The Fourth of July is probably my second favorite food holiday of the year.

The first is, of course, Thanksgiving. There’s nothing that will replace some good turkey, dressing and the fixings to go along with them, but an Independence Day barbecue is close.

The Fourth is the day when we all fire up the grill or smoker and feast on all kinds of barbecue.

You can do just about anything on the grill, from grilling the old faithful of hamburgers and hot dogs to steaks and ribs.

Folks will get up early tomorrow morning to start barbecue. Many meats like Boston butt roasts or brisket take quite a long time to grill/smoke on the grill for their optimal flavor.

Others just grill right before they eat, especially when you’re doing steaks or hamburgers.

If you think the grill is only for meats, think again.

The grill is an awesome place to prepare vegetables, whether it’s roasted asparagus, roasted potatoes or my favorite, corn on the cob. It’s even a great place to prepare desserts.

I don’t know why, but the Fourth of July just seems like the perfect day to fire up the grill.

I know our family will be doing this, as many of you will be doing that. But I do have a few suggestions if you are planning to grill out.

First of all, don’t be afraid of the fire. Flare ups add a little drama to the cooking process.

That being said, don’t let the fire get out of control either so that you have to call the fire department.

Always respect the cook. Give the cook plenty of sweet tea or lemonade so they won’t get too hot while grilling.

And have some fun. The Fourth of July is a day of celebrating and shouldn’t be spent quarreling. This could also distract the cook, causing food to burn.

I hope you all have a great holiday celebrating our freedom.

Brent Maze is the managing editor of the Hartselle Enquirer.