Festive 4th of July Treats, Favors & Recipe's
We hope you have a wonderful day today with your family and friends!
Celebrate the 4th of July with these fun ideas!
Red, White & Blue Shot
Ingredients:
- ½ ounce Grenadine
- ½ ounce Peach Schnapps or Vodka
- ½ ounce Blue Curacao
Slowly pour each ingredient into a shot glass to create a layered effect. Add them in the order listed above.
Recipe source - punchbowl
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Red, White and Blue Sangria
Ingredients:
- Strawberries, sliced
- Blueberries
- Pineapple, cut into star shapes
- 2 bottles dry white wine
- 1 cup Triple Sec
- 1/2 Cup berry-flavored vodka
- 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 cup simple syrup
Combine the ingredients in a large pitcher and stir. Chill in the refridgerator for at least four hours.
Recipe source - punchbowl
Patriotic Wedding Favors in Mason Jars
Supplies:
Baby food jars or small mason jars
Red, white, blue spray paint
Red & blue jello
Strawberries & blueberries
Twine
Miniature flags
Whipped topping
Two boxes of jello will make 12 jars. Start with blue mellow, follow the instructions on the jello box and fill the jars 1/3 full. Drop a few blueberries in each jar. Let chill for 4-5 hours.
After the blue jello sets, add sliced strawberries in each jar. Follow the directions to make red jello and pour equivalent portion in jars. Note: Jars should now be 2/3 full. Chill for 4-5 hours. While waiting you can spray paint the lids to the jars red, white and blue.
Top each jar with whipped topping (Cool Whip), another fun option would be mini marshmellows. Tie a piece of twine around each lid and slide a decorative flag through it.
Recipe source - onewed and green acres hobby farm.
Mini Cheesecake Trifle
This fluffy, no-bake cheesecake dessert is simple to prepare, and is delicious accompanied by fresh berries.
Yield: 6-7 Mini Desserts, or 4-5 moderate sized desserts
Ingredients:
Graham Cracker Crumble
1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs (about 10 full sized crackers)
1/3 cup butter, melted
1 Tablespoon sugar
Fluffy Cheesecake
1- 8oz block cream cheese
1/2 cup powdered sugar
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons milk (any fat content)
2 cups cool whip, or freshly whipped cream
Fresh berries (strawberries and blueberries shown)
Directions:
Graham Cracker Crumble
Crush crackers in a large ziplock type bag. Pour crumbs, sugar and melted butter into a bowl and stir until fully combined. Pour into a 9″x13″ casserole dish and press into a even layer. Bake at 350*F for 10-12 minutes, until light brown. Allow to cool.
Fluffy Cheesecake
1. Beat cream cheese in the bowl of an electric mixer until smooth. Add powdered sugar, beat to combine. Add lemon juice and beat until fully incorporated. Add milk, and combine.
2. Fold cool whip or feshly whipped cream into cream cheese mixture. Spoon into dessert dishes, or for smaller dishes, fill a large piping bag and pipe into dessert dishes.
Dessert Assembly
To create the dessert as shown, layer a spoonful of graham cracker crumble, then a layer of cheesecake, fresh chopped strawberries, more cheesecake, fresh blueberries, and a final layer of cheesecake.
Recipe source - Glorious Treats (based on Cherries on a Cloud)
Patriotic Licorice Bundles
Simple & easy treat for kids (& adults) to have at your bbq or to pack along to watch the fireworks! Wrapped in patriotic scrapbook paper, held together by double stick tape. Everyone loves red licorice!
Source - roomtoinspire.blogspot.com
Festive Fruit
Using a small star-shaped cookie cutter, turn watermelon or other types of fruit, patriotic. Fun project for the kids!
Source - Hiphiphooray
Patriotic Pretzels
Delicious chocolate covered pretzel rods with red, white and blue sprinkles and silver sprinkles.
Source - Leslie Ruth
July 4th Flag Cake
You will need (3) 9-inch layers.
1 layer colored blue
1 layer colored red
1 layer left white
Bake layers according to recipe or directions. Let completely cool. You can make them ahead of time and wrap in plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator for a day.
Level off tops of cakes, if needed, Wilton’s Bake Even Strips are great! They insulate the outside of the pan so the outer edge of the cake doesn’t bake faster that the middle, thus preventing domed tops and cracked middles.
