4th Of July 2013: Easy Recipes For Pasta Salad, Healthy Desserts, and Grill Favorites: Fresh Twists On American Classics And Fast, Simple Crowd Pleasers

For the Fourth of July, here are some quick, simple recipes that will be healthy family favorites. Celebrate Independence Day with these great crowd-pleaser recipes.

Pasta salad: for a fresh twist on the classic pasta salad, combine one package of cooked, cooled macaroni, rotini, penne, or other pasta of choice with one cup of wasabi mayonnaise, one cucumber, one avocado, and sliced pickled ginger to taste for a Japanese-style pasta salad. Or, if you like, add one package of tofu, two cans of tuna, or a pound of cooled, shredded or sliced grilled meat (marinated in soy sauce for a flavor boost). If you want to spring for fresh sashimi, it's also great in this unique pasta salad.

A festive 4^th of July dessert recipe is an easy berry pie that is a quick no-bake recipe. Simply combine one package of lowfat defrosted whipped topping (such as Cool Whip), one cup of lowfat sour cream, and one cup of  lowfat or fat-free yogurt. The yogurt can be vanilla or berry flavored or plain or Greek-it's all up to you! Fold into a graham cracker crust and top with fruit-red, white, and blue is a classic 4^th of July choice.

A great watermelon recipe to bring to a 4^th of July picnic, barbecue, or potluck recipe can be made in minutes-and it's a healthy recipe to share. Simply combine four to six cups of cubed watermelon (1-2 lbs) with one thinly sliced bunch of mint, one thinly sliced red onion, and one package of feta.

For a healthy mac and cheese, make your favorite mac and cheese recipe, add one package of frozen edamame for a protein boost in this vegetarian favorite. For even more protein, use cottage cheese in place of some of the milk or cheese for a creamy hit. Subbing other cheeses, like Gouda, Swiss, or Brie in place of some of the traditional cheddar is also a great twist.

For a fresh twist on classic potato salad, do it South Asian style. Take two pounds of cooked, cooled potatoes and add one small container of Greek yogurt or raita, one can of chickpeas, one cucumber, and ½ tb curry powder for an Indian-style pasta salad.