No matter what else is going on throughout the 4th of July holiday weekend, my favorite part is always the grand finale - the fireworks display. I've seen some pretty spectacular displays over the years where the sky is a 3-D canvas painted with a kaleidoscope of pyrotechnics. And even if the fireworks are a simple, small township production, there's something magical about sitting outside on a balmy, summer evening, and waiting for the next vibrant explosion.
Since fireworks usually begin at sunset, dinnertime has become a memory, and there's no need to bring along a hearty picnic. On the other hand, since you often need to arrive early to stake out your viewing ground, it does make sense to bring along some nibbles to wile away the time while waiting for the show to begin.
So, this year, why not round up a few friends, an assortment of tasty nibbles, some festive patriotic decorations and tableware and plan to make it a star-spangled evening all around.
I recommend kicking off the outing with fiery snacks guaranteed to create a few fireworks for your palate, and cooling things off with a red, white and blue dessert. If you'd like to go crazy with the holiday colors, bring along bottles of red and white wine, as well as some blueberry champagne! If that's too much patriotism for you, visit Stacy Slinkard, About Guide to Wine, for recipes for Sangria, the perfect summertime drink.
Star Spangled Nibbles
Spicy Popcorn - Bring along a batch of this spicy popcorn to start your own fireworks.
Jalapeño Poppers - Make these right before you leave for the fireworks so they'll still be warm when your arrive.
Chunky Salsa - Serve this with blue tortilla chips (in keeping with the holiday color scheme!) to scoop this wonderful, fresh salsa.
Hot and Spicy Party Mix - Add a few splashes of TABASCO brand Pepper Sauce to spice up the original Chex Mix.
Strawberry Shortcakes - Add a cup of blueberries to the prepared strawberries for a patriotic touch. Make sure you have a good cooler to transport the whipped cream. Assemble the dessert at the fireworks.
Blueberry Champagne - If you can find a bottle of this fun, semi-sweet champage, it's good for quenching a summertime thirst.
