A Reprise of our Independence Day Celebration last year~ complete with a Star-Spangled Menu!
A 4th of July Table with simple white dishes and red & blue accents~ where the food and the party favors are the stars & stripes. . . to celebrate Independence Day~
On the fourth, there will be 17 of us celebrating family members’ and Uncle Sam’s birthday~ while enjoying food, some boating fun, & fireworks on the lake.
I found these little vintage greetings-inspired buckets at World Market last summer and thought they would make the perfect pails for party favors.
A trip to Dollar Tree kept me from liberating all of the cash from my wallet~ where I filled my pails with Red, White, & Blue goodies. . . including a battery operated Fan, Patriotic Tootsie Roll Midgees & Pops, mini Flags and Sparklers.
A family favorite~ Our Flag Was Still There Fruit Pizza
A cookie dough crust using Pillsbury refrigerated cookie dough~ sugar cookie or our preference, chocolate chip~ with a layer of sweetened cream cheese, and the fruit of your choice. Brush apple or apricot preserves over the top of the fruit if desired. Fun to make in a flag formation with blueberries, cream cheese and red grape/raspberry stripes, but we enjoy maximum fruit!
Land of the Free Lemonade~ recipe courtesy Southern Living
A refreshing combination of pureed watermelon & lemonade, garnished with some watermelon stars and with the addition of some blueberries.
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups fresh lemon juice (about 8 large lemons), 4 squeezed lemons reserved
4 cups chopped watermelon
Watermelon stars and blueberries to garnish, if desired
Preparation
Bring 6 cups water, sugar and salt to a boil in a medium saucepan over high heat, stirring occasionally. Remove saucepan from heat, add reserved lemons, cover, and let stand for 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, puree chopped watermelon in a blender or food processor with 1 cup water.
Pour syrup and watermelon puree through a strainer into a pitcher. Stir in lemon juice. (Lemonade can be made up to 1 day ahead.) Serve over ice. Garnish with watermelon stars and blueberries if desired.
Add citrus-infused vodka for a refreshing adult cocktail!
You can find a printable recipe, here.
What So Proudly We Hailed Watermelon Cupcakes
I had a trial run at these”cupcakes” with my nephews who were visiting this past weekend. The reviews were mixed~ with the adults more impressed than the boys. Since I pledge allegiance to any frosting~ the best part of a cupcake to me~ watermelon was a surprising & fun frosting-delivery method :-)
I cut pieces of seedless watermelon with a cookie cutter the approximate size of the cupcake liner~ added pineapple cream cheese frosting and decorated with sprinkles. After punching the watermelon pieces out, I placed them on paper towels to absorb some excess moisture, then put a little piece of wax paper in the bottom of the paper wrapper to prevent the “cupcakes” from weeping through the decorative liners. Next time, I’ll make them & frost ahead and put in the liners at the last minute~
Dawn’s Early Light Pretzel Sparklers~ sure to be extinguished quickly :-)
Pretzel Sparklers, directions courtesy Martha Stewart
I found these festive metal pails in the dollar bins at Super Target~
Oh, Say Can You See Table details:
Napkins/ Kohl’s
Plates/ Oneida Westerly Basket
Flatware & Placemats/ HomeGoods
Matelasse Coverlet used for tablecloth
Vintage Greetings-Inspired Pails, Hobnail Pitcher & Glasses/ World Market
Metal Patriotic Pails/ SuperTarget
Blue Goblets/ Dollar Tree
A Star- Spangled Menu
Banner Yet Wave Burgers
Home of the Brave Hotdogs
Broad Stripes Broccoli Salad
Bright Stars Baked Beans
Rocket’s Red Glare Potato Salad
Proof Through the Night Pasta Salad
Our Flag Was Still There Fruit Pizza
What So Proudly We Hailed Watermelon Cupcakes
Dawn’s Early Light Pretzel Sparklers
Land of the Free Lemonade
Wishing you a Safe & Happy 4th~
with Liberty & Potato Salad for All!
Thank you for your visit, sharing with:
Tablescape Thursday
I remember this post, it’s so much fun! Hope you have some great plans in place for this year too Mary-enjoy:@)
World Market must love to see you coming. You do find lots of treasures there which inspires me to go to the Houston store and look for same. I’m not ever quite so lucky.
Love love this table.. Still.. The sweet treat boxes are darling. And the cake and drinks. well, it just can’t be better than that! have a blessed week, xo marlis
I loved this post last year and am so happy to see it again. What would we do without Southern Living and World Market???!!!
Mary, it’s great fun to see this one again. It shouts festive celebration from start to finish. I’m back home now and need to get myself busy on a little patriotic table for here. ‘-)
Hi Mary…made a trip to World Market on Monday getting ready for dinner party on Saturday….got the R/W/B metal picnic basket just in time as there was only 2 left….setting the table today…I am grabbing lots of your inspiration…They did not have any cute pails left..so I am trying to make it work with the Chinese food containers…wish me luck!!..Love this wonderful post…Fantastic celebration table for the 4th!
You so need to do a cookbook…you put Martha Stewart to shame. Happy July 4th! Awesome display of food/decorations. You must of taken these photos before the heat wave hit. ;o)
So inspiring – gotta get busy with my Fourth of July celebrations.
