Thursday, June 27, 2013

July 4th Food and Decorations

July 4th is next week.  It's time to get your menu, drinks and decorations planned.
You'll find some ideas here to help make your planning a bit easier.  There are some great table 
setting after the recipes and  I put a tutorial at the end on how to make the 
medallion below.




The burgers below are more fun than the every day beef  burger.  Every time I serve them, 
I get asked for the recipes.


Cilantro-Turkey Burgers
Makes 4 servings

1        lb ground turkey
1/4     cup fresh cilantro
1/4     cup finely chopped onion
2        tsp. bottled minced garlic (4 cloves)
3/4     tsp. salt
1/4     tsp. grund black pepper
1        Tbs. olive oil
4        kaiser rolls, split and toasted
1        recipe Orange-Cilantro Mayonnaise (below)
Sliced red onion (optional)
Lettuce leaves

1.  In a large bowl, combine turkey, cilantro, chopped onion, garlic, salt, and pepper. 
Shape the turkey mixture into four 3/4 inch thick patties.  Brush with oil.
2.  Place the patties on the grill rack directly over medium heat; grill for 14 to 18 minutes
or until no longer pink, turning once halfway through grilling
3.  Spread cut sides of rolls with Orange-Cilantro Mayonnaise.  Serve patties on rolls with
lettuce and sliced onion, if desired.

Orange-Cilantro Mayonnaise
Makes about 1/2 cup

In a small bowl, combine:

1/2    cup mayonnaise
2       tablespoons snipped fresh cilantro
1/2    teaspoon finely shredded orange peel
1       teaspoon orange juice.

Tandoori Chicken Burgers
Makes 4 servings

1/4      cup fine dry bread crumbs
2         tsp. garam masala
1/4      tsp. salt
1/4      tsp. cayenne pepper
1         lb. coarsely ground uncooked chicken
2         Tbsp. plain yogurt
4         seeded hamburger buns or kaiser rolls, split and toasted
1         recipe Minty Cucumbers (below)
Kale or lettuce leaves

1In a large bowl, combine bread crumbs, garam masala, salt, and cayenne pepper. 
Add chicken and yogurt; mix well.  shape chicken mixture into four 3/4 inch thick patties.
2.  Place patties on the grill rack directly over medium heat; grill 14 to 18 minutes or until
no longer pink, turning halfway through grilling.
3.  Serve burgers on toasted buns with Minty Cucumbers and kale or lettuce.

Minty Cucumbers

In a small bowl, combine:
1         cup thinly sliced cucumber
1/2      cup thinly sliced red onion,
1/4      cup snipped fresh mint
1         tablespoon balsamic vinaigrette
1/4      teaspoon salt

Hot-Stuff Burgers
Makes 6 servings

1/2         cup mayonnaise
1/2         can chipotle pepper in adobo sauce, finely chopped
1/3         cup finely chopped onion
3            fresh jalapeno peppers, seeded and finely chopped
4            cloves garlic minced
2            tsp. Cajun or Creole seasoning
1 1/2      lb. ground beef
6            slices Monterey Jack cheese (4oz.)
6            hamburger buns, split and toasted

1.  In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise and chipotle pepper.  Cover and chill until
 serving time.
2.  In a large bowl, comvine onion, jalapeno pepper, garlic, and Cajun seasoning.  Add beef; 
mix well.  Shape into six 3/4 inch patties. 
3.  Place patties on the grill rack directly over medium heat; grill for 14 to 18 minutes or 
until no longer pink, turning once halfway through grilling.  Top with cheese; grill about 30 seconds
more or until cheese is melted.
4.  Serve patties in buns with chipotle-mayonnaise sauce.

You can find these recipes at http://www.bhg.com


Super festive dessert from Martha Stewart.


How cute does this table look?  I found it at Pottery Barn while shopping their sale!



I love the star table cloth and red chairs!




Your guests would love a nautical themed fourth of July party.



This is my favorite.  I want to eat at this table!





Step by step instructions for making a medallion.

1. Cut  four  4" by 12" strips of  paper.  You can use all of the same paper or mix it up like I did. 


2. Score each strip at 1" intervals.


3. Fold each strip accordion style .


4. Glue the strips together. Do not glue them end to end like below.  Put 1 fold over the other as 
     shown in the second picture.  I like to use rubber cement, but you could use double sided tape.





5. Glue all of the strips together so that they form a circle.




6. Punch out a 1 1/2" circle that will go in the center.




7. Push the circle flat.  You may have to work with it a bit.  I start with one side, hold it down and      
    then push the other side down.  You want it to look like the picture below.  




8. Use a hot glue gun to glue the center together.


 
9. Put the circle that you punched out in the center.





2 comments:

  1. What did you use to make the scores? This is great. I'm going to give it a try. And I have say my favorite table is the last one too.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I used a Cricut Trimmer to score the strips of paper. http://www.cricut.com/Shopping/detail--Cricut-Trimmer-272-6.aspx

    ReplyDelete