Happy, July and a very Happy Fourth of July! July 4th weekends are full of fun, summer holiday  filled with fireworks, friends and eating! How are you guys celebrating?
History of Independence Day
Independence Day or July 4th—has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1941, but the tradition of Independence Day celebrations goes back to the 18th century and the American Revolution. On July 2nd, 1776, the Continental Congress voted in favor of independence, and two days later delegates from the 13 colonies adopted the Declaration of Independence, a historic document drafted by Thomas Jefferson. From 1776 to the present day, July 4th has been celebrated as the birth of American independence, with festivities ranging from fireworks, parades and concerts to more casual family gatherings and barbecues.
Fourth of July Vegan Feast
Delicious, and yummy summer food, all red white and blue. There are so many vegan recipes that remind us of this holiday. Red watermelon drinks, juicy meatless beet burgers, summertime salads, roasted vegetables and cool desserts.
Celebrate Independence Day with a vegan feast! I hope our 4th of July recipe ideas inspire you to add some vegan flare to your holiday week! These recipes are just a few of our picks. Be sure to go to our recipes section on the website for more delicious food ideas.
Jackfruit Meatballs or Burgers
You can make these jackfruit meatball burgers in 4 EASY steps and only two ingredients: Jackfruit + chickpea flour, and your choice of herbs & spices. You can serve these with marinara sauces over pasta or just eat them plain.
1. First step the jackfruit pieces are boiled in water with some spices to soften with flavor.
2. Then they are shredded and mixed with roasted chickpea flour, spices like chili powder, cumin and turmeric, garlic and ginger.
3. Shape into balls or burger patties.
4. These balls can be pan fried in the skillet or baked in the oven for 30 minutes. They taste so DELICIOUS our mouth is on fire from the spicy jalapeños we added!
Sweet Potato FriesÂ
Roasted + Grilled Veggies Cauliflower and EggplantÂ
Shepherd Pie
Very Berry Avocado Salad
Chop your favorite salad greens, place in bowl, add sliced avocado and strawberries and drizzle fresh lemon juice and cilantro.
How to pick the right WatermelonÂ
July 4th would not be complete without something sweet like watermelon and sweet berries.
If you are headed to a barbecue or packing a picnic basket, then be sure to stop by the Farmers Market to pick up some fresh watermelon.Â
Blend watermelon with coconut water and chill. Add a small slice of watermelon wedge and garnish with lemon & mint!
Watermelon Pizza Pie with Guava slices and Pineapple Hearts
Grilled Corn on the Cob with Chipotle Cumin Spices
Nothing says summer like grilled corn on the cob. Add spicy-tart cumin lime rub for pure melt-in-your-mouth goodness.
Vegan Fruity Nice Cream Bars
When the weather outside is hot this vegan ice cream is perfect for dessert. It is so healthy with only 3 ingredients and takes but 5 minutes to make!
Recipe – Use frozen fruits: 1 cup strawberries, 1 cup blueberries, and 6 bananas.  Blend the fruits together and pour in the icepops pan insert sitck and place in the freezer. Decorate with some sliced strawberries and mint.
Healthy PlantSnacks
Add Plant Snacks to your picnic basket or barbecue party with a delicious hummus or avocado dip. Their chips are made with cassava flour are vegan, free of big 8 allergens (milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, and soy), non-gmo verified, certified gluten free, corn free, and have no added sugar. The chips come in 8 delicious flavors and variety boxes. You can order these chips http://www.plantsnacks.com
Replace one of your standard Fourth of July recipes with just one item off our healthy recipes list. Serve those beet burgers instead of beef burgers, or perhaps the grilled cauliflower, and that will be the first thing to disappear from the table.
Jacksonville Fireworks Locations
If you live in the Jacksonville, Florida area, the fireworks will be launched from multiple locations throughout the city so that residents can safely watch, socially distanced, from their communities. The fireworks locations include the below:Â Downtown Jacksonville, Northside: FSCJ North Campus, Southside: Avenues Mall and Beaches/Intracoastal West: St. Johns Town Center Mall.
Have a safe and wonderful holiday in Jacksonville over the July 4th weekend. Leave a comment below and let us know if you tried any of our recipes. Share on social media with hashtag #jaxvegancouple to be featured on our page.
Everyone LOVES Brownies SUPER chocolaty and fudgy, extra nutritious with ‘hidden’ ingredient sweet potatoes, and easy recipe to follow. Have you ever made brownies using sweet potato? Ingredients. 3 mashed sweet potatoes 1/2 cup creamy almond butter 1/2 cup cacao powder 2 tbsp flax powder mixed in water Toasted coconut + toasted sliced almonds for garnish 1 cup soaked pitted dates Blend everything together and pour in pan and bake for 30 minutes at 325 degrees. Enjoy!