One you have your red layer, your blue layer, and your white layer, you will need to slice the red and white layer horizontally with a long, serrated knife. This will be easier if your cakes have been refrigerated and are still cold. Cut them as evenly through the middle as you can. These layers form the stripes of the cake.
Next, take one red half-layer, and one white half layer and stack them on top of one another. Take the whole (uncut) blue layer and set it in front of you. Place the stacked red and white layer on top of the blue layer. Check that they are evenly centered on top of one another.
Using a circle template as a guide, cut a circle exactly centered through all three layers of the blue, white, & red. For this 9-inch cake, use the plastic lid off the top of a shortening can. It was 5 inches. Try to get as close to this measurement as you can so the color ratio looks right. Cut carefully and thoroughly, making sure you get all the way through all the layers.
Next, separate the blue from the red and white layers. Take the middle out of the blue. You won’t be using the blue circle for this recipe, so set it aside. You now have a donut-shaped ring of blue. This will be the star field of your flag.
Now remove the outside ring from the red & white layers. This is not used either, so set it aside. You should have a 5-inch circle consisting of 1 white half-layer, and 1 red half layer. This will be the top stripes of your flag cake.
Assembly:
Take the uncut white half-layer and center it on a cake circle or cake stand. Spread a 1/8–1/4 inch layer of frosting over the top. Keep it as even as you can. Lay the uncut red half-layer on top of the frosting, making sure it is centered. These make up the bottom two stripes of your flag. Frost like the last layer. Make it as even as you can.
Now take the blue donut circle and center it on top of the bottom stripes layer. Using a small offset spatula or knife, spread a very thin layer of frosting around the inside of the blue ring. You don’t really want to see this layer of frosting, it’s just to help adhere the layers. Plus, too much frosting, and your circles won’t fit inside.
Take the white 5-inch circle and set it carefully, but firmly inside the blue ring. Push it down as far as you dare. You want it as even with the blue as you can get it. Spread a thin, thin layer of icing over the white that is inside the blue ring. Place the red circle on top and press down carefully, trying to make the top layers even.
Now you are ready to frost! The recipe below makes about 5 cups of frosting. You will need all of it for a nine inch cake. Put a nice, thick layer on the outside of the cake. You need to make up for the not-so-much frosting on the inside.
Keep the cake refrigerated until ready to serve. You can pull it out a bit ahead of time to take the chill off.
Use a sharp knife that has been dipped in very hot water and wiped dry. It makes very clean cuts. Clean off and re-dip the knife between slices.
White Cake
makes (2) 8 or 9 inch layers–for the Flag Cake, you will need to make this recipe twice, dividing and coloring as directed below before baking
8 tablespoons (1 stick, 4 ounces) unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup vegetable shortening
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract
5 large egg whites (these should be room temperature)
2 3/4 cup cake flour , sifted (11 oz. sifted–this is the most accurate way to measure)
1 cup milk (room temperature)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Prepare your cake pans by rubbing a layer of shortening all around the inside. Lay in a circle of parchment int each pan and grease the bottom again. Then tap flour all around the inside as well, tapping out the extra flour. Wrap pans with the dampened Wilton Bake Even Strips. Set aside.
In a mixing bowl, cream together the butter and shortening until very well incorporated and very light in color. Add the baking powder, sugar, flavorings, and salt and beat another minute.
Add the egg whites, one at a time, beating very well and scraping down the sides in between each addition. This should take about 5 minutes. The mixture will be very light in color and very fluffy by this time.
Next, to incorporate the flour and milk, add about 1/4 of the flour, and then 1/3 of the milk. Add another 1/4 flour, another 1/4 milk and so on, ending up with the last 1/4 cup of flour.
Make sure all ingredients are well incorporated, but take care not to over beat the batter. You just spent a fair bit of time getting the air into the cake, don’t deflate it by being too aggressive.
Split your batter in half and add the food coloring at this time. I made one batch and colored 1/2 blue, and 1/2 red. It will take quite a bit, especially of the red. Americolor Gel Paste Super Red, and Royal Blue. Add the tiniest bit of black to each one just to deepen the colors. TINIEST!! To get the white layer you will need to make a second batch of cake, leaving it white. You will have a leftover layer of white cake.
