

You can find all the instruction you need for that over here.

Don\'t forget ice -- lots of it -- and you might want to invest in some beer cooling gadgets (like the Chillsner) or at least study up on how to get beer cold fast.

Don\'t bother with messy scoops and melted pints of ice cream during the gathering -- make ice cream sandwiches ahead of time and everyone\'s happy. Prep these recipes before the Fourth and don\'t worry about dessert again.

If you\'re going to make a flag cake, make it the best flag cake the world has ever known.

Like one that truly looks like a flag because it\'s built with not six, not nine, but

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