Even though we still may not be hosting extravagant 4th of July parties yet, here are some great ideas to celebrate one of our favorite holidays with your family. (More fun and food for you!)
Your new favorite 4th of July Dessert by Big Green Egg
Recipe adapted from Pizza on the Grill Expanded, by Elizabeth Karmel and Bob Blumer.
Ingredients
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 5 tablespoons sugar
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped crystallized ginger
- Zest of ½ lemon, finely grated with a Micro- plane or zester
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, for kneading the dough
- 3⁄4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 ball prepared pizza dough, at room temperature
- ¼ cup uncooked grits or polenta, for rolling the dough
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil (such as canola) or nut oil (such as walnut)
- ½ pint fresh blueberries, picked over
- ½ pint fresh raspberries, picked over
- ¼ cup honey
Instructions
Combine the ricotta, vanilla, 2 tablespoons of sugar, ginger, and lemon zest in a medium bowl. Reserve for topping.
Sprinkle the work surface with flour. Mix the remaining 3 tablespoons of sugar with the cinnamon and knead it into the dough. Set aside until ready to make pizza.
Set the EGG for direct cooking at 400°F/204°C. Preheat a Big Green Egg Pizza & Baking Stone.
Roll out and shape the dough, add to preheated Pizza & Baking Stone, and cook the first side of the crust. Use tongs to turn the crust over. Continue cooking until the bottom crust is well browned.
Remove from the EGG and immediately spread it evenly with the ricotta mixture. Let your inner artist dictate how you arrange the berries over the top. Finish with a generous drizzle of honey. Slice and serve immediately.
Serves 2 to 4
*You may also want to try adding the pulp from 2 fresh passion fruits to the ricotta cheese mixture.
*Buy a few extra raspberries and make your own raspberry lemonade.
Captain America Kids Drink
This recipe by @aworthyread is perfect for impressing the children (and adults!) at your party.
Ingredients needed:
- 1 can of Cherry 7-Up
- 1 oz of Grenadine
- 1/4 cup of Pina colada mix
- 1 cup of Blueberry Kool-Aid (you can also use blue Gatorade or Blue Hawaiian juice)
Directions for your Captain America Kids Drink:
- Fill 1 large glass with ice
- Pour the Cherry 7-UP with Grenadine 1/3 of the way full ( Grenadine gives it the bright red color )
- Now add the Pina colada mix 1/3 of the glass ( you are layering this )
- Top off with the Blueberry Kool-Aid (or the blue drink of your juice)
- Garnish with Star and Stripes straws found at any craft store and Cherries {optional}
Tip: If you have a taller glass, you could repeat steps 2-4. And of course, for the adults… you could always spike this drink to give it a little extra “flavor.”
Americana Pool Floats
One of the most important pieces of an epic 4th of July Pool Party is your pool floats. Stop by to check out our Americana Pool Floats to complete your pool party!
