CELEBRATE SUMMER: FOURTH OF JULY IDEAS

Fourth of July is just around the corner....here are some fun food and decor ideas to help make your party memorable!!

Watermelon and Blueberries...Flag

Using a square bowl and rectangular platter make a flag formation of Watermelon, Feta, and a side of Blueberries.  The creamy, salty cheese is the perfect partner to the sweet, juicy melon.

 

Red, White, and Blue Spaghetti

In the mood for a change from the usual barbeque fare...how about some Patriotic Pasta?!

Ingredients

  • 1 lb cooked spaghetti
  • 1 teaspoon Americolor Red-Red Food Coloring
  • 1 teaspoon Americolor Navy Blue Food Coloring
  • 2 teaspoons olive oil
  • 4 tablespoons water

Instructions

  1. Rinse ⅔ of the spaghetti in water, then separate the spaghetti in half into two gallon size zip closure bag.
  2. Place the red coloring in to one, the blue into the other and mix each with two tablespoon water, blend gently until the colors are absorbed.
  3. You can rinse the excess color off the pasta before mixing them together.
  4. For the remaining ⅓ of the pasta, add the olive oil to it, so the other colors don't rub onto the natural color of the spaghetti.
  5. Mix the spaghetti noodles together just before serving, if you mix them ahead of time the colors may transfer to the other noodles.

 

Star Trifle

Super simple dessert...cut stars from a pound cake, arrange in a trifle bowl with strawberries, blueberries, and dollops of fresh whipped cream.

 

Bake Sale 'Pie' Cupcakes

Berry pie cupcakes are as easy as...pie! The blueberry and cherry filling is blue or red candies, and the frosting is tinted to look like a lattice crust.

Ingredients

  • 24 vanilla cupcakes, baked in silver foil liners
  • 2 can(s) (16 ounces each) vanilla frosting
  • Yellow food coloring
  • 1 teaspoon(s) unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 cup(s) each red and blue candy (M&M's, Jelly Belly)

Directions

  1. Tint the vanilla frosting with 3 or 4 drops of the yellow food coloring and the cocoa powder to make a light brown for the piecrust. Spread some of the frosting on top of a cupcake, leaving 1/4 inch of the cupcake edge exposed. For the filling, arrange about 25 like-colored candies close together on top of the cupcake. Repeat with the remaining cupcakes and like-colored candies.
  2. Spoon the remaining light brown frosting into a ziplock bag, press out the excess air, and seal. Snip a small (1/8-inch) corner from the bag. For the lattice crust, pipe 4 or 5 lines across the top of a cupcake, about 1/2 inch apart. Pipe 4 or 5 more lines, on the diagonal. Pipe a beaded edge around the top of the cupcake. Repeat with the remaining cupcakes and frosting.
  3. Arrange the cupcakes on a wire rack and make several bake-sale tags to put with the cupcakes.

 

Table Decor Ideas

Visit your local party supply store and check out some inexpensive themed items to add to settings you already have to make your tablescape sparkle...combining layers, textures, and patterns adds a sense of elegance that will have your guests remembering this holiday for years to come....

Have a safe and Happy Holiday!!