How To: Celebrate the Red, White & Blue with These 10 Patriotic Cocktails

Fourth of July usually means barbecues, patriotism, and getting piss drunk. Okay, well not really, but a little inebriation is usually on the menu, and nothing says America more than serving patriotic drinks at your party. Here are our 10 favorites.

How To: This Easy Photo Trick Makes Fireworks Look Like Brilliant Sky Creatures

Anyone who does a lot of photography knows that the right exposure can make all the difference in the world. Taking a picture of something in motion requires a long exposure, so if you've ever wondered why your fireworks photos never quite turn out right, your shutter speed could be the key. Photographer David Johnson decided to put a twist on the classic long-exposure fireworks photo. Normally, when people take photos of fireworks displays, they just set a long exposure for somewhere over 3 ...

How To: Make Your Own Summer Slurpee at Home

On days when it's too hot to even drive to the convenience store in an air-conditioned car to get an iced Slurpee, it's better to stay indoors and make your own summer Slurpee at home.

How To: This Brilliant Red, White & Blue Cake Holds a Flaky Surprise Inside

This Fourth of July, go beyond cherry pie, strawberry shortcake, and those gimmicky red, white, and blue cupcakes. Instead, wow your friends and family with this delicious, patriotic honeycomb cake made of puff pastry, whipped cream, and fresh fruit — no artificial coloring needed! Don't Miss:

How To: Make an All-American Flag Cake with Barefoot Contessa

What could be more perfect for a summertime barbecue than an All-American flag cake? This sponge cake is easy to make and covered in berries to give it a fresh, warm-weather flavor. If you need a dessert for Memorial Day or the Fourth of July, this is the perfect one for you. Start from scratch with the Food Network's Ina Garten, aka the famous Barefoot Contessa, in this clip.

News: 5 Red, White & Blue Foods That Are Perfect for Fourth of July

Independence Day is right around the corner, and that means three things: fireworks, cold beer, and great food. I always love to cook festive foods for the Fourth of July, and I don't just mean the classics, like grilled chicken and brats. I mean foods that celebrate the Stars and Stripes: foods that are red, white, and blue.

How To: Make Oreo Bald Eagles for a 4th of July Party

Bald Eagles are an endangered symbol of America. If you want to celebrate them without actually having one, live or dead (either is illegal) watch this video to learn how to make cute little Oreo Bald Eagles, a dessert for American patriots.

How To: 10 Cookout Tricks That'll Make You a Seasoned Grill Master

Barbecue season: it's the perfect time to play with fire, produce your best burger ever (until next year, that is), and find even more ways to make beer a part of your daily life. However, even a grilling badass occasionally gets stumped by minor BBQ problems. No worries: We've got solutions!

How To: 10 Extreme Hot Dog Hacks That Make Ketchup & Mustard Obsolete

We've always loved a good summertime hot dog, placed lovingly in a soft simple bun with ample ketchup and mustard. But after eating hot dogs this way and this way alone for the majority of our lives, we grew tired of the same old thing.

How To: Blur Fireworks with Your DSLR for Some Wicked July 4th Photos

Try "unfocusing" your photographs for some dreamy, evocative and somewhat abstract takes on life. Check out the two tutorials (here and here) from Michelle Geoga of Lights! Camera! Photoshop! for tips on unleashing the blur-power of your camera. You can see plenty of example images there to help you out.

How To: S'mores & Tiramisu Have a Baby & It's Freakin' Beautiful

This decadent dessert is inspired and created by marrying tiramisu and s'mores. It's a moan-worthy version of that classic English dessert, trifle, that combines the soft, creamy layers of tiramisu with the gooey, sticky goodness of s'mores. You can make it as easy as you wish, with store-bought whipped cream and pound cake, or you can make everything from scratch for a special company-ready dessert.

How To: Tell Graham Crackers to GTFO & Make S'mores in Cones

The most genius summertime snack hack that we've come across recently is, without a doubt, the campfire cone. Astounding in its simplicity and ease of preparation, yet brilliant in its execution, the campfire cone has something for everyone: parents and children, expert and novice campers, backyard barbecuers, and oven lovers alike.