The 4th of July is here – Celebrate Independence Day!

“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

History

On July 4, 1776, the thirteen colonies claimed their independence from England — an event which eventually led to the formation of the United States. Each year on July 4th, aka Independence Day, Americans celebrate this historic event with family reunions, barbecues, picnics, fireworks, concerts, parades, and baseball games.

Party Ideas

There are many DIY ideas to throw great 4th of July parties to celebrate with friends and families. The main ingredient is sticking to the theme of the U.S. flag colors — red, white, and blue — and carrying it through from table and outdoor decorations to food, deserts and drinks.

Some ideas include: cutting red white and blue plastic tablecloths into strips and tying them to a set of string lights to create a festive garland; creating a chic canopy and ambience by tying red, white, and blue paper streamers to a big-bulb central light outdoors and hanging it above a picnic table or a grassy dance space; creating bandana place settings by covering the table with red, white and blue bandanas tied around cutlery with twine — the cloths also serve as convenient napkins — or tie bandanas to a string and hang them between trees; deck your front entryway with patriotic wreaths, banners, and signs; and set up a fun party and games station, for example by covering a table with burlap (hessian) and setting out bubbles, sparklers and poppers — after all, what would a 4th of July party be without some fireworks?

Food & Drinks

How about a drinkable 4th of July flag! Mix up a patriotic beverage using cranberry juice, blue Gatorade Frost, Diet 7-Up, and ice cubes for a refreshing party chiller. Besides your usual barbeque food and beverages (including beer of course), you can prepare lasagna the day before and good old fashioned Mac & Cheese. Dessert though is what we all await patiently. A great dessert is your tried and tested all American apple pie; cupcakes decorated in flag colors; and this cool cake:

No-Bake Cheesecake Flag Cake

Make this traditional sweet treat without turning on the oven! Besides the light mousse-like texture and divine taste, your guests will get a kick out of the iconic stars and stripes design with fresh blueberries and strawberries.

INGREDIENTS:

Crust:

• 1 1/2 cups finely crushed graham cracker crumbs
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• 6 tablespoons butter, melted

Filling:

• 1 cup cream cheese at room temperature
• 1 cup mascarpone cheese at room temperature
• 2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/3 cup white sugar
• 1 1/4 cups cold heavy whipping cream
• 20 large fresh strawberries, hulled and halved lengthwise, or as needed
• 24 large fresh blueberries, or as needed

METHOD:

1. Combine graham cracker crumbs, 1/4 cup sugar, cocoa powder, and melted butter in a bowl until mixture is thoroughly combined and crumbly.
2. Transfer crust mixture to a 9×11-inch baking dish. Press crust into bottom of dish until smooth and even. Cover dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate until set, about 30 minutes.
3. Mix cream cheese and mascarpone cheese in a bowl until thoroughly combined. Stir in lemon zest, lemon juice, and vanilla extract into mixture.
4. Whisk 1/3 cup sugar into whipping cream in a separate metal or glass bowl until the cream is fluffy and forms soft peaks. Add whipped cream to the cream cheese mixture and gently whisk until filling is soft, fluffy, and well combined.
5. Spoon filling on top of the graham cracker crust, spreading and smoothing the top. Tap the pan gently on a work surface several times to settle the crust and filling. Cover pan tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate until chilled and set, at least 3 hours.
6. Starting at the bottom long edge of the cake, arrange strawberry halves in a horizontal line with the pointed bottoms of the strawberry halves pointing to the right. Start a second stripe of strawberry halves at the top right of the cake, arranging strawberries with the bottoms pointing right in a line stretching about 2/3 of the length of the cake.
7. Continue to make strawberry stripes, starting about 3/4 inch up from the bottom stripe and laying down 3 more stripes stretching the full length of the cake. Make 1 more line of strawberries beneath the short stripe to leave a square space for the blue field of stars.
8. Lay a line of blueberries with the blossom ends pointing up in the upper left square space. Continue to lay down blueberries in lines, berries touching the previous line, until the square is filled with blueberries. Cut cake into squares to serve.

Tip: Aluminum foil helps keep food moist, ensures it cooks evenly, keeps leftovers fresh, and makes clean-up easy.

Last, but not least, be careful with the fireworks, especially if there are kids around, meanwhile, get Googling for plenty more party ideas and recipes to make this 4th of July a memorable and safe one!