Fun ways to Celebrate the 4th of July

Get ready to celebrate America's birthday with these fun and simple ideas!

Four Fun Ways to Celebrate:

1.Organize a neighborhood parade. Have the children decorate their bicycles, scooters, wagons and other ride-on toys.

2.Purchase the famous Old Navy $5.00 4th of July t-shirts. Be sure to take a family picture!

3.Decorate your porch with a patriotic theme - plant red, white and blue flowers and hang a flag on your porch.

4. Host a Neighborhood BBQ (4th of July Birthday party) – have picnic games for both adults and kids and don’t forget the prizes. Ask everyone to come in red, white and blue and bring a 4th of July dish to share.


Four Simple 4th of July food ideas:

1. Make star shaped sandwiches.

2. Bake a Happy Birthday America cake.

3. Stars and Stripes Forever Dessert from Taste of Home http://www.tasteofhome.com/
Ingredients:
1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed
1 to 2 tablespoons water
1 tablespoon coarse sugar
2 cups sliced fresh strawberries
1-1/2 cups fresh raspberries
1 cup fresh blueberries
1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar, divided
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
1 cup (8 ounces) sour cream

Directions:
On a lightly floured surface, roll out pastry to 1/8-in. thickness. Cut with floured star-shaped cookie cutters. Place 1 in. apart on parchment paper-lined baking sheets. Bake at 400° for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown. Remove to wire racks. Brush lightly with water and sprinkle with coarse sugar. Cool. In a large bowl, combine berries and 1/4 cup sugar; set aside. In a small mixing bowl, beat cream until it begins to thicken. Add remaining sugar; beat until soft peaks form. Place sour cream in a small serving bowl; fold in whipped cream. Place bowl on a serving platter. Spoon berry mixture onto platter; top with pastry stars.
Yield: 8 servings. TIME: Prep: 30 min. Bake: 10 min. + cooling

4. Angel Food Ice Cream Cake from Taste of Home http://www.tasteofhome.com/

Ingredients:
1 angel food cake (8 inches)
1/2 gallon vanilla ice cream, slightly softened
2 quarts fresh strawberries
Sugar or sugar substitute to taste, optional

Directions:
Cut the cake in half; tear one half into small pieces and set aside. Cut the other half into 12-14 thin slices; arrange in the bottom of a waxed paper-lined 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking pan, overlapping as needed. Spread softened ice cream over cake, pressing down to smooth. Gently press the small cake pieces into ice cream. Cover and freeze. Just before serving, slice strawberries and sweeten to taste. Cut dessert into squares and top with strawberries. Yield: 15 servings. TIME: Prep: 15 min. + freezing

Have a wonderful 4th of July