Hope you're hungry... More than 25 percent The chance that the hot dogs and pork sausages consumed on the Fourth of July originated in Iowa. The chance that the hot dogs and pork sausages you eat on the holiday originated in Iowa. The Hawkeye State was home to 18.9 million hogs and pigs on March 1, 2010. This represents more than one-fourth of the nation's total. North Carolina (9.1 million) and Minnesota (7.2 million) were the runners-up. Texas style The chances are good that the beef hot dogs, steaks and burgers on your backyard grill came from the Lone Star State of Texas since 6.5 billion pounds is the total production of cattle, which is about one-sixth of the nation’s total production. And if the beef did not come from Texas, it probably came from Nebraska (4.6 billion pounds) or Kansas (3.9 billion pounds). Six Number of states in which the revenue from broiler chickens was $1 billion or greater between December 2007 and November 2008. There is a good chance that one of these states -- Georgia, Arkansas, North Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi or Texas -- is the source of your barbecued chicken. Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service

For this Fourth of July, bring something special to your cookout with friends and family.

Spice up the drink table with a Firecracker Sangria or add a touch of sweetness for dessert with Puff Pastry Star Cookies. Your friends will love a tasty, simple peach cobbler with homemade whipped cream and will be snacking away on Cornmeal Hushpuppies.

If you’re an adventurous cook in the kitchen, try making the Crab Cake Sliders. They’re a bit of work, but sure to be absolutely delicious and something new and different to serve.

You’ll be sure to make these again as a summer treat.

Puff Pastry Star Cookies from a recipe by Country Living. (Country Living)

Note: If at any point the dough starts to feel soft during assembly, put it on parchment paper-lined baking sheets and refrigerate until slightly firm, but not stiff. Then proceed.

- All-purpose flour, for work surface

- 2 sheets (1 17.3 ounce package) puff pastry, thawed

- 1/4 cup jam, jelly or fruit preserves

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

On a lightly floured work station, roll each sheet of puff pastry into a 10 by 12 inch rectangle. Using a 3 1/2 inch star-shaped cookie cutter, cut out 12 stars from each sheet. Transfer to baking sheets.

Brush the tips of the stars with egg and spoon about a teaspoon of jam onto the center of each star. Using a 1 3/4 inch star shaped cookie cutter, cut out smaller star shapes from the centers of the remaining 12 larger stars.

Place stars with the holes over the jam, doing your best to line up the points. Press edges to seal. Brush tops with egg and sprinkle with sugar.

Bake, rotating halfway through, until golden brown or about 10-12 minutes. Cool before serving. Cookies can be made 2 days ahead. Store tightly covered at room temperature.

Firecracker Sangria from a recipe by Country Living. (Country Living)

- 2 (750-ml) bottles Vinho Verde or other dry white wine, chilled

- 2 cup white grape juice or apple juice, chilled

- 1 cup strawberries, hulled and halved (quartered if large)

- Club soda or seltzer, chilled for serving

Combine wine, juice and fruit in a punch bowl or pitcher. Refrigerate until ready to serve, up to 6 hours. Serve over ice with a splash of club soda.

Crab Cake Sliders from a recipe by Food Network. (Food Network)

- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, plus more for brushing

- 1 pound lump crabmeat, picked through

- Finely grated zest of 1 lemon

- Diced red onion, sliced tomatoes and lettuce for topping

Prepare the crab cakes: Tear 3 buns into small pieces to make about 3/4 cup; put in a medium bowl.

Whisk 2 tablespoons mayonnaise, the melted butter, egg, Old Bay, Worcestershire sauce, mustard and 1/4 teaspoon salt in another bowl.

Add the mayonnaise mixture to the bun pieces and stir to combine; let sit 10 minutes, then gently fold in the crabmeat.

Brush a baking sheet with butter. Tightly pack the crab mixture into 15 small patties and arrange on the prepared baking sheet; refrigerate at least 1 hour or overnight.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Arrange bacon on rimmed baking sheet in a single layer and bake until slightly crispy or about 20 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate, saving 1 tablespoon of drippings.

Break each piece of bacon into thirds, set aside. Combine remaining 1/2 cup mayonnaise, lemon zest and bacon drippings in a bowl; season with salt and pepper.

Preheat the broiler. Arrange the remaining 15 buns cut-side up on a baking sheet; brush with butter and broil until golden.

Transfer the crab cakes to the broiler and cook, rotating the pan as needed, until golden and warmed through, about 6 minutes.

Spread cut sides of buns with lemon mayonnaise. Sprinkle with diced red onion. Serve with tomatoes, lettuce, bacon and pickles.

Mama's Cornmeal Hushpuppies from a recipe by Food Network. (Food Network)

- 8 cups peanut oil for frying

In a large bowl, mix the cornmeal, onions, jalapeno and a pinch of salt. Add enough of the buttermilk to make a stiff batter. You may not need the whole 2 cups.

Heat the peanut oil in a deep fryer or a large heavy bottomed pot to 250 degrees F.

Drop the batter into the hot oil by teaspoonfuls. The hushpuppies will turn over in the oil as they cook. They are done when they are brown all over, 6 to 8 minutes.

Remove them from the oil with a slotted spoon, drain on paper towels and season with salt. Keep the hushpuppies warm while you fry the remaining batter. Serve hot.

Note: If you can’t find self-rising cornmeal, substitute 2 cups cornmeal plus 3 teaspoons baking powder and 1/4 teaspoon salt.

Peach cobbler from a recipe by Food Network. (Food Network)

- Two 15-ounce cans sliced peaches in syrup

Drain 1 can of peaches; reserve the syrup from the other. Place the butter in a 9- by 12-inch ovenproof baking dish.

Heat the butter on the stove or in the oven until it’s melted. In a medium bowl, mix the flour and sugar. Stir in the milk and the reserved syrup.

Pour the batter over the melted butter in the baking dish. Arrange the peaches over the batter.

Bake for 1 hour. The cobbler is done when the batter rises around the peaches and the crust is thick and golden brown. Serve warm with fresh whipped cream.

Chill a large metal mixing bowl and the wire beater attachment in the freezer for about 20 minutes. Pour the chilled cream and sugar into the cold mixing bowl and beat until it forms soft peaks, about 5 minutes.

The mixture should hold its shape when dropped from a spoon. Don’t overbeat or you’ll have sweetened butter.

Note: If you don’t have self-rising flour, use 1 cup all-purpose flour mixed with 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder and 1/8 teaspoon salt.