Spend your day partying, not cooking

Remember that one person who didn’t bring a dish to the family Fourth of July picnic? The one who ate all the hotdogs and desserts? Wait – was that you? We get it. Between work, vacation and visiting relatives, prepping a July 4^th dish might not be on your priority list – but we have you covered with some delish, super-simple-to-prepare recipes.

And as a bonus, our recipes won’t kill your sleep – because we know your patriotic party may stretch late into the night. When you’re finally ready to wrap things up, after the food, drinking and fireworks, you’ll need the best sleep you can get.

Get ready to celebrate America’s birthday with the kind of yum that satisfies your sleep health too. Sweet, right?

Red Beet Hummus

Crank out this delish hummus in under 5 minutes. Serve with star shaped crackers and you’ll be the Martha Stewart of your 4^th of July party.

Sleep inducing tip: Hummus is filled with chickpeas that provide loads of B vitamins to you’re your body produce melatonin. Whole wheat pitas will help you digest this tasty snack.

Ingredients

• 1 medium beet
• 1 15 oz can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
• 1 large garlic clove, unpeeled
• juice of 1/2 lemon (about 1/2 tbsp)
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 tsp. salt

Showtime

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Wash beet well and place with garlic clove on a sheet of foil. Bring up sides of foil and fold to make a packet leaving room for heat to circulate inside the packet containing the beet and garlic. Bake for 45 minutes or until beet is tender when poked with a knife. Remove skin off of the garlic and the beet. Place all the ingredients in a food processor and puree until smooth. Serve. 4^th of July party recipe via weelicious.com

Mandarin Berry Salad

This red, white and blue salad combines lots of lush fruits and flavors to help keep things cool you at your evening celebrations.

Sleep inducing tip: Lettuce contains lactucarium, which contains natural sedative properties to help you sleep. The fruits in this salad also contain lots of melatonin.

Ingredients

• 6 cups torn mixed salad greens
• 1 cup fresh strawberries, hulled and quartered
• 1/2 cup sliced green onions
• ·1/2 cup canned rice noodles
• 1/4 cup sliced almonds, toasted
• 1 11 oz. can mandarin orange sections, drained
• 1/4 cup blueberries
• 2 tsp. honey
• 2 tsp. salad oil
• 2 tsp. balsamic vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. pepper

Showtime

In a large bowl combine greens, strawberries, onions, noodles, and almonds; set aside. In a food processor bowl or blender container combine 1/2 cup of the oranges, coconut, honey, oil, vinegar, ginger, salt, and pepper. Cover; process or blend until combined. Pour dressing over salad; toss to coat. Top with remaining oranges and the cheese. Makes 6 servings. 4^th of July party recipe via recipe.com

Red, White & Blue Soda

No surprise that July 4^th is always a scorcher. What better way to quench your thirst by the pool than with some old fashioned American bliss. This soda is perfect for everyone, including the kiddos. Spice it up with American flags or straws.

Sleep inducing tip: Cherries have melatonin that will help you sleep deeper and longer after all the partying you’ve been doing in the sunny weather.

Ingredients

• 1 bottle of club soda or water
• 2 cup tart cherry juice
• 1 ice cube tray

Showtime

Prepare KoolAid according to packet and pour into ice cube tray. Once frozen, add to soda and watch your bubbly turn purple! 4^th of July party recipe via celebratingholidays.com

Captain America Cheesecake

This cheesecake symbolizes America and the Marvel Comics superhero soldier that served in WWII. This fruity cake is destined to save the day.

Sleep inducing tip: Cherries, blueberries and bananas, all under 100 calories per serving, will help relax with naturally occurring melatonin. This heroic dessert is a great ending to a booming evening of fireworks.

Ingredients

• 1 ¼ cups crushed graham crackers or digestive cookies
• ¾ stick  softened butter at room temperature
• 2 tbsp. granulated sugar (optional)
• 10 oz. cream cheese at room temperature
• 7 oz. white chocolate
• 1 cup whipping cream
• 2 tbsp. vanilla extract
• 2 tsp.fresh lemon juice

For the topping

• 1 banana, sliced thinly
• Fresh/frozen raspberries (optionally chop them)- around 1 ½ cups
• Cherries/blueberries – around ½ cup
• 8-inch wax paper circle

Showtime

In a food processor, blend the graham crackers until smooth. Add the butter and continue blending. Press the mixture evenly at the bottom of a 8-9 inch pan or any other circular dish, and set aside. Melt the chocolate either over a double boiler or in the microwave for 15 seconds until smooth. In a bowl, whip the whipping cream and set aside. In another bowl, mix the cream cheese until smooth. Add the white chocolate and mix slowly to incorporate. Gently fold in the whipped cream until everything is combined. Add the vanilla extract and lemon juice and continue to mix. Pour the mixture on top of the base and spread evenly. To decorate, place the 8-inch wax paper circle in the center and gently trace with a toothpick. Remove the circle and raspberries between the edge of the cheesecake and the traced circle. Arrange the banana slices on the periphery of the traced line, next to the raspberries to make 1 inch. Arrange another layer of raspberries to make 1-inch on the other side of the banana slices, so that the banana ring is surrounded by raspberries on both sides. Using the toothpick, draw a star in the center where no fruits are yet. Place the blueberries around the star in a circle Fill the star with banana slices that have been halved. 4^th of July party recipe via spoonuniversity.com

The Fourth of July is a great night to stay up past bedtime and watch the fireworks with friends and family. Remember to schedule your well-deserved sleep after the festivities.