Food, food and more food. What day could it be but the Fourth of July?

Burgers, chicken, hot dogs, kebabs, bratwurst and other tasty foods are being served up across the nation today. Why not spice up your family's cookout by using a new recipe or two? Read on to find out about these new and exciting ways to grill old classics.

Chef Bobby Flay's Perfect Burger

Recipe courtesy of The Food Network.

Ingredients:

  • 1½ pounds of chuck (80 percent lean) beef or 90 percent lean ground turkey
  • Salt (kosher if available) and ground black pepper
  • 1½ tablespoons of canola oil
  • 4 slices of cheese (optional) or, if you're watching your weight, no cheese

Four fancy split and toasted hamburger buns round out Flay's recipe.

But why not add more toppings, such as sliced, juicy tomatoes and fresh romaine lettuce? Some fancy Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ sauce or traditional mustard and ketchup on top also might hit the spot.

Premium Hoppin' Hot Dogs

Beside hamburgers, nothing is more appropriate for a Fourth of July celebration than hot dogs. But standard dogs and buns get boring fast. Recipes by Answers has the perfect solution for you:

Ingredients:

  • All-beef, extra-large bun size dogs (one word: Sabrett)
  • Hoagie rolls (rather than those boring enriched white bread rolls)

Chicken-Apricot Skewers (aka kebabs)

Epicurious is never, ever unreliable. A user on the foodie site was kind enough to post this delicious chicken recipe:

Ingredients:

  • ¾ cup canned light unsweetened coconut milk
  • ½ cup plain Greek yogurt
  • ½ cup smooth peanut butter
  • ¼ cup fresh lime juice (about 2 limes)
  • 2 teaspoons (packed) light brown sugar
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more for seasoning
  • ¼ cup (loosely packed) cilantro leaves, plus sprigs for garnish
  • 2 tablespoons coarsely chopped jalapeño (about 1 large; with seeds for more heat)
  • 1 pound skinless, boneless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into 24 1" chunks
  • 12 firm ripe small apricots, halved, pitted
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • ¼ cup unsalted, dry-roasted peanuts, coarsely chopped
  • Lime wedges

Yeesh! Now that's a mouthful (pun very much intended).

You'll have to puree several of the ingredients. It does look like the most tender chicken ever, though.

What are your favorite Fourth of July weekend recipes? Share your family favorite with everyone in the comments section below.