Our food correspondent Cloyd Burke takes a break from from writing about his favorite things to eat and shares some of his favorite Fourth of July recipes.

This is my 82nd Fourth of July, and if I’ve learned anything over my lifetime it’s that I love a good holiday meal without all the work. Every day may be a vacation day in retirement but I still like to eat well and relax on holiday weekends.

These easy-to-master recipes probably aren’t for the épicuriens among us. Not everyone is a seasoned chef. There are people out there who are just getting started on their gastronomy journey and could use a recipe or two to help fill their boxes, or whatever the kids use these days.

Why aren’t there pictures of the finished recipes? I eat my food. I don’t take pictures of it.

Red white and blue salad

My wife put me on this a few years ago and I was highly skeptical at first. I love a good watermelon. I love feta cheese. I love mint. But in my mind those are three things that should never be put together. I was wrong. She likes when I say that.

Ingredients
1 seedless watermelon cut into 1/2-3/4 inch chunks
1 tablespoon fresh squeezed lemon juice
1/4 cup chopped fresh mint leaves
1 tablespoons olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
3 ounces feta cheese
1/2 cup blueberries

Instructions
Whisk the lemon juice, mint, olive oil and salt and pepper in a bowl. Add half the watermelon, feta and blueberries. Mix well and incorporate the remaining watermelon, feta and blueberries. You can omit the mint and allow your guests to add it later on their own.

Cloyd’s wings

I think I invented these because I’ve never seen them anywhere else, but who knows? The recipe is as basic as it gets but my goodness does it deliver a flavor punch. The kids and their friends used to love them. Don’t deviate from the Lowry’s seasoned salt; other seasonings just don’t taste the same. One of my favorite parts about these wings is they eat well all day long and don’t get mushy like sauced wings.

Ingredients
1-2 lbs Whole Foods chicken wings, portioned
Lowry’s seasoned salt to taste

Instructions
Take the wings out of the fridge an hour before you’re ready to cook. Pat them as dry as you can and then pop them in the air fryer for 20-30 minutes, or the oven for 35-45 minutes, or set them on the grill on low heat for 30-45 minutes, until your desired doneness. Begin seasoning them with Lowry’s before the skin dries out and season all sides multiple times. Flip frequently so the skin crisps evenly.

Betsy Ross Rice Krispy treats

I’m a savory guy and not a sweets guy. My love of sweets ended with adolescence so I never developed a palette for those fancy adults desserts. My wife makes this patriotic twist on rice crispy treats that makes my heart whistle “Yankee Doodle.” There’s a picture up top because she likes to take pictures of her food.

Ingredients
Nonstick cooking spray
4 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into thirds
One 10-ounce bag mini marshmallows
4 1/2 cups of Rice Krispies
1/2 teaspoon blue food coloring
1/2 teaspoon red food coloring
1/4 cup red, white and blue sugar sprinkles

Instructions
Line a 9 x 13 baking dish with foil and coat with nonstick spray. Split the butter and marshmallows equally across three bowls. Working one bowl at a time, microwave for 30 seconds and add in the blue food coloring and stir until incorporated. Gently fold in 1 1/2 cups of Rice Krispies and press into the bottom of the baking dish. Repeat with the second bowl using red food coloring, and press it on top of the blue Krispies. Repeat a third time with no food coloring. If you’re using one bowl make sure you rinse it well or you’ll get a layer of purple treats and we’re not sporting royal colors on America’s birthday.

While still warm add the sprinkles and press into the treats. Use the sugar sprinkles and not those grotesque things that some people call jimmies. No additional baking required.

America’s birthday cocktail

Ingredients
2 oz reserved and strained liquid from the red, white and blue salad (it tastes better the longer it sits)
1 1/2 oz good gin

Instructions
Add the ingredients to a shaker and shake it like you’re mad at it. Pour into a martini glass and garnish with a sprig of mint. Like I said, not everything has to be difficult.

Cheers America, and don’t forget, he who drinks a fifth on the fourth, may not be able to go forth on the fifth!