It is the big American holiday – but did you know these things?

The 4th of July is when the US celebrates its Independence Day. It is the huge summer holiday filled with bbq, fireworks, parades and more.  But did you know these things about the holiday?  The first organized celebration took place in 1777 in Philadelphia and Boston.  Four years later, Massachusetts made it an official state holiday. It wasn’t until almost a hundred years later when made it a federal holiday in 1870.  It was part of a package including New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

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Almost 87% of people plan to celebrate the day.  A whopping 47% plan on purchasing alcohol as one way to mark the founding of the country.  Beer is the top choice, followed by wine and then alcohol.

But despite those big numbers – did you know this is the most popular thing about the holiday – fireworks. They were there at the beginning and remain popular with 60% looking to watch the show. And not just the planned community as seen on TV fireworks. Since Covid, firework sales in America have grown to $2.3 billion, local American pyromaniacs spent three times more on fireworks in 2023 than they did in 2012.

And did you know blue is one of the hardest colors to make in a firework? The Italians in the 1800s figured out how to add colors. Putting metal salts which would glow and emit bright colors when heated created the dazzling spectrums of lights. While the boom is made by the explosion of gunpowder, the snap, crackle and pop are made with a little chemistry. The campfire-like crackle comes from small granules of bismuth compounds. The granules burn quickly, one after the other, giving the famed crackling sound.

The holiday is filled filled with food and 58% of the country will be grilling or barbecuing.  Grocery stories are making a killing selling top favorites of burger patties, hot dogs, deli salads, vegetable trays and mixed fresh vegetables, and potato chips (in that order). In a survey, ketchup is a top condiment for burgers followed by mustard, then mayo. When is comes to what to put on the burger cheese is at 67%, followed by lettuce then tomatoes.

For extreme eating, Nathan’s National Hot Dog Eating Contest can fill you up! The first was held in 1972 and continues at the original location on Coney Island. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the competition was dominated by the Japanese, but winners have branched out since. It is part of Major League Eating (MLE), the organization overseeing professional competitive eating events and television specials. While there are 150 million hot dogs eaten on the 4th, the world record at the contest is 76 within 10 minutes. Condiments are not allowed.

While the Flintstone’s did a July 4th special when they were in prime time (pre-streaming), the holiday also received a classic Rankin Bass stop-motion special. They squeezed the famous holiday characters Frosty the Snowman and Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer into a special to save the 4th. They mixed in a circus, magic, Mrs. Claus and more.

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On the other end of the entertainment spectrum is the famous Boston Symphony Fireworks concert. Started originally in 1929 with the first free Esplanade Concert, it was revived in 1974 and continues on TV to the delight of music lovers.

And lastly, did you know this about the 4th Of July? For the romantic minded, the backdrop of fireworks, beer and burgers make the 4th the 10th most popular day for marriage proposals.

The burger is a staple of meals, so delicious, messy, full of proteins and veggies (sometimes) and it hits the spots. And it is the all weather perfect meal. And certain places just nail the perfect burger.  In-N-Out has a reputation for doing it right with onions, others go all out with truffle, exotic ingredients, or artisan buns.  Restaurants have plenty of resources, but at home you can use a few hacks to make yours even better.  Here are some simple ways to beef up your basic burger.

1. Cold Hands 

The heat of your hands “melts” the hamburger, creating a sticky mess that makes it super challenging to make a killer patty. Dip ’em in ice water first and watch your patties shine!

2. Grate Your Onions

Don’t bother slicing those suckers. Grate them directly into the hamburger. The onion juices will incorporate nicely into the raw meat.

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3. Put a Thumb on It

Place a thumb print in the center of the patty to allow it to fill up with flavorful juices while it’s cooking. It will stay moist by evaporating its own delicious meat nectar.

4. Put an Egg in It

So basic, but such a winning tip. Before cooking, cut out the middle of a patty (a cookie cutter, mason jar lid or cup works great) and crack an egg into the center, like a Toad In the Hole but with meat instead of bread.

4. Chill Out

Unlike a steak that cooks best at room temperature, you want your burger patties to be chilled before cooking to retain the firmness of the fat, like a stick of butter, so it won’t melt off when cooking.

5. Don’t Cook Frozen Meat

Thaw a patty in minutes, just like you would a steak, by placing the sealed bag it’s in between a pot of water and a sheet pan. After it’s thawed, stick it in the fridge to chill (see #4). It really is that easy.

6. Make a Cheese Dog

Who says your hamburger has to be in patty form? Press the meat into a rectangle, lay down some cheese strips, then roll that thing into a hot dog and serve it in a bun.

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7. Get Fat

Skip the lean meats for fattier ones (looks for a ratio of about 80/20 —  lean vs fat) to make sure your burgers have flavor. If you’re that worried about calories (for one, you should’t be eating hamburgers), just make smaller patties. You’ll ultimately feel more satisfied anyway.

8. Don’t Flip Out

Patience, young Grasshopper. The burgers will lose their juices if you keep flipping them. Try to limit yourself to just a single flip. Otherwise, you risk having a dry burger.

9. Spice Is Nice

Add some jalapeños, red peppers, hot peppers or any kind of pepper to your raw burger mixture to add a little extra heat to your hot grill.

So tonight may be the night you use these simples ways to beef up your basic burger and a. have tasty dinner!