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Fast & Easy Dinner: Barbecue-Sauced Burgers

partysugar — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 04:00:27 -0700

Happy 4th of July! Making a delicious all-American meal doesn't have to take all day: this juicy, grilled burger is ready in just twenty minutes. Instead of mixing the ground beef with minced vegetables, the meat is seasoned with a store bought horseradish mustard. The recipe tops the burger with white cheddar cheese, arugula, and red onion, but feel free to dress the pattie to your liking. To enjoy this classic dish tonight,

Show Your Patriotic Pride with a Flag Cake!

partysugar — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 04:00:09 -0700

No dessert screams Fourth of July more than the classic flag cake. Making this fun and festive dessert is a great way to introduce your children to cooking. Whether you're a novice cook or a seasoned master, I've rounded up a bunch of recipes for you to choose from. If cake isn't your thing, don't worry, there's even a flag pie! To find the flag cake recipe that suites your culinary needs, click "start."

Would You Rather Eat Cole Slaw or Potato Salad?

YumSugar — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 01:30:11 -0700

As we get ready to feed on all sorts of Fourth of July goodness, I want to know which of these picnic sides you would pick.Source and Source

Would You Rather Eat Cole Slaw or Potato Salad?

Cole slaw

Potato salad

Neither — I'd rather have ____________. (Tell me below.)

Come Party With Me: Fourth of July — The Look

partysugar — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 09:15:50 -0700

When selecting the decorations for a Fourth of July barbecue, be careful not to get carried away with the stars and stripes theme. Choose a few key pieces and use navy, red, and white as accents.

Start by covering the tables in a plaid Americana print tablecloth. Serve the food on large navy rimmed platters and stack white plates nearby. Cloth napkins make a barbecue feel chic and sophisticated. Set up the mojito bar and glasses on a small high table. Candles look festive but modern in red square votives. Hang red paper stars from trees or the ceiling. Arrange simple white flowers in low vases. When guests arrive greet each one with a box of gold sparklers.

Source

Come Party With Me: Fourth of July — Drinks

partysugar — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 12:15:54 -0700

When searching for fun red, white, and blue cocktails to serve at a Fourth of July barbecue, I was disappointed by the uninspiring results: most were colored blue with the artificial tasting blue Curacao. However, with a little creativity one can offer guests delicious, patriotic-colored cocktails in the form of a mojito bar. The classic mojito is white, a raspberry mojito is red, and a blueberry mojito is blue. Set out a recipe, all the ingredients, several muddlers, and glasses and invite guests to make their own cocktails. Depending on your preferences, also offer guests a selection of beer, wine, waters, and lemonade. For the red and blue mojito recipes,

Come Party With Me: Fourth of July — Dessert

partysugar — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 15:00:34 -0700

Every year on the Fourth of July, I like to make a red, white, and blue dessert. It's my personal salute to America. While a flag cake is festive, this year I'll wow guests with a red, white, and blueberry cheesecake tart.

The easy, crisp crust is a mixture of ground graham crackers and almonds. The filling is smooth, creamy, and classic. The red topping is a juicy syrup made with red plums. Garnished with plump, burst-in-your-mouth blueberries, this is one star-spangled dessert.

To learn how it's made,

Come Party With Me: Fourth of July — Menu

partysugar — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 07:45:42 -0700

Since the Fourth of July is a holiday that celebrates all things American, serve a delicious meal of classic American dishes. Start things off with a tex mex favorite: guacamole and chips. Set up a burger bar with an assortment of cheeses, vegetables, and condiments. Invite guests to assemble a burger to their own liking.

Maple glazed baked beans are a sweet and smoky side, while watermelon and arugula salad is a cool and refreshing alternative. To learn how to make these delightfully patriotic dishes,

Come Party With Me: Fourth of July — Invite

partysugar — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 12:15:55 -0700

It seems like every time I speak with one of my friends, the question, "What are you doing for the 4th?" comes up. If you're one of the many that haven't made plans yet, consider hosting a barbecue to celebrate the all-American holiday. I'm planning a blow-out bash, complete with fireworks and red, white, and blue decor, so stay tuned all week and feel free to use my ideas to inspire your own patriotic party.

