How to grill a steak -- and more -- this 4th of July

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Let’s get this holiday weekend started early, shall we?

But first, a warning: If you read this week’s California Cook column by Times Food editor Russ Parsons, you are likely to geek out -- and join his quest to grill the perfect steak. (He rounds out the menu with potato salad with celery and red onion, grilled corn with tequila-lime butter, above, and beer ice cream. Yes! I know! Beer ice cream!)

Plus: We’ve got nine stunning dessert recipes that are perfect for this patriotic holiday -- Red, white and blueberries: Recipes from the L.A. Times Test Kitchen. Plus, more grilling ideas from the Test Kitchen:

--Rene Lynch
Twitter / renelynch

(Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)