Wednesday, July 3, 2019

Hooray for the Red, White and Blue!! Easy July 4th Food and Decor!


Blue Check Table Runner: Hester and Cook

Sources:
Drinking glasses on left, Cake Stand: 
Target; Drinking glasses right: Ball Canning Jars;
Gingham Napkin: Pier 1; Paper Plates Stars: Wal-Mart; 
Paper Fans, Flags: Michael's; Tins, Wicker Paper Plate 
Holders; Vintage-thrift, antique store finds.


It's almost July 4th and I put together a collection of
my most popular July 4th foods and easy decor ideas!!

I hope you'll take a look...these are the easiest
 dishes with the biggest wow-factor!!

There is still plenty of time to put together
a fabulous Fourth of July picnic...I promise.

Lets start with the food...
I always say dessert first...
--There is so much patriotic goodness to share
with you...
I can't wait!






Here are a few ideas
regarding dessert...all are simple enough to make...
It certainly depends on how much time you have.
Beautiful and all very doable desserts:

Dress up marshmallow treats with flags and sprinkles!!


Strawberry Shortcake Doughnuts... seriously-- delicious
 and could not be easier.  For a crowd, set up a dessert
 station and let guests make their own...
All you need to do is slice strawberries!!

For more info in Strawberry Shortcake Doughnuts: 
For the Recipe...Visit: Strawberry Shortcake Doughnut

Make or buy a cake with white icing... cover with fresh
strawberries and blueberries and add a bow if you are feeling extra fancy...
Easy!!


Cherry Sugar Cookie Cobbler:  It's so good and perfect
for the Fourth and a great make-ahead dessert.  


Need something AMAZING to bring to a picnic??





Try your hand a July 4th inspired charcuterie board... it's simply
 a fancied up red, white and blue fruit and cheese plate...
or a dessert plate.

 You can be in and out of the grocery store in fifteen minutes
 and have your AMAZING plate ready to go in a snap... it's
absolutely my favorite thing to bring to a party and I
 love that it's loaded with small bites that I love to snack on!!

Everyone loves small-bites... Don't they??
 --the colors and foods
on these plates are delectable.

Recipe:Red, White and Blue Cheese Plate and Dessert Plate
Blue Ribbon Kitchen, Karri Perry

Cheese Plate:

Obviously, this is not an exhaustive list of red, white and blue food items...please feel free to adjust the list and make your plate suit your personal tastes.  No rules here... and the more creative the better!!

Red:
Peppers
Tomatoes
Greek olives
Red wrapped Cheese
Red grapes
Bing cherries
Honey Crisp Apple Slices
Pepperoni slices or other cured meats

White:
White cheeses: pepper jack, white cheddar,  Swiss, (Any white cheeses will work)
Crackers
Effie’s Oat Cakes
Baguette slices
Flat bread
Popped popcorn

Blue:
Blue Corn Tortilla Chips
Blue (dark purple) grapes
Black Olives
Blackberries

Directions: Create a cheese plate by alternating red, white and then blue food choices in an attractive pattern.  Be sure the board or plate is full (overflowing is good) with small-bite options.  For Cheese Stars: Using a small star cookie cutter, cut white cheese into star-shapes for an extra festive pop for the Fourth of July. (I used Cracker Barrel Brand White Cheddar Cheese Slices to make easy work of the star shaped cheese)

Dessert Plate:

Red:
Red Licorice
Red Gummy Fish
Bing Cherries
Strawberries

White:
Yogurt Covered Cranberries
White-Fudge Oreo Minis
Cookies
Mini White doughnuts or doughnut holes 
Marshmallows

Blue:
Blueberries
Blackberries
Dark Purple Grapes

What about a berry pie?? 
How about a Star-Spangled Summer Berry Pie??
 Recipe here: Berry Pie Recipe



Or a Lemon-Berry Trifle?


For Sides:  I love a potato salad and this rosemary
red-skinned potato salad--it's a favorite. 
Recipe here: Rosemary Potato Salad


A Cheesy Cheese Ball??
I have just the thing...and while you might think this
cheesy eagle if for advanced cheese ball maskers...
I can assure you it is very easy to make.
Lots of Blue Ribbon Kitchen followers posted their
cheese ball eagles during the super bowl
 and it was fantastic!!  So much creativity!!

I say go for it!

For the recipe visit: Patriotic Eagle Cheese Ball


A drink... We need a Patriotic Punch!!

Patriotic Layered Punch
Blue Ribbon Kitchen, Karri Perry

1 part: Cherry-Cranberry Juice (Red)
1 part: Non-Alcoholic Pina Colada Mix (White)
1 part: Low-Sugar Blue Gatorade (Blue)

The key to this drink is layering different juices of varying sugar content.  The heaviest juice (red layer) or the juice with the most sugar goes in the bottom of the glass.

The middle juice should have sugar content between the highest and the lowest sugar juices. (white layer)

Finally, the last juice (blue layer) should have the least amount of sugar, allowing this juice to remain suspended above the other two layers.

Directions:
Mix ¼ cup of pina colada mix with ¾ cup of cold water.  Set aside.
In a tall glass with ice, add the red juice.
Using a spoon, pour the pina colada mixture onto the spoon and into the glass.  There may be some mixing of the colors…but if the sugar content is correct, the white layer will settle out and rest on top of the red layer.
Lastly, using a spoon to diffuse the pouring, add the blue juice, filling to the top of the glass.
Add fresh strawberries or a red licorice straw for garnish if desired.  Enjoy



For Decor:

Flags, paper fans, paper plates... it's all for fun and make it easy on yourself!!



I love a picnic on an old-fashioned picnic table... 
Dust off the old croquet set...It's time for a back yard picnic!!

you can't go wrong with flowers from the yard in vintage tins...

Ball canning jars to hold bandanna napkins
and flatware...a great use and serves
double duty as a flatware holder and an iced tea glass.
Inside, I like vintage flags, vintage postcards
 and any Americana related decor!








Need more Inspiration??





Wishing you and yours a FABULOUSLY fun 
Fourth of July!!

xo.








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