Even though my family doesn’t have the time to entertain big for the 4th this year, I still have some opportunities to create some fun and festive food for our little family celebration AND a year-end baseball party pot-luck! Since both will happen over the holiday weekend, it’s the perfect timing for some patriotic creations! Check out some recipes and easy ideas to create delicious sweets and sides to dish out at your celebrations! Have some fun in the kitchen with…
patriotic preparations!
i love making special breakfasts for any holiday! it can be so easy to do and it’s a lot of fun to serve up some unexpected morning surprises throughout the year! check out this idea for a stars and stripes sweet treat for early risers…
the great thing about prepared breakfast food is that it’s so quick, easy, and can be healthy! i used frozen waffles so i can whip up multiples of this festive breakfast!
i sprinkled the top of the toasted waffle with a pinch of cinnamon sugar before topping it with the fruit. a couple blue berries tucked into the squares…
and you can make the stripes with the chopped strawberries and whipped cream! so easy, yummy, AND patriotic!
the great thing about berries…you can use the leftovers to make dessert! this next treat isn’t very original but it’s so easy, delicious, and one of my family’s favorites! you can make a patriotic parfait by simply layering fruit, whipping cream, and cake pieces into a glass!
the cookie topper came from Trader Joe’s…but since we don’t have one of those close by, and i’ve only seen these cookies around Christmastime, i stick some in my freezer to use all year long! i just carefully made a notch with a sharp knife so it would sit securely on the edge of my parfait glass. you can make sugar cookie stars to top your glass or just use cream and a berry! these will be so easy and fun to whip up all weekend long for a sweet, holiday treat between activities!
something savory…
the 4th of July weekend is often times filled with BBQ meals! if you’re planning on firing up the grill you might want to try this fun potato salad recipe to compliment your holiday meal! the recipe comes from the Grand Shire Farm in Sand Lake, MI and is a perfect side dish for the fourth…remember to print off the recipe at the end of this post and check out the link to GSF for some farm market fun! i LOVE potato salads…they just remind me of summer! the wonderful thing about this one is the addition of colorful potatoes AND there’s no mayo in the recipe making it easier to leave out on a buffet! i love the medley of red, white, and blue taters…and you can always add in some of your favorites like olives, more peppers, or whatever!
patriotic potatoes…
while the potatoes boil, you can chop up the pepper, onion, and herbs…
whip up the dressing…
and once the potatoes are done and cooled, you can slice them up in little circles and toss them with everything else! easy!
for my family i’ll serve this up in individual bowls…a colorfully festive salad for our holiday, or any meal!
and since the baseball party takes place over the weekend…i think this red, white, & blue salad is what i’ll be taking! check out the recipe…
- 1 pound each small yukon gold, red, and blue potatoes
- 4 cups chicken or vegetable stock, optional to boil potatoes, or just use water or a combination of both
- 3 tablespoons fresh parsely, chopped
- 3 tablespoons fresh tarragon, chopped
- 2 tablespoons chopped red onion
- 1/4 cup chopped orange sweet pepper
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 cloves minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- 1-2 teaspoons sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 cup light olive oil
- Boil the potatoes whole with the skins on for 20-30 minutes or until done. Drain and cool. While potatoes cool chop the parsley, tarragon, onion and pepper. Make the dressing: add the lemon juice, garlic, mustard, salt, pepper and olive oil. stir or shake together and set aside. When potatoes are cool, slice them crosswise into little circles. Stir the herbs and vegetables together and toss with the dressing. Serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to use.
hope your holiday is filled with some deliciousness!