4th of July Recipes that Everyone Will Love

My favorite 4th of July recipes are foods that are easy to prepare on the grill, finger food that's easy for guests to just help themselves to, and of course, a patriotic red, white, and blue dessert. No need for fancy dishes, just put out a stack of paper plates, and have cans of ice cold soda in the cooler.

I like to have plenty of finger foods to nosh on while waiting for dinner to cook. It also gives you time to visit with your guests. Chips, Pretzels, Trail Mix, and Wheat Thins can be arranged on a lazy susan, and everyone can help themselves. Tortilla Pinwheels are one of my favorite snacks, and everyone seems to like them. Black Bean Tortilla Pinwheels can be rolled up and cut in small bites, so everyone still has room for dinner. Here are the ingredients that you'll need to make these tasty roll-ups:

8 oz. softened cream cheese
1 cup sour cream
1 cup Mexican- Style cheddar cheese
¼ cup chopped black olives
¼ cup diced red onion
½ t. salt
½ t. garlic powder
1 15 ounce can black beans, drained
5-6 tortillas

Beat cream cheese and sour cream until well blended. Add cheese, black olives, red onion, salt, and garlic powder to the cream cheese mixture. Refrigerate for 2 hours to let the flavors blend together. Process black beans in the food processor until they form a smooth paste. Spread black beans on a tortilla, and top with the cream cheese mixture. Repeat this process until all tortillas are finished, then roll up tightly. With a sharp knife, cut small slices on an angle.