Use a scale again to fill the pans evenly. If you don’t own scales just do your best to make them even. Use a spatula to spread the batter around evenly.
Bake the two layers in the oven for 27–32 minutes, depending on your oven and altitude. The cakes will be done when they spring back to the touch in the middle and barely begin to pull way from the sides. Watch carefully towards the end. It doesn’t take long to over bake a cake, especially one from scratch.
Remove pans from the oven and let cool 10 minutes on a rack. Use a knife to loosen the edges and carefully remove from pans and let finish cooling on a rack. When completely cooled, wrap in plastic wrap and store flat in fridge.
Cream Cheese Frosting
3 (8) oz. packages cream cheese, softened
1 cup (8oz.) unsalted butter, softened
1 lb. powdered sugar, sifted
Whip together the cream cheese and butter until very fluffy. Add the sifted powdered sugar. You can add colorless flavors or lime/lemon zest. This recipe results in a very soft frosting. Try not to let your cake sit out too long in the heat.
Recipe source - secretlifeofachefswife.com
ENJOY - we would love to hear if you tried any of these July 4th treats & recipes!
Weddings that Sparkle
Happy Wedding Wednesday, everyone!
Who doesn't love weddings that sparkle?! We think sparklers add such a fun, nice touch to a wedding! Perfect for weddings the week of 4th of July and New Year's Eve.
Love the idea? Here are a few ways to implement them into your special day.
1. {The Sparkler Send-Off} - gather guests outside, have your wedding planner place several pillar candles in heavy, tall glass-vases outside and light them (this eliminates the need for lighters and a person to light several dozen sparklers). Each guest will hold their sparkler over the flame and proceed to pass on the sparks. Have a disposal place ready, large containers partially filled with sand, provide as a great outlet to put out those sparks. It's a beautifully bright and festive way of bidding adieu to your guests after a joyous reception. Make sure to have your photographer on board with the timeline to be sure to capture the moment.We think this is the perfect way to send the newlyweds off on their first night as husband as wife.
Check out our fun clients Amanda + Kevin, the pictures below are from their May 2013 wedding in Brooklyn, NY @ the beautiful Prospect Park Boathouse.
Photo credit: Shot by Jake
Photo credit: Kat Braman
2. {Picture Perfect} - sparklers make for such great photos, with the couples Monogram, heart shape or fun words.
Photo credit: Joanna Fassinger Photography
Photo credit: onewed.com
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Photo credit: weddingbycolor.com
3. {Fun Favors} - Gifts for guests to enjoy at the end of the night or to take home for their kids.
Photo credit: realsimple.com
4. {Cake Toppers} - Typically we don't see candles on wedding cakes, however, why not add a few sparklers to add some pizazz to your cake cutting time.
Photo credit: aweddingcakeblog.com
{FYI} Sparklers are classified by the US Government as “Novelties”. Thus, by definition, sparklers are not defined as consumer fireworks. Because wedding sparklers are classified as a novelty, they can be shipped legally through US Postal System without the need of special and complicated hazmat (hazardous material) paperwork or special packaging.
Most US states allow the use of sparklers and other items classified as novelties, however, there are a few states that preclude their use even though they are not classified as consumer fireworks. It’s always a good idea to check your local state and county laws before enjoying sparklers or including them in your wedding. A good place to start is by calling your local fire department or Fire Marshall directly. When in doubt, you should always call to find out.
Where to find them? Visit, sparklersonline.com or weddingdaysparkles.com.
Let us know if you will be having sparklers at your wedding, we would love to hear from you!
Wishing you a fun and safe 4th of July - ENJOY!
Trend Alert: "Unplugged Weddings"
"Unplugged Weddings" is quite the hot topic for 2013, even Kelly Ripa discussed it this morning! Couples often ask us how they can avoid their guests from posting photos of their special day right away. We suggest to request, remind or even require that guests go cold turkey on technology during the event.
{Photo credit: Mazelmoments.com}
The trend started about five years ago during the rise of social media, from Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest - the list is endless. Celebrities often require the 'no cell phone' rule at their weddings and non-celebrity couples seem to be requesting this policy as well.
