Fourth of July is just around the corner! Which means it’s time to celebrate America with good friends, great fireworks, and fantastic food! But what to include in your July Fourth Feast? Below I have gathered nine of the best food and drinks around to turn your everyday BBQ into a truly Montanan festival!

Montana Bear BBQ Sauce from Huckleberry People

Photo courtesy of Montana Gift Corral

    It is my personal belief that messy food is synonymous with amazing food. If you’re at your friend’s BBQ and you aren’t a little self-conscious while you shovel saucy meaty goodness into your mouth as the juice drips down your chin, you need to find yourself better friends. Preferably ones who use the Montana Bear BBQ Sauce made by Huckleberry People. Because no barbeque is complete without BBQ sauce, and the Montana Bear BBQ Sauce is mouth-wateringly delicious. With a brilliant blend of both sweet and spicy this BBQ sauce is the perfect addition to any barbeque chow, whether its pork chops, ribs or chicken! So grab a napkin and change out of your white clothes, because with the Montana Bear BBQ Sauce you’re gonna eat like a bear!

Deep Pit Seasoning by Montana Bounty Foods

Photos courtesy of Montana Gift Corral

    Want to add a little more oomph to your bbq banquet? Is the Montana Bear BBQ Sauce just not enough flavor? Why not pre-game your choice of meat with the Deep Pit Seasoning by Montana Bounty Foods? You can use it as a marinade to help make those sirloin steaks extra juicy and tender, or rub it into some chicken to give it a deliciously crispy skin. Made with a carefully selected blend of herbs and spices the Deep Pit Seasoning is going to bring out the wild side in all of your grub.

Buffalo Salami by Chalet Market

Photo courtesy of Montana Gift Corral

    Okay, your meat is seasoned and grilling and you know exactly what BBQ sauce you're going to slather it in. But it’s going to take a while before its ready for you to sink your teeth into and your stomach is already growling! Why not came your hunger at bay with a tasty treat? The Buffalo Salami by Chalet Market is the ideal solution! Only 5 oz it won’t spoil your appetite but it will make your taste buds explode like a firecracker. Made with real buffalo and made in Montana, it’ll be hard finding a more Montanan snack!

Moose Grub Fish Beer Batter by Huckleberry Haven

Photo courtesy of Montana Gift Corral

    Montana is full of lakes, streams, and rivers. All of them are filled with fish. Want a delicious meal that strays a bit from the traditional Fourth of July BBQ? Why not make it more Montanan that you originally believed possible? From Huckleberry Haven comes the Moose Grub Fish Beer Batter, the ideal addition to any Montanan Grill. We both know that you’re always looking for an excuse to get out and go fishing. Well, you should know that the Moose Grub Fish Beer Batter is made with herbs that compliment any fish you can catch. The best part? It only needs one can of beer to transform from powder to batter! So grab a pole, crack open two cold-ones and get fishing this Fourth of July!

Huckleberry Vinaigrette by Huckleberry Haven

Photo courtesy of Montana Gift Corral

    As a kid, my family had a traditional Fourth of July BBQ. Every year we would grill up some hamburgers and chicken legs, make a big bowl of coleslaw and a big hand-tossed salad. And with the Huckleberry Vinaigrette by Huckleberry Haven that salad is more Montanan than ever before! Your guests will love that sweet yet zesty accent the Huckleberry Vinaigrette adds to any salad. Mix in some dried huckleberries, a little feta and maybe even some honey-roasted peanuts for a truly delicious side-dish!

Huckleberry Lemonade by Huckleberry Haven

      What is the most summery beverage you can think of? You’re probably fondly remembering the lemonade stand you ran as a child, aren’t you? I mean, of course, lemonade is the most summery drink! Sweet, sugary and the starting place for budding entrepreneurs, lemonade is a must at every Fourth of July BBQ. And why not add a little Montana flavor with the Huckleberry Lemonade by Huckleberry Haven. A tantalizing combination of sweet and refreshing, the Huckleberry Lemonade is sure to be a hit with kids and adults alike. And the pretty purple color it turns is a tell-tale sign of someone who is a Montanan at heart (and stomach!)

Huckleberry Pie Filling by Huckleberry Haven

Photo courtesy of Montana Gift Corral

    The apple pie, a truly iconic and classic American dessert. Many people would argue that without an apple pie your Fourth of July BBQ is incomplete. Well, one bite from your delicious huckleberry pie will have them questioning everything they know. From the experts on huckleberries, Huckleberry Haven offers you Huckleberry Pie Filling. Made from wild huckleberries the Huckleberry Pie Filling is guaranteed to give your pie the extra flavor boost you need to bring a satisfied smile to everyone’s faces. Move over apple, America is going to have a new Fourth fav!

     From sweet and zesty salads to a twist on America's traditional pie, these foods are gonna make your guests say "wow". All you have to do is fire up that grill and have a wonderful, safe, and delicious Fourth of July!

   By: Issa Rabideaux