Love, love this table and all it contains, specially the vintage buckets.
Who doesn’t love World Market for such amazing goodies.
Thanks for sharing.
Michele
I remember this like it was yesterday because I loved it SO much!!! You really pulled out all the stops and gave World Market a run for their money…or maybe for YOUR money! :-)
Such a lively July 4th table and food! I too remember it from last year…Still love it as much as I did then!
The watermelon cutouts are so much fun!
I love your 4th of July celebration, Mary. The goodie buckets are the *best* :D Thanks so much for sharing your Vintage-inspired party! Enjoy the holiday!
xo,
RJ
Love the looks of that fruit pizza. Love all the food that looks fun for the red, white and blue theme! Wonderful setting as usual. The drinks are so festive and look very refreshing!!
This is just too fun and festive! The details are blowing my mind.
I love the idea of watermelon in little cupcake cups — too cute.
How adorable! Love it all! Hugs and blessings, Cindy
That fruit pizza looks so refreshing and delicious–can’t wait to try that one out. (Although I wish I could magically make one appear in front of me right now!) A very happy Fourth to you and yours!
Of course, I love it all!! Those vintage pails are adroable with the fun treats. I LOVE the watermelon “cupcakes” and the stars and the sparkly pretzels rods. Mary, really, you should be a food stylist!! p.s. thanks for your sweet comments.
Three cheers for the red, white & blue! Table is lovely as is the food and all the fun details!
You have so much in this post! Love the watermelon stars, the watermelon cupcakes, great table. Love it all!
– The Tablescaper
Loved this last year, still do! Jam packed with star spangled goodness!
Thanks for linking to Let ‘s Dish!
I love it just as much this year!!! In fact, tomorrow I think I will have to make a run to Target and the Dollar store and see what I can find for some fun Fourth accessories!! Wonderful job Mary!! Happy Fourth Weekend!!
xo Jeanne, Chloe and LadyBug
Thanks for sharing this darling table again. I am smitten with the Victorian motif on the buckets. The view always steals a major part of the show. Thanks for inviting us for a peak. Cherry Kay
Mary, you have outdone yourself with this patriotic fun table! What a sparkling winner! I love the watermelon lemonade! What a great and fun idea! Thanks for joining ON THE MENU MONDAY AND TUTORIALS TIPS AND TIDBITS! You steal the show every time!!!
What a fun and gorgeous table!! I love all the food and fresh drinks, wish I was there!! You outdid yourself with this fab 4th. table!
FABBY
Wow, this is a gorgeous table you have created for the 4th. Great elements and so much detail, it seems to go on and on. Love it all.
Mary, truly no one else scapes like you. Every detail is so fun and inspiring. I am so making the fruit cookie dough tart for my MINI WEES who are here this week. It will be fun. I want to do a tablescape but real life is carshing in on me in the best way. xoxo, olive
I meant to say crashing but maybe real life is carshing in on me too:}
LOVE! LOVE! LOVE!! LOVE!!
What a beautiful 4th it will be at your home, not to mention delicious! I love the names for your menu :)
What a lovely table, Mary. I can just picture fireworks over that water…
Seeing the boxes of sparklers reminded me that I need to go get a couple boxes before they are out!
Wow! You outdid yourself girlfriend! Love you fun favors — those pails are certainly the hit of the party. Everything looks pretty and pretty delicious too!
I just got back from vacation so am just seeing this but enjoying it again from last year. You are so generous with your instructions and details. I hope you and your family have a SPARKLING fourth of July celebration. XO, Pinky
Fun and pretty table as always, Mary. Have you seen those cupcake papers that are separated by some that look like foil? I wonder if the “foil” ones would work better for your darling watermelon stars? Just a thought. Love all your details. Happy 4th! ~Zuni
What a perfectly patriot spread…I’m loving it!
This is fabulous, but then everything you do is fabulous! What a great way to celebrate the 4th!
A gorgeous table to honor the USA’s birthday and I’m loving all the patriotic yumminess!! I love evrything you’ve used to create this pretty and fun table, specially the great flatware! The adorable watermelon stars..too great! HAPPY 4th. of JULY!!
FABBY
What a wonderful Independence Day table for you & your guests to enjoy, I love it all. From the patriotic pails, to the sparklers a la Martha it is just gorgeous, but the best of the best have to be the watermelon cupcakes, they are inspired!
Happy 4th!
What a terrific post, Mary! I remember this one from last year. I love your party pails, and your flatware and napkins are WONDERFUL!!! Everything looks so pretty, festive and patriotic.
Thanks for sharing this again, and Happy Seasonal Sunday.
Denise
Your blog is pretty fabulous! I was just scrolling through trying to find the Berry Angel Cake – we made one tonight – didn’t turn out like your photos… I may blog about it! Anyway, I suddenly saw your version of fruit pizza. I planned to make my version of fruit pizza last week, Finally got to it and posted it Monday. Crazy thing is (and I explain this in my post) I’ve been making it for years; I had it at a debutante party in California in 1968 and got the recipe from my friend’s mom! I love your creativity and you will chuckle at the lack of mine! :) Have a great 4th!
Soooo enjoyed your post and great ideas! Thanks for sharing! I’m hosting a patriotic/All-American Dinner Club gathering Saturday and it gave me some inspirations!