One of the best things about early summer is the patriotic festivities that can stretch from Memorial Day through the Fourth of July! If the first holiday sneaks by, you still have the opportunity to get you get your red, white, & blue on over the next several weeks! I love the color combo for summer in general, so adding a few stars and stripes is an easy way to give your holiday gatherings an all-American look in a cinch! This peek back at my Memorial Day celebration on the patio can still offer inspiration for July…and I intend on using some of the same supplies and recipes for a family gathering on the Fourth! (a great way to keep entertaining stress at a maximum low!) I also want to share a favorite recipe that will be sure to please guests of all ages…so let’s have a little patriotic fun!
red, white, & blue to kick-start summer!
it doesn’t take much to add some festive touches to your entertaining spaces…a cluster of red & white tissue poms are just enough to add some whimsy to my patio chandelier!
and a small vase with a tiny pop of blue makes the patriotic color scheme complete!
my garage sale desk serves as a beverage station throughout the year…a great investment for $2! i added some utilitarian supplies like the buckets to hold ice and two sheets of stripey paper tucked into the drawer cavity hide what’s inside and look festive at the same time…easy & cheap!
fill ’em up and ready to serve…
a chalkboard can add a holiday message and creates a quick & effortless backdrop!
i’m all for keeping food simple! if i can get most of the snacks already prepared it might leave me with some extra time to make something special if i feel like it!
i love to tuck my supplies into simple containers so everyone can help themselves easily. i’ve had the star juice glasses for years and use them all the time to hold candles or flowers–an easy way to add another holiday touch!
now for the one goodie i actually baked…
these maple blueberry cupcakes were so festive and delicious! the recipe, from the food network magazine, is so yummy & easy and the best part…the testers from the magazine suggest you can bake them two days ahead and store in an airtight container until you’re ready to frost…or freeze them up to 3 months! easy to plan ahead!
here’s the recipe…
whisk 1 1/3 cups flour, 1tsp. baking powder and 1/2 tsp. salt in a bowl. beat 1 stick softened butter in a separate bowl with a mixer on medium speed until smooth, about 1 minute. add 1C. sugar and beat until creamy, 4 more minutes. beat in 2 eggs, one at a time, 2 tsp. vanilla and 1/2 tsp. maple flavoring. beat in the flour mix in 3 batches on low speed, alternating with 1/2 C. milk total. beat until just combined. divide among muffin cups and bake at 350 degrees until tops spring back, about 20-25 minutes. (time may be shorter with the mini cupcakes) transfer to a rack and let cool 5 minutes in the pan, remove cupcakes to rack to cool completely.
frosting
beat 1 1/2 sticks softened butter, 3 C. confectioner’s sugar and a pinch of salt with a mixer on medium speed until combined. add 2 tsp. vanilla and 1 tsp. lemon zest and beat until creamy, about 3 minutes. beat in 2 Tbsp. milk until fluffy, 1 more minute. frost and top with blueberries tossed with maple syrup…
i made a little well in the frosting to help hold the berries on top! easy, tasty, and the perfect color for patriotic holidays!
last, but not least…more fun for kids (and adults)–
s’mores & sparklers!
spend the next few weeks enjoying some red, white, & blue fun!