Before you start thinking about the menu, notify friends about the event. To learn how I made these star-spangled invitations,

Could You Eat One Hot Dog Every 10.9 Seconds?

YumSugar — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 12:20:03 -0700

Yesterday, at the Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest, reigning champion Takeru Kobayashi was bested by Californian Joey Chestnut. In a down-to-the-wire race, Chestnut dethroned six-time champion Kobayashi by downing 66 hot dogs (plus buns) in 12 minutes - that's one hot dog every 10.9 seconds. Kobayashi, despite recently having a wisdom tooth extracted and treatment for a sore jaw - managed to do his personal best by inhaling 63 hot dogs.

However, the event wasn't without some controversy. At the final few minutes Chestnut was devouring hot dogs so quickly, the counter couldn't keep up and they had to actually go back and count all plates.

If you didn't get to catch it on ESPN, you're in luck. Catch the final few dramatic minutes, just

Off To Market Recap: 4th of July Tablescape

partysugar — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 09:18:39 -0700

Last week I asked you to help me find a fun, festive tablescape in red, white, and blue for the 4th of July. I told you I needed everything: tablecloth, plates, candles, napkins, centerpiece, place settings, etc. to create a special 4th of July setting. You went hunting through the web and saved all of the fabulous stuff you found in the Yum Market on TeamSugar with the keyword tag, 4th Of July Tablescape. To start, I'll set the table with a white tablecloth that mellie_608 bookmarked. Gruaig_rua's disposable yet chic star border plates are perfect for the place settings. The star cookie cutter napkin rings will serve as both napkin holders and party favors once the bash is over. Fun find sls1825! Thanks to those who participated, hope all of your tablescapes look beautiful this 4th of July!

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Don't know how to use TeamSugar's features? Check out geeksugar's guide.

What's Your Favorite "American" Food?

YumSugar — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 07:18:39 -0700

4th Of July Fun Facts

partysugar — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 01:13:39 -0700

Happy 4th Of July! 231 years ago the Continental Congress approved the Declaration of Independence declaring America's sovereignty. Today it's customary to celebrate the National holiday with red, white, and blue, fireworks and parades, stars and stripes, flags and bbqs. But before you go enjoy America to its fullest, take a quick look through my 4th of July fun facts! Chockful of useless information - unless you're attending a trivia night sometime soon - fun facts are great when there is a lull in party conversation. Memorize a few facts such as: Do you know what animal Benjamin Franklin preferred over the bald eagle as the official national animal? Do you know how many hot dogs are consumed at bbq's on today's date? For the answers to these questions and lots more tid bits of knowledge, all you have to do is dance like a chicken! No, I'm kidding, all you have to do is

Competitive Eating Around the US

YumSugar — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 14:38:39 -0700

Most people have heard of Nathan's Famous Hot Dogs 4th of July competition - the one where Takeru Kobayashi shoves hot dogs in his mouth at lightening speeds - but did you realize that there are many different kinds of competitive eating contests? If you think shoving 59 hot dogs in your face is wild, how do you feel about pigs' feet and knuckles (the winner recently ate 2.89 pounds of the stuff) or gyoza (212 of them). In fact there are so many competitive eating contests that the folks at Senselist have actually put together a list of their favorite 16 competitive eating contests. Of those 16, my faves include:

Rhubarb Pie: Winner ate 7.9 pounds of rhubarb pie in eight minutes; North Dakota State Fair, July 2006
Jalapeno Peppers: Winner ate 247 pickled jalapenos in eight minutes; State Fair of Texas, October 2006
Strawberry Shortcake: Winner ate 15.25 pounds of strawberry shortcake in eight minutes; Mattituck, NY, June 2007
Chili Cheese Fries: Winner ate 5.44 pounds of fries; Long Beach, CA, February 2007
Whole Turkey: Winner ate 4.8 pounds of turkey in 12 minutes; Artie’s Deli, New York, NY, November 2006

Oh and don't forget, Nathan's hot dog eating contest will actually air on ESPN tomorrow at 12pm ET. While you're waiting for your bbq to warm up, you can watch the much anticipated face-off between Kobayashi and Joey Chestnut (aka that guy who broke Kobayashi's record).

