My all-time favorite holliday of the year is hands down the Fourth Of July! I love it, I love it, I love it! Don't get me wrong. There are some other great hollidays out there like Christmas and New Years, but once the sun comes out in the spring it is Independence Day that I have my eyes set on.

Every year I register to run either the 5K or 10K "Freedom Run" in Provo, Utah at seven o'clock sharp on the morning of the fourth. A majority of the race runs along the parade route in Provo which is the largest 4th of July parade in Utah every year. Approximately 250,000 people camp out along the parade route and are there to cheer on all of the runners as well. I'm not a great runner, but I love running this race each year as one of my personal expressions that I am proud to be an American and have the freedom that I have.

The afternoon of the fourth is a perfect time for a swim! I don't care where we go to swim as long as there is lots of water involved. Not many things beat a nice cool swim on a hot summer day.

Now, it's time to break out the grill! Fourth of July BBQ's can really get started any time after 12:00 p.m. and go all afternoon and evening long. Cook, cook, cook!!! But the question is, what do you cook??? My best friend back in Utah loves my grilled hamburgers, especially the spicy ones. He even invited me to a Memorial Day BBQ just to be the cook! (By the way... I love Memorial Day too! It's another great day to get ready for the Fourth and officially kicks off BBQ season.)

My latest BBQ masterpiece are my spicy jalapeno chicken fajitas. DELICIOUS! I'll make them for you sometime if you ask nicely. But what I want to know is... what do you cook up? What are your unique recipes that set you apart from the rest of the self proclaimed "Masters of the Grill" in this world? Today the owner of Red Hot BBQ and Things was telling me about BBQ'd cookies and brownies!!! Are you kidding me?!?! That sounds great! She also threw a pizza on the grill this afternoon and it turned out very tastey!

So what is your specialty? Brisquet, steak, chicken, pie, ribs, dutch oven, etc., etc., etc. I can't wait to see what you guys come up with!