It's America's birthday! The least you can do is cook something nice for our fair country. Or, at least for your friends who are bringing the beer.

On the fourth of July, people are grilling, making pies, trying to keep cool and well-fed. We took a look around the web for the best recipes for all of the above activities, and compiled them here for your convenience. Turn the page for a whole bunch of Americana — or just food that goes well with Americana. And beer.

Food & Wine's smoky deviled eggs

Deviled eggs are a great summer hors d'oeuvres, and this version ups the game, using crème fraîche, cornichons, and smoky Spanish pimentón. Pro-tip: if you've never eaten deviled eggs with Champagne, you have missed on of life's great pleasures.

Chow.com's smoked barbecue babyback ribs

Warning: This recipe is not for the faint of heart. You'll need a smoker or charcoal grill that can be used as a smoker, and a lot of prep & cooking time. But I chose it because ribs, really really good ribs, require a lot of love. Also, it's hard to find a recipe for barbecued ribs that doesn't simply call for crappy supermarket barbecue sauce, and that stuff is disgusting. This recipe contains a recipe for home made bourbon bacon sauce that, yes, will take more time, but will also make people tremble with awe at your 4th of July prowess.

Burger Lab's July 4th triple decker cheeseburger

I figure if you want to grill burgers on the 4th, you'll just, you know, grill burgers. Unless you want something extra impressive, in which case you can turn to the above YouTube show Burger Lab (on the YouTube Tasted channel) for Richard Blais' somewhat silly July 4th burger extravaganza.

Food 52's potato salad with arugula and Dijon vinaigrette

I don't know how potato salad became this gloppy, mayo-rich, sugary thing. It should be refreshing, a respite from all the fat and meat of a barbecue. This recipe is refreshing but also delicious, and a fantastic thing to bring to a friend's barbecue.

Blueberry Pie from Serious Eats

While apple pie might be somewhat more patriotic, blueberry pie is so much more summery. And after the terrible gloppy diner blueberry pie people are accustomed to, this version with fresh berries will make you the hero of the barbecue.

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