Speaking of records, the list of competitive eating records is pretty darn impressive. 7.75 pounds of turduckens in 12 minutes?!?

Source: SenseList and IFOCE

Flag Cake Two Ways - Beginner & Expert

partysugar — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 13:11:19 -0700

No dessert says 4th Of July more than the good old flag cake. A cake decorated to resemble the American flag - with its white frosting, blue and red berries - is the ideal 4th of July dessert. It can be made in the morning before the bbq, kept chilled in the fridge until after dinner, and doubles as a part of the decoration. When sliced into small portions, sheet cakes can easily feed a crowd. To be fair to all of our readers - from the successful baker to the novice apprentice - I've found a recipe a beginner can perfectly execute, as well as a multiple step recipe for the baking expert. Choose which one suits your style, needs, and time, just

How Will You Celebrate The 4th Of July?

partysugar — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 07:01:38 -0700

How Will You Celebrate The 4th Of July?

I'm making an awesome dish and going to a BBQ.

I'm hosting a BBQ/pool party.

I'm picnicking on the beach or at the lake.

I'm going out for drinks and to watch the fireworks.

Other - see below!

Make Your Strawberries Pop & Fizz For the 4th of July

YumSugar — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 10:01:38 -0700

When I think of 4th of July, I often think of food and fireworks, but never together. However this year, I may have to change my line of thinking. The California Strawberry Commission has just released a new concept for deliciously cool carbonated strawberries that will fizz and pop in your mouth. I personally can't wait to try them, but will have to find a place that sells dry ice first. That's right, this recipe is part home-ec class, part science class. You could even say that it's a little journey into molecular gastronomy. To see how you can make your own carbonated strawberries,

Top 10 All-American Cocktails

partysugar — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 06:18:38 -0700

With the biggest holiday of the summer just two short days away, you might be scrambling for a fun cocktail recipe. Well lucky for you - and me! - reader hvnly34 bookmarked a couple of festive drinks. It looks like the fabulous folks over at Fine Living have put together a patriotic list of the top ten All-American cocktails. With names like American Punch and Summer Beer Cocktail, you are sure to find something tasty to serve your guests. I totally want to shake myself a Boston Pops Martini - it's garnished with cherry pop rocks and will be a sure fire conversation starter. To take a look at the top five drinks - have you heard of any of them? - just

Would You Rather Eat A Burger Or BBQ Chicken For The 4th of July?

partysugar — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 02:01:08 -0700

Would You Rather Eat A Burger Or BBQ Chicken For The 4th of July?

A Burger

BBQ Chicken

I want both, it is a holiday after all!

I'm a vegetarian!

Neither - I'm having ____ (fill in the blank below).

Come Party With Me: 4th Of July - The Look & Music

partysugar — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 06:01:38 -0700

The 4th of July is probably the easiest holiday party to decorate. The requisite red, white, and blue, stars, stripes, and American flags do all of the work for you. Every store in the nation is flooded with red serving platters, blue and white star tablecloths, American flag this and American flag that so weed through the options and find stuff that fits your need and goes along with your style. I'm not too into the patriotic look, so I'll only have the American flag on teeny toothpicks. White paper lanterns add soft lighting and beer will be placed in lots of little red buckets. The tablecloth is red and the tableware navy. Wrap red, white, and blue ribbon around your poles, banisters, and deck. Create floral arrangements with blue glass vases and red, white, and blue flowers. Decorate the space with red hurricane holders and fill with white pillar candles.

For music compile a list of songs related to America or the 4th of July. I'll be playing BuzzSugar's 50 Songs for 50 States playlist.

