4th of July Dessert – Firecracker Cake

Image via: Betty Crocker

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Ingredients

1 packet of white cake mix

Water

4 egg whites

Vegetable oil

Red and blue food color

White fluffy frosting

Instructions

1. Heat your oven to 325⁰ Follow the instructions on the cake mix box to make the batter. Pour some batter into a cup and add the red food color. Repeat the same procedure to make the blue batter.
2. Grease a fluted tube pan and pour the red batter at the bottom. Pour the white batter over the red batter then pour the blue batter on top. If the blue batter doesn’t cover the white batter completely, it’s fine. It looks more appealing when it forms a circle in the middle of the white batter.
3. Follow the instructions to bake the cake. When baked, remove it and let it cool for 5 minutes. Move it to a cooling rack and leave it to cool compeletely – for an additional 30 minutes.
4. When the cake has cooled, divide the frosting into three microwaveable bowls. Microwave the white frosting until it becomes smooth. Use a spoon to drizzle the frosting on the cake in a stripping pattern.
5. Microwave the second bowl of frosting and remove it. Add blue food color and mix until blended. Drizzle it over the cake like the white frosting. Repeat the same process for the third bowl and add the blue color.
6. Allow the frosting to set then serve.

Image via: She Knows

This extra-moist cake will melt in your mouth and leave you wanting more. If you serve it after dinner, don’t be surprised if there’s nothing left afterwards. The good news is that you don’t have to bake it once a year, you can alter the color for different celebrations.

For more 4th of July dessertson Stagetecture, click here.

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Fourth of July Entertaining: Patriotic Gifts for the Host

Food Entertaining Ideas:

Salad bowl sets are idea for the Fourth of July because regardless of what type of gathering you end up attending, side dishes are usually the star. Think about the standard cookout lineup: potato salad, pasta salad, fruit salad, ambrosia. All of these are foods that are fit to be served in a salad bowl set and odds are good that your host could use another. If not, you never know when another one will come in handy. For recipes and 4th of July food ideas, click here.

Desserts:

These are the party guest who loves to show up with an armful of baked goods. To make the star cookies, you need to bake two batches of sugar cookies. The first batch should be standard circles. On the second, use a cookie cutter to shape the dough into stars. Once the cookies have cooled, make them into sandwiches by layering a round cookie, then some strawberry or raspberry jam, and a star cookie on top. Finally, decorate the top with blue sugar or sprinkles.

Sparklers:

Brining these to a party with kids is a surefire way to get yourself some brownie points, at least as far as the little ones are concerned. Purchase the sparklers at your local superstore. Then, make them look pretty by artfully arranging them in a mason jar or a small, decorative pail that’s been line with cloth.

Sangria:

When you give this to the hosts, make sure to tell them that it’s okay to enjoy this beverage as an after-party reward for their hard work. Make the sangria by combining a bottle of your favorite wine with seasonal fruits, simple syrup, and a complementing liquor, to taste. Let the mixture sit overnight to allow the flavors to deepen. Then, serve it up in a nice pitcher that’s been tied with ribbon for a decorative touch. Go ahead and make a double batch for yourself. You deserve a reward for your hard work. Here’s a delicious Berry Sangria recipe you will love!

Fourth of July entertaining is not easy. While everyone is trying to find a way to stay relaxed and cool in the summer heat, your host is probably slaving over a hot oven and running around to see what dishes need to be refilled. Thank them for their hard work by bringing a hostess gifts. These may be small gestures, but they will make a big impact.

This Fourth of July don’t forget the host(ess) with these patriotic gift ideas.

Today we continue Stagetecture’s feature ‘Olioboard Inspiration‘. Last week you enjoyed – ‘Summer Coastal Getaway Ideas‘ from Tameka Brice and this week I decided to recap some of the best summer time inspiration from various members of the Facebook Olioboard Fan Room. Soon the school bells will be ringing and summer will be coming to a close as we head into fall. Today is all about celebrating late summer home inspiration from this great summer we had!