{Photo credit: thelazybride.com}
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{photo credit: weddingwire.com}
After all, this is what you see at most weddings these days, can you blame the bride and groom for wanting an "unplugged wedding?!" For all the bridesmaids out there, please just don't post pictures of the bride getting ready to ruin her reveal, you woudn't want her husband to be online and see his bride before she's ready for him to!
Tell us your thoughts on "unplugged weddings," we would love to hear!
{A Green Affair} Decorating with Moss
Decorating with moss is such a fun way to add a natural element into your wedding or special event. Just a few simple touches will completely transform your decor. Perfect for a rustic themed affair or a garden wedding in fall, spring or summer.
The use of initials into your decor provide such a sweet + personalized touch. Moss-covered initials look great on the back of the bride and groom's chairs at their sweetheart table and on the entrance doors to the venue. Moss-covered table numbers look great in the center of a floral arrangement or on a stand.
{occasionsonline.com }
Sweet moss ring bearer pillows will definitely add a memorable touch. Check out these adorable options!
{Onewed.com }
{ Etsy }
A fun, moss-filled boutonniere.
{ Etsy }
Mr + Mrs event decor
{ Etsy }
Add a nice rustic touch with a moss bordered chalkboard sign.
{Etsy}
Moss kissing balls hung from trees for an outdoor ceremony or reception.
{Chicweddingfavors.com}
Moss kissing balls are not just for outdoor use, bring a little green indoors!
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{weddingbee.com}
Moss-pheres with tea lights are perfect for an evening affair outside.
How adorable is this eco-friendly cake topper?
For the DIY's: Beautiful Hanging Glass Terrarium Ball Kit
Whimsical spheres of clear hand-blown glass showcase grown LIVE moss and lichen
Top glass loop can suspend globe via filament in singles, multiples or chandelier style. Flat bottom for surface display.
*****This kit will include*****
* 1 Glass ball sphere" Use the top loop to hang or sit flat"
* Organic soil
* Small bag of Mini Pebbles
* 3 Assorted pieces of LIVE or Preserved Moss
* 2 Sections of lichens - a fruiticose mound & Piece of umbrella lichen.
{Etsy}
A tablescape with moss will definitely make a statement!
{Pinterest}
Natural arch with moss, flowers and crystal votives.
{Pinterest}
Moss-covered votives add a nice simple touch to your decor.
{Pinterest}
Decorating with moss is not only fun, but it's easy to use too! We would love to hear how you incorporated moss into your special event or big day!
Save the Date Etiquette
You're engaged, now what? Couples are always asking us; "What should we do first?" And we always suggest; "Decide on your wedding location and a date (asap)." Once you finalize those two things, then you need to order your save-the-dates and announce your upcoming nuptials to the world (or at least to those on your guest list)!
Photo courtesy of Lucky Luxe Couture
Save-the-dates have evolved throughout the years, once just a simple postcard that some people chose to send out to guests, now it has become part of the norm. Our clients are getting creative and we love it--scratch off lottery tickets, hand printed handkerchiefs or our newest favorite, a customized video. Check out the ah-mazing save-the-date video below that I received from some friends last year for their Philadelphia wedding. It definitely has the Peony seal of approval-original, creative and FUN! If you like to be unique and have a little extra cash to put into your save-the-dates, this is the one for you!
SAVE THE DATE Color Audio from Johnny Tornado on Vimeo. Video courtesy of Filmmaker John Launchi: www.johnlaunchi.com
The save-the-date etiquette is to send out at least six months prior to the wedding date allowing ample time for guests to request vacation time from work, make travel arrangements, and in some cases, save money. It is a nice courtesy to give your guests a heads up to prepare for the big day.
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Photo Courtesy of www.marthastewartweddings.com
The amount of variations out there on save-the-date's is simply astounding these days, whatever you chose, just remember that it should reflect you as a couple and set the vibe for your wedding. Be sure to include your wedding website in the information so guests can stay in the loop (it will also refrain them from calling you and asking 100 questions!). Guests will be so excited for your big day!
Some additional cute ideas can be found in this Buzzfeed roundup of 36 cute and clever save-the-dates, you will definitely be inspired.
We would love to hear if any of you are doing anything particularly clever or different for your save-the-date's, let us know and we will add it to our blog!