Despite the heat and Southern humidity, it’s absolutely my favorite time of the year: picnics, pool parties, cook-outs, and relaxing fun as we mingle with family and friends!
The Fourth of July holiday is the highlight of the summer for me. It’s a full day (or weekend) for us, but a day spent with the grandest of friends and the craziest of family as we stop in for a variety of parties, bringing in festive food and scrumptious treats to add to the celebration.
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| A patriotic welcome to our front entrance! Come on in y’all! |
While I love to visit and share our holiday with those dearest to our hearts, I also love to throw my own festive summer soiree’ for my little fam. After all, some of best (and often most entertaining moments) occur around our dinner table! Family time is most important to me and treasured so much as my babies are growing up and getting involved with so many other things. I took a little time this year to set the mood around the house and fix a menu loaded with family favorites for our early July 4th party.
Who knows, maybe you will find a little inspiration for your holiday weekend!
Nothing is better in the sizzling’ summer months than a grilled burger! Don’t settle for just beef; ground lamb is absolutely amazing. Pepperidge Farm makes slider buns which add a new twist to cooking out at home! Make sure you have an assortment of condiments to dress up your burgers.
Personally I love a fresh caprese salad on a hot summer day! Not only are the ingredients simple (tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, basil, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt & pepper), but it is easy to layer and assemble as well.
Can’t you just taste a fresh garden tomato?
The basil leaves I used here came from my “boxwood” basil plant which adds a little variety to my herb collection.
When I plan dinner for my family, I try to think of the things everyone likes. Chips & salsa top the list of must haves for an evening cook-out, no matter what we are grilling.
I found these festive chips at the Fresh Market and bought a couple of bags to share throughout the holiday weekend.
Fix a basket full and let everyone snack and dip while waiting on supper to finish!
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| white chip basket from HomeGoods, patriotic napkin Hobby Lobby ($1.29) |
And no holiday meal is complete without dessert!
These Mason jars make the perfect size for serving individual desserts. No more “she got more than me!”, the kids all have the same. Mason jars also make it easier to take dessert to go, and just look so cute!
For our simple dessert, I whipped up a little cream and layered fresh blueberries and strawberries for the cool treat. My kiddos would rather have berries and cream than cake or pie any day of the week!
Don’t forget to make your drinks fit the occasion as well!
Mason jars filled with iced tea!
What could possible be more Southern than that?!?!
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| basket from HomeGoods ($9.99) & straws from Hobby Lobby (20 for $1.99) |
And if you need an easy centerpiece for you table, color (and dry) a bit of rice and layer in a vase. I made pinwheels from scrapbook paper & dowel rods to put in my vase, but you can also use it as a candle holder or fill it with silk flowers.
It’s super easy and really so cute!
“You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness. You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism.”
~Erma Bombeck
So, what are you serving up for the July 4th holiday on Monday? How will you celebrate this defining summer holiday?
I’m adding this to Foodie Friday this week. Stop over at Designs By Gollum for some more inspiration for your holiday weekend!
Fiddle Dee Dee by Jennifer Jones 
What a wonderful 4th you and your family are going to have! Sometimes it is the little touches that really make the event. Your individual Mason jar desserts are a detail that is so fun and creative! I hope you enjoy the 4th, and thanks for sharing your great ideas! Amy
http://www.mystylishnest.blogspot.com
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I'd love to have a wreath that festive on my door! And those individual Mason jars for desserts are super! I think that I'll be looking for them tonight.
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And what a great quote!
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Happy 4th Jennifer, be safe! xoxo I still have to come see your new kitchen! xoxo
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what a glorious feast – and what a wonderful idea for desert – love it! Happy 4th July!
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What a good idea those mason jar desserts are! Everything looks just so festive and yummy. We've tried the slider buns and it's fun being able to make them at home.
Have a wonderful 4th of July!
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