Note Culinaire, July 3

Food

Audio By Carbonatix

Hello and welcome to July! We’ve officially made it through the first half of 2026, and it has flown by. I’m looking forward to a fun summer with my family and am especially excited to celebrate the 250th independence of our great country tomorrow.

With the holiday in mind, I’m bringing you the official recipe for Ina Garten’s iconic flag cake. It’s a little bit involved, although not too complicated, and kids love to help decorate the flag design with berries! I hope you’ll make it and enjoy with loved ones.

For dinner this week, try making crab cakes. They might seem complicated, but they aren’t. You can even prep them ahead of time, and dinner will be ready in a flash. Crab cakes are an elegant restaurant-style meal, but they come together quick enough for a weeknight. Pair with a simple green salad and you’re all set.

Also included in this week's links are some baking essentials you may need if you bake the flag cake, and my favorite Amazon beverage items—everything you need for setting up a drink station, making cocktails, or just making sure you have enough ice on hand with a great pellet ice maker.

Enjoy and happy Fourth of July!