RACHEL ALLEN’S AMERICAN CLASSICS

Independence Day next weekend calls for good, old-fashioned American fare. Rachel Allen has three lip-smacking recipes

Next Saturday sees the 244th anniversary of Independence Day, the day of declaration that the 13 American colonies were no longer under British rule, becoming united, free and independent states.

America may be in a place of upheaval at the moment, but on this national day, there will still be fireworks, parades, carnivals, balloons, baseball games and celebrations at public and private gatherings, all adorned with stars and stripes.

Apparently, some 155 million hot dogs will be consumed on this one day — not to mention all the burgers, ribs, corn on the cob, fried chicken and potato fries!

This recipe for sticky ribs, right, that we came up with at home, is our house favourite at the moment. Lip-smackingly good and easy to make for a crowd (just scale up the recipe to suit the numbers); it doesn’t need to be the Fourth of July to enjoy these.

Add some cabbage, carrot and

“Apparently, some 155 million hot dogs will be consumed in the US on Independence Day”

coriander slaw, far right, and some chips, and you have a really great finger-licking feast for yourselves.

Finally, the individual strawberry and blueberry cheesecakes, also far right, have the advantage of being quick and easy to put together, with no gelatine added, while sporting the red, white and blue of the Star-Spangled Banner. Now that’s hard to Trump.