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

1.  In 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.