Summer always goes by way too fast. It is hard to believe the 4th of July is sneaking up already! However, it’s not too late to plan a great party that is in everyone’s budget. In a down economy, cheap thrills are the name of the game so what’s better than getting together with your friends to cook a delicious meal? Here are some great suggestions for a successful Fourth of July party:

Decorations:
No need for all the traditional kitschy decorations. Keep it simple and fun!

• Wind a strand of white, red, or blue Christmas lights (or find inexpensive, outdoor lights at your local home store), around table legs or clip to the table edge and cover with a table cloth. This adds a bit of elegance and flair to any late afternoon or evening festivity. Also try the lights under an umbrella, canopy, or wrapped around small trees.
• For centerpieces, skip the messy table glitter and create a simple centerpiece of fake flowers or balloons attached to a weight with a short string. Make sure to feature red, white, and blue!
• Saltwater taffy in a tall vase in the center of the table makes another fabulous centerpiece. It can also double as a prize should you have any fun games planned later on at the party.
• Use food as decoration! With scrumptious items such as heirloom tomato and mozzarella cheese stacks, strawberry and blueberry fruit tarts, and colorful margaritas, the food can be a perfect patriotic touch. Also, be sure to satisfy everyone’s cravings for traditional backyard BBQ with American favorites like burgers, watermelon slices,
  homemade lemonade and ice cream.

Entertainment:
Sometimes the best parties have nothing to do with the food or the decorations but with how you spend your time. With fireworks being illegal, it may seem difficult to throw a successful Fourth of July party, but there are a ton of other games and activities that rival the excitement of fireworks!

• Bocce ball – Assign your guests to teams and get them mixing and mingling out on the lawn!
• Water balloon toss – this reminds me of middle school picnics at the local park. The more competitive it gets, the more fun it is, especially with prizes for the winner (i.e. taffy centerpieces!).
• Test your flexibility with a limbo contest or participate in old-time games like bobbing for apples.
• Tape packing bubbles onto concrete and let the younger crowd have fun creating a firework-like ambiance without the fire hazard!
• As the sun goes down, sparklers are always fun to have, especially if
  everyone is winding down and hanging out by a bonfire.

  Food:
  The Fourth of July is a great time to get creative with old favorites. Here are some perfect recipes for the holiday:

• Heirloom Tomato, Eggplant and Fresh Mozzarella Stacks with Arugula Salsa Verde Recipe
• Blueberry, Raspberry, and Peach Dulce De Leche Crisp Recipe
• Blueberry and Raspberry Smoothie Recipe
• Grilled Chicken Skewers with Lemons and Salsa Verde Recipe
• Mini Sliders with Smoky Cheddar Recipe
• Soy Marinated Flank Steak with Cilantro Sesame Pesto Recipe
• Salad of Watercress, Watermelon, Ricotta Salata, and Pine Nuts Recipe
• Baby Back Ribs with Espresso BBQ Sauce Recipe

Entertaining Tips:
Don’t get stressed if you haven’t hosted many parties before! Here are some tips for making any party, large or small, a successful one:

• Spotlight your creations: Put your food on plain platters so that the food is the focus. Also, make sure that the garnish is edible and related to the food it is complimenting.
• Don’t forget the drinks: Make sure the drinks you serve parallel the food it is accompanying. Use a light white wine for foods like Scallops and Mint Chutney. Pair red wine with dishes that have bolder flavors. Also, carry over the theme of the food into the drinks so that the entire meal flows seamlessly. A self-serve bar allows for a more relaxed atmosphere.
• Let music set the mood – Keep music going throughout the party. Upbeat music is perfect for a lively party and don’t be afraid to carry the culinary theme over into your music selections.
• Get help: For a large party, ask for help from children (yours or someone else’s) for setting the table or helping with dishes. It is also a great idea
  to have prep stations for each course and allow your friends to help with
  the cooking.
• Give party favors: Take pictures and email copies to your guests the following day. At the end of an event, present your guests with a new wooden spoon or whisk as well as a clean copy of all of the recipes you used for the event. Better yet, our Sumptuous Small Plates deck makes for a class-act party gift. It includes 30 of our clients’ favorite recipes that we use over and over at events!

Parties That Cook has more fantastic party ideas and recipes to make the holiday memorable. Check out our website at www.PartiesThatCook.com and peruse the Cooking Parties section for original and thrilling cooking party ideas, and the Recipes section for more delicious recipes!

Contributed by guest blogger Leigh Hermansen