How to Plan a Spectacular 4th of July Menu!

The traditional 4th of July menu of Hamburgers, Hot Dogs and Baked Beans is no longer reserved for picnic holidays. Everyday of the week we are served the boring Hamburger. Let's break with tradition and WOW our guests. This menu is easy, but appears like you worked for hours!

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. First Course:
   Every party must start with finger-foods for your guest to help themselves to while drinking and talking with friends. The traditional chips and dip while good says, "This Hostess has no imagination!"
   Remember the gathering spots from previous parties and set up conversation areas of tidbit. Keep the hot snacks near the kitchen for ease of delivery.
   Four suggestions that will wow your guests!
   Kitchen: Sweet and Sour Meatballs in a crock-pot! Serve with small plates, napkins and toothpicks.
   Living room: Build your own nachos. A large divided tray with Sour cream, Salsa, chopped olives, onions, guacamole, hot and mild peppers (clearly ID with green (mild) and red (hot) flags on toothpicks) and a good brand of tortilla chips. If you have room place a small dip sized crock-pot with melted cheese to drizzle over the top. I always cover my coffee table with a stain resistant cloth. Add plenty of napkins and study paper plates to avoid spills. Do not place this tray outside unless your tray has a bed of ice under it.
   Bar and Pool area: Since the majority of drinks are served in this area serve cheese flavored popcorn, and peanuts in their shells. This area should be spill and litter safe.
   Chose one more area to place a mixture of hot and cold snacks. I usually use my dining area for the largest selection of snacks. This is the area where people who are hungry will converge. The other stations are for people who are picking while talking and drinking.
   Dining Room Table: Make this the most decorated area with tablecloth, centerpiece and all utensils available.
   Selection of hard cheese and soft cheese spreads, grapes, pineapple wedges, melon balls and crackers.
   Stuffed mushrooms
   Recipe: remove stem from cleaned mushrooms. Chop stems and sauté in 1 tab butter with chopped onion and green pepper. Remove from heat. Add breadcrumbs and mozzarella cheese, salt and pepper until mixture holds together. Fill mushroom caps with mixture, and bake at 350 degrees until juicy. Can be made ahead of time and just popped in the oven when guest arrive. Keep extra in the oven they stay warm and fresh for hours.

2. Main Course:
   Ribs are always welcome at any gathering, but take a long time to prepare and can be tough if the process is rushed. I place my ribs and sauce in the crock-pot the night before. I cook on low all night. I carefully removed them from the crock-pot keeping them in a large slab. Then I place them on the grill 30 minutes before I want to serve. This warms them and gives the ribs that added crunch of searing.
   Make kabobs of chicken meat, onion, tomato and pepper for guests that aren’t into ribs. Place these on stick the day before the party and let marinate in your favorite sauce until party time. Required cooking time is only about 30 minutes. Cook the chicken after the ribs.
   SIDES:
   Place corn on the cob (in their hulls, but cleaned of silks) on the grill for 30 minutes.
   Rice is excellent with the Kabobs, but might not sit well with ribs. So I suggest a rice salad.
   Recipe: Cook your rice the day before the party. Add scallions, can mushrooms, red peppers, green olives and mayo to hold it all together. Hint: for a great leftover idea add frozen shrimp to the rice salad the next day!
   There is always a vegetarian in my group, so I make a side pasta salad that can serve as a main dish for a vegetarian.
   Recipe:
   Tri-colored spiral pasta (wheat for fanatics) cooked but not mush! Onions, chopped tomatoes, marinated Artichoke hearts chopped, and Wishbone Italian dressing. Top with Parmesan cheese and refrigerate overnight

3. Desserts!
   The lovely finish to your meal should continue throughout the rest of the party.
   Finger desserts like cookies with sprinkles and individual cheesecakes are always a hit. Keep the supply full as the meal ends.
   The real finale will come at dark! Make a Texas Chocolate sheet cake that is rich, moist and oozing chocolate. Right before the fireworks start bring out ice cream, sprinkles, nuts, whipped topping and caramel sauce to add to the cake.
   Your guest will leave happy, full and think you are the best hostess in the world!

Tips & Warnings

• Watch foods that require refrigeration closely!

[ponchomeg]

on 6/6/2009 Wow! These are awesome ideas. Thanks!