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Come Party With Me: 4th Of July - Drinks

partysugar — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 08:01:39 -0700

4th of July is a holiday that's all about bbq, so plan on most guests drinking a lot of beer. Keep things simple by making a big batch of one cocktail and offer beer and wine to guests. Choose a light red or well bodied white to wine to pair with the ribs. Don't forget to get a lot of ice to ensure that drinks remain cool. Fill one cooler with alcoholic drinks and fill another water, sparkling juices, and sodas. Pitchers of iced tea or lemonade are ideal to quench party thirst. A bright, colorful drink that matches the theme of your party is a great way to enhance the look of your event (if you are into shooters, layer grenadine, vodka, and blue curaco in a shot glass for a patriotic shot). Or serve a vibrant red cocktail that's like a snow cone for adults. Refreshing and icy with fragrant raspberry taste, take a look at my 4th of July cocktail recipe and drool, just

Make Red, White, & Blue Popsicles For the 4th

partysugar — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 16:03:01 -0700

To me the best popsicles are fresh ones with chunks of real fruit. Although I've never frozen a homemade version, it's really not that hard to do. With the right kitchen tools - a food processor, fine mesh strainer - and a few cheap super market add ons - dixie cups and popsicle sticks - you can have a tasty and refreshingly cool summer treat. Not a fan of watermelon? Substitute your favorite red fruit - such as strawberries or raspberries - for the melon. This recipe is not difficult, it's just time consuming, so be sure you are not in a rush when you go to make these red, white, and blue treats. It also makes for a great project with children! To add the recipe to your favorites

Come Party With Me: 4th Of July - Menu II

partysugar — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 06:39:38 -0700

Yesterday I wrote about the appetizers and several of the side dishes for a 4th of July Barbeque. Today it's time to move onto the classic main course portion of the same menu. Serve guests finger licking good barbequed ribs and grilled corn on the cob with herb butter to pair with a caprese salad and thick cut grilled french fries. Finish the meal with a stunning, cool red white and blue dessert in the form of make ahead ice cream sundaes. Scoop the ice cream in sundae dishes before the barbeque and allow guests to finish them off with their own toppings. To take a look at these perfect 4th of July recipes,

Come Party With Me: 4th Of July - Menu I

partysugar — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 05:57:30 -0700

When it comes to planning a 4th of July menu you have two options. You can either create a meal with all red, white, and blue foods, or serve classic all American barbeque dishes. I've decided to go with the latter by offering guests a delicious setting of summery eats. To start, warm up store bought gourmet sausages for mini hot dogs in croissant dough buns. Next, platter sliced raw vegetables like carrots, red peppers, and broccoli with ranch dip made from a Ranch seasoning packet mixed with sour cream. Add a homemade nacho cheese sauce to these easy grocery store items and you're set! After the appetizers offer a caprese salad and thick cut grilled french fries as part of the main course. For these tasty recipes,

Come Party With Me: 4th Of July - Invites

partysugar — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 07:01:38 -0700

With America's birthday a little over a week away, it's time to start seriously thinking about what you are doing for the 4th of July. Whether you are having a small lunch for your family, or a huge all day barbeque for everyone you know, use my party plan for inspiration and ideas on what to cook, how to decorate, and everything else in between. If you are hosting an event, it's about time you get the invitation sent. To see a play-by-play of the invitation I made - with a flag shape and patriotic colors - all you have to do is

Off To Market: 4th of July Tablescape

partysugar — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 06:01:39 -0700

The 4th of July is the only time of year when I decorate my house in a red, white, and blue color scheme. This year I want to decorate my table in a fun, festive, gorgeous tablescape and I want you to do all of the work for me. I need everything: tablecloth, plates, candles, napkins, centerpiece, place settings, and anything else to add a special 4th of July feel to the setting.

Search the web for the tablescape stuff and save your finds in the Yum Market on TeamSugar with the keyword tag, 4th Of July Tablescape.

Now, you can build table settings by creating a list of items. First bookmark your finds and then create a new list. You'll have access to all of your Yum Market bookmarks, so the table linens, plates, etc will be on the listmaker. This is an awesome way to put together an entire tablescape when completing your Off To Market missions.

Don't know how to use TeamSugar's features? Check out geeksugar's guide.