If you’re interested in being featured see details here: How to be featured on Stagetecture’s Olioboard Inspiration‘ series.

Olioboard Inspiration #27

‘Celebrating Late Summer Recap’

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That’s just a small recap of some of the most memorable summer moments from the Olioboard Inspiration boards this summer! I love featuring all of the Facebook Olioboard Members and can’t wait to bring more to you as we continue through late summer and into fall.

Thank you all!

-Ronique

Today we continue Stagetecture’s feature ‘Olioboard Inspiration‘. Last week you enjoyed – ‘Entertaining Guests in your Summer Kitchen ‘from Xiomara Zayas and this week I bring you Adele Baumann Healey with a wonderful take on summer holiday celebrations! She’s a member of the Facebook Olioboard Fan Room and I asked her to create a outdoor summer vacation holiday that would be perfect to celebrate the 4th of July!

If you’re interested in being featured see details here: How to be featured on Stagetecture’s Olioboard Inspiration‘ series.

Whether on the beach or in the mountains, when celebrating Holidays with family and friends, it’s easy to add the holiday spirit to your home and outdoor area.

No drastic measures need to be taken to add the spirit of the holiday. For the interior space, a good and simple solution is to remove a few accessory items and replace them with the appropriate holiday décor. Today I’ll be using The 4th of July as an example for some easy decorating ideas.

I often will remove a few paintings and prints, and replace them with flag plaques or a patriotic plaque or poster. Exchange your daily pillows with red, white and blue pillows, or have one red, one blue and one white pillow lining the sofa. These types of holiday items, can be easily stored away until they are needed the next year and allow you to fully enjoy the 4th of July experience.

Outside, have fun with party décor easily found on the internet and at party stores. Often discount stores will have added inexpensive decorations to their inventory that will be quite festive.

Add small decorations to your potted plants, hang a flag, medallion, or star wreath on the door leading outside, and if your area is covered, don’t forget those fun banners and buntings and garlands. Be subtle or go all out with decorating. It’s entirely up to you.

Bring patriotic colors to your celebration

Your tabletop can be full of the holiday colors. Paper plates, cups and even plastic cutlery can create a party spirit. And don’t forget those great tablecloths. You don’t use disposable items? Place red, white and blue party hats, on top of the plates, to create a fun vibe, and add an appropriate flower arrangement to the table. A great idea for kids and adults alike to enjoy, is the use of red, white and blue patterned pin-wheels. Not only will they be fun for the kids to play with, if planted in a pot of sand and placed in a breezy area, they will contribute to the mood and spirit of the party with their wild spinning.

Food – Red, white and blue!

Your food can even add to the décor. Make or buy cupcakes with white frosting. Plop a strawberry and a few blueberries on top, and there you go – a 4th of July desert. Fill a carved out watermelon, with watermelon cubes, blueberries, and banana, apple, or pineapple slices. You could even freeze blueberries or strawberries in ice cubes and toss them into tall glasses of water for a merry way to keep hydrated (VERY important on hot, humid July days).

Running out of space for serving dishes? Layer your green salad with your pasta and potato salad. One serving dish for three dishes! I could go on forever, but due to my limited space, I will end with, “No matter where you live, I hope ALL your holidays are filled with family, friends, love and laughter”.

About Adele Baumann Healey

I am a mother of two and a grandmother of 4.  Our family was a member of the military for 21 years and lived all over the U.S and in Europe, moving 13 times in 19 years.  While residing in Germany, we traveled constantly (my little kids in tow in our old V.W. camper) and I absorbed, through osmosis, the many historical attributes of architecture and design.  Even in the U.S. it was a learning experience to see how the many people I met decorated and used their creative skills, each influenced by the environment in which they were living.  Simply put, when you move so much and live in so many types of residences it was always a challenge to achieve a homey place for your family to grow and be nurtured.  What was my biggest challenge?  An old TB ward of an empty hospital building! Follow Adele at her Olioboard profile