4th of July Independence Day 2011 Celebrations - Food Recipes & Party Ideas

July 4th, Indpendence Day 2011 is the best time of year to host a party. The weather is usually warm, businesses often provide paid time off and school is out for the summer. If you've been thinking of ways to celebrate freedom, then it's time for you to learn how to create the ultimate 4th of July Party.

Start with Holiday Party Ideas

Hosting the best Fourth of July party doesn't have to be expensive. With the right planning, you can host an event that everyone will love, even if you have a shoestring budget. Knowing how much you can spend on the shindig will help you determine the size of the holiday party and the location.

Next, consider the type of party you picture when you think of the quintessential summer day. Do you want a small family gathering? Is your heart set on a large party? Maybe you want to host an office picnic and invite your coworkers and their loved ones to celebrate the national holiday with you.

For the location, look at your budget and the amount of work you want to do to pull off the Independence Day bash. Will you be using your home? If so, make sure you include time to clean before guests arrive. Evaluate the entertainment space you have and take advantage of indoor and outdoor areas. If you don't want the hassle of cleaning your home before — and after — the party, consider hosting your event at a local park or a rental facility.

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Create Recipes for July 4

Many families have traditional 4th of July food for this summertime event, including watermelon slices, barbeque chicken and ribs, burgers, potato salad and homemade ice cream. However, you can still be creative. You can use any of the following dishes, which can double as centerpieces or decorations for your tables, or find other July 4 recipes at the Food Network to fit your personal preferences and cooking skills.

• Make a Firecracker Spritzer for July 4 2011. For this easy-to-make drink, dip the rim of your glasses in lemon juice followed by any blue Pop Rocks candy. Mix a bottle of cranberry juice with seltzer and fill the glasses. The crackling of the candy is sure to get your guests ready to see fireworks later. If you're hosting an adult-only party, this recipe works great as the base for a cocktail.


• Use fresh fruits of the season to make patriotic parfaits. Start with a layer of raspberries or sliced strawberries in the bottom of a clear plastic cup. Add a layer of whip cream and a layer of blueberries. Repeat the red, white and blue layers until you reach the top of the cup. Top off the dish by crisscrossing two sparklers or small U.S. flags.


• Put your slow cooker to use and make barbeque chicken to serve on buns. Toss in frozen chicken breasts, a bottle of your favorite barbeque sauce, two tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce, ¼ cup brown sugar and ½ cup Italian dressing. This dish will take three to four hours on high or six to eight hours on medium.
  

Set Up for Your Fourth of July Celebration

The next step is setting up the space for the party. If you are using your home, think about maximizing your floor plan. You may need to move furniture from one room to another.
Rent chairs and tables for your outdoor areas. When you decide to rent a facility for your Independence Day party, check with the coordinator about set up and tear down; this may be part of the cost. Remember to rent any party supplies early, as 4th of July is a popular celebration.
You'll also want to add decorations. Here are a few ideas you can use for your ultimate Fourth of July bash:

• Use red, white or blue Christmas lights to decorate tables or banisters to add a quick and inexpensive twinkle to your setting.



• Cut out patriotic shapes, like the flag or an eagle, on paper bags and place a battery-operated candle into each one. You can use the bags to line walkways or hazards. For more flare, alternate the paper bags with flags.

• Bundle helium-filled balloons that are red, white and blue and tether them to the center of each table, for quick July 4 decorations.


• Order bouquets of red, white and blue spider mums to create firework floral centerpieces. You can add fresh cranberries to the vases to add a touch of red to the arrangements.
  


• Hang streamers or use tissues in the color of the flag to make festive fans. You can use these to decorate fences, decks, patios or balconies.


• Get your friends and family involved in Fourth of July crafts. You can use printouts of eagles to make hanging decorations, purchase kits from a craft store or create a wreath. For a bundle wreath, roll sheets of red, blue and white paper into cones and glue them onto a cardboard circle, alternating the colors. Cover the center with a star or a patriotic shape. You can always find more holiday crafts at places like Kid's Soup.
  

Independence Day Celebrations with Fun

The younger your guests are, the more distractions they will need to keep them pumped up for the main festivity — the fireworks. Even adults will enjoy having the option of playing games. Go with classic outdoor favorites, such as volleyball, badminton, baseball, bocce, croquet or water balloon tosses.

Incorporate Fourth of July desserts into your activities. Have a cupcake stations where guests can frost their own sweet confection. Get the kids involved in making homemade ice cream. Your guests may get a kick out of making ice cream in a can. To do this, place ¾ cup whole milk, 1/3 cup sugar, 1 cup cream and a ½ teaspoon vanilla into a 1-pound coffee can. Place this inside a 3-pound coffee can and pack rock salt and crushed ice around the smaller can. Seal the larger can and let the kids (or adults) kick the can. After ten minutes, stir the ice cream and then allow five more minutes of kicking.

Finally, make plans for fireworks on July 4. Most cities have a firework display, even if they don't allow residents to light projectiles at residential locations. If you can have fireworks, look at what your budget can afford. Kids may enjoy sparklers or other child-friendly party favors. For extra effect, hand out 3D glasses, which will multiply the lights.

When you take the time to plan, you're sure to have the best party on the block. Just don't be surprised if your friends and family want you to host Fourth of July parties every year!

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