Hostess with the Mostess™

San Diego’s Fox in the Morning news recently invited us to share some tips for stress-free 4th of July entertaining! Here are a few screenshots from part of the segment and some tips to help you spend more time at the party and less time in the kitchen:

1. Don’t feel pressured to make everything from scratch. For example - one of our desserts for tomorrow is a store-bought (and super yummy!) Strawberry-Topped Boston Cream Cake. Between the white whipped frosting and the strawberries, we already had our red and white - then we simply lined the edge of the cake with blueberries and voila! A scrumptious patriotic dessert in 5 minutes flat . {Check out the screenshot above to see how it turned out!}

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Cool Cocktails: Watermelon Crush and Raspberry Collins

Easy Breakfasts: Mini Blueberry Turnovers and waffles topped with berries and whipped cream

Feeling gourmet? Tempt your guests with these impressive eats: Napa Valley Basil Smoked Burgers and Beer-Battered String Beans!

For a sweet finish: Red, White & Blueberry Cupcakes and Oat Crisps with Blueberries and Créme Fraiche {make the cupcakes even easier: simply use store-bought cake mix & frosting and embellish with berries!}

Festive fruit garnishes are an easy way to add some 4th-of-July-flair to your Independence Day beverages. This simple Festive fruit garnishes are an easy way to add some 4th-of-July-flair to your Independence Day beverages. This simple carambola (starfruit) garnish a great example - and the perfect accent for your red and blue themed drinks!

Looking for some weekend craft projects? Here are some of my favorite crafty July 4th entertaining ideas from Martha Stewart. How great do these napkins look?!

Clockwise from top left: Clockwise from top left: ring tones napkin rings, easy sand candles, fourth of July votives, and can-do cans

{images from marthastewart.com}

If you’re on the lookout for July 4th decorating ideas - here’s a super quick & easy easy idea for a festive & modern star-themed centerpiece. You’ll need the following:
• foam stars: 4″-5″ or larger (available at If you’re on the lookout for July 4th decorating ideas - here’s a super quick & easy easy idea for a festive & modern star-themed centerpiece. You’ll need the following:
• foam stars: 4″-5″ or larger (available at Michael’s or other craft supply stores)
• giant star craft punch (we used a 2.25″ size)
• memo clips ($1.95 each at crate and barrel)
• decorative paper with modern red, white & blue patterns (the paper used here is gift wrap by snow & graham and available at luxepaperie.com)

Putting it together:
(This literally took less than 10 minutes to put together -without rushing!)
• punch stars out of your decorative paper (I reduced the gift wrap paper on the computer and printed it out at a smaller size so more of the detail would be captured in the stars, but this is an optional step.)
• affix the paper stars to the center of the foam stars with glue, double-stick tape, or
Putting it together:
(This literally took less than 10 minutes to put together -without rushing!)
• punch stars out of your decorative paper (I reduced the gift wrap paper on the computer and printed it out at a smaller size so more of the detail would be captured in the stars, but this is an optional step.)
• affix the paper stars to the center of the foam stars with glue, double-stick tape, or mini pop dots to add a little more dimension
• insert the stars into the memo clips and line them up in a straight or staggered row. Flip a couple of clear glasses upside down to add height to the centerpiece, and you’re done!

**We used 5 stars here, but you can really make the centerpiece as long as you like! Line up 10 or more for a really dramatic display - and you can even use varying sizes of glasses to add different levels!**

You can also use the foam stars as super cute and inexpensive drink coasters! And for an extra “wow” factor - create a table runner from the same scrapbook paper or gift wrap used for the paper stars. This ties the table together and increases the festive factor

**The red and blue melamine plates and cute polka-dotted straws also pictured here were all purchased in-store at Target. Have lots of people to feed? For a more inexpensive option just pick up disposable red and blue plates from your local party supply. White napkins from Vanity Fair are available at your local grocery store.

Happy entertaining!

The STAR Martini:
• Start with a classic Blue Curacao Martini:
- 3 oz vodka
- 1/2 oz Blue Curacao liqueur
- Dash of Angostura Bitters®
• Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker, add ice, and shake well.
• Strain the cocktail into a clear or blue martini glass rimmed with red cocktail rimming sugar.
• For the star garnish, take a red delicious apple, turn sideways, and slice into thin circular disks. Be sure to leave the skin on so you get the red color in your drink! Cut 5 triangles out of the apple disks to create a star shape. Strain the cocktail into the glass, the float the “star” on top. Adorable!

Ameri-Cran (can be made as a cocktail or “mocktail”)
• Cocktail version:Vodka Cranberry
- Mix 1 oz Vodka with 4 oz Cranberry and a splash of club soda
• Mocktail version: Cranberry Punch
- Mix one 4 oz Cranberry with 4 oz 7up® or Sprite®
• Garnish for both:
Take a bamoo skewer and trim down so it’s about 1.5″ taller than your cocktail glass. Thread cranberries and blueberries onto the skewer, alternating one of each color until you have a row of red and blue berries! Put the berry stick into the glass and voila! Another fun patriotic drink!

Independence Day Shooter:
• Ingredients:
- 1/3 oz Blue Curacao
- 1/3 oz Grenadine
- 1/3 oz Peach Schnapps
• Float each liquid one on top of the other into a chilled shot glass so they appear as red, white and blue “stripes”. Serve immediately to avoid mixing!