It’s
not too late to pull off a talked-about 4th of July party for
family, friends, or your neighborhood bunch.
The clincher is to carry out the patriotic theme in everything you serve
up and set out. Think red, white, blue,
and bountiful.
Keep
the drinks sweet and simple, such as lemonade, iced tea, and an even
combination of the two, known as an “Arnold Palmer.” Serve a punch in a red shade or a fruit juice
you tint blue with some food coloring.
And keep the ice coming to chill down the evening. Fruits can also play a key role in a simple
fruit tray appetizer or rosy dessert. A
tray of strawberries, cherries, and blueberries with a fruit dip can tide the
crew over until the main course comes off the grill. To take it up a notch, use a star cookie
cutter to cut out decorative pieces of watermelon or pineapple as well. A strawberry or cherry cheesecake, cupcakes
with tri-colored sprinkles over icing, or a layered gelatin dessert with
whipped topping would polish off the night perfectly.
A
backyard barbeque featuring hamburgers and hotdogs is classic and can be easily
outfitted with all the trimmings to dress up your casual meal. Serve toppings and spreads in a buffet of
white dishes and trays that showcases a clean, streamlined look. A build-your-own style accompanies this type
of set-up well when you allow guests to add their favorite toppings, allowing
you more hands-off time to relax and chat.
Chips or French fries served in red, white, and blue tissue paper cones
are portion-perfect sides. Paper plates
and plastic utensils and cups in the three colors make set up and clean up as
easy as can be and continues to carry out your casual theme.
Keep
décor simple, like red and blue candy in groupings of small, white dishes, and
even use fireworks or – more my style – sparklers arranged into centerpieces
that will be used to end the night with a bang.
If you have tiki torches or paper lanterns stored away, this would be a
great summer night to get those out and put them to work to light your
after-dark space.
Turn
your backyard or your family’s dinner table into a gathering place for a
fuss-free, breezy evening spent around some all-American dishes with a flair
for the thematic. And celebrate the 4th
of July with some true, patriotic sparkle.
DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star July 1st.
