We’ve dug back through the archives and found posts to help us properly celebrate the Fourth of July. First we revisit history about this important holiday, then delve into food and decor ideas.
Independence Day – we like to call it “The 4th of July” – we celebrate it with family cook-outs with hot dogs and burgers on the grill, and close the day out with sparklers and fireworks. But, when was the last time you or I really stopped to consider the deeper meanings of this day? What too many of us don’t know is that July 4, 1776 wasn’t the day we gained our Independence from English rule – it was the day we declared (and knew that we must fight for the right to have) our freedom. Too many of us have become so separated from our nation’s historical origins that we only know July 4th as an extra day off from work, when in fact it was the day that our Forefathers set out to do the hardest, most perilous, and dangerously life-threatening work.
So, why did our Forefathers take these measures. What does it mean to be independent and free? Let’s step into the way-back machine and imagine a time when the citizens were being taxed and oppressed in order to finance a group of self-important elites who lived the high life on the backs of ordinary people – just like us – workers, farmers, shopkeepers and tradesmen and women. The powerful attempting to make the power-less even ever more-so.
Continue reading Cheryl Todd’s post here.
The Declaration of Independence
We celebrate American Independence Day on the Fourth of July every year. We think of July 4, 1776, as a day that represents the Declaration of Independence and the birth of the United States of America as an independent nation.
But July 4, 1776 wasn’t the day that the Continental Congress decided to declare independence (they did that on July 2, 1776).
It wasn’t the day we started the American Revolution either (that had happened back in April 1775).
And it wasn’t the day Thomas Jefferson wrote the first draft of the Declaration of Independence (that was in June 1776). Or the date on which the Declaration was delivered to Great Britain (that didn’t happen until November 1776). Or the date it was signed (that was August 2, 1776).
Continue reading this featured post from constitutionfacts.com here.
We’ve rounded up fabulous food ideas for your neighborhood BBQ from our past posts. And because we love the outdoors, we love a wild-game take on a classic dish. Read on for some mouth-watering recipes.
Are you looking for some great tasting summer grilling recipes? Wild Game Cuisine has many venison recipes to offer. Here are a few we think sound really yummy. ~ The Editors
I love hamburgers, especially when they’re made with top-quality venison meat and served between a butter toasted brioche bun.
Next time you want to throw a few patties on the grill, try shaking things up a bit with this venison and avocado combo. The meat is mixed with fresh avocado, minced garlic, chopped jalapeno and a blend of seasonings. Grill to your liking and then TOP with a creamy cow’s milk cheese like Havarti for ultra melty goodness.
Click here to keep reading this featured post from Wild Game Cuisine.
Our friends at Wild Game Cuisine give us an easy and elevated version of an American classic food with this featured recipe for ground game hot dogs. We love how versatile the recipe is, working well with a variety of ground wild game meat. Continue reading to find out more. ~ The Editors
Ground game hot dogs are a tasty twist and a favorite way to devour a juicy mouthwatering play on game. I’ve made these ‘hamburger’ stuffed hot dogs with ground antelope, venison, elk and bison – so you have a variety of meats to play with.
The preparation is easy.
I took two pounds of ground meat and divided it into 4 equal portions – flattening the meat, about the same length as a sweet French sandwich roll, on individual sheets of plastic wrap. Then I added a few thick ‘stick-like’ pieces of mozzarella cheese to the center along with a few slices of jalapeno. I rolled the meat around the cheese shaping each one into a cylinder shape. The next step was wrapping the meat with a few slices of center cut bacon – gluttonous, I know, but well worth it.
Keep reading the original post here.
While you’re planning your garden, you’ll want to add poblano peppers, especially after reading this recipe for antelope stuffed poblano peppers.
Protein Packed Peppers
The poblano is a mild chili pepper that is perfect for stuffing with a combination of ground wild game meat and cheesy ingredients.
I prefer to boil the peppers prior to stuffing which softens their outer skin, but you can also roast them on the grill or in the oven. I stuffed these peppers with a combo of seasoned ground antelope, onions, cheese, cream cheese, quinoa, fresh cilantro and my favorite jalapeno salsa – El Pato.
If you don’t have ground antelope, substitute with ground elk or ground venison. Really any ground game would work.
Continue reading this delicious recipe here.
My Grandma Ginny used to make this salad for all of our family get-togethers. This salad’s dressing doesn’t contain mayo, so the dish doesn’t need to be refrigerated. I plan to make this Crunchy Ramen Salad with Cabbage for this year’s Fourth of July celebration.
Read on for this easy, and adaptable, recipe.
Gather the following ingredients:
For the dressing:
Click here to find out how to throw this salad together.
It’s here. It seems as though we just celebrated the Summer Solstice and now it’s time to show up for the big day in July — Independence Day. Some of us don’t have the capability to hang flags to show our patriotism. This is not a political statement. I am referring to pole and flag holder capabilities. In my case, I live about a quarter mile from a gate in the country. I don’t want to put a flag on a tree near the gate, nor put a flag pole up down by the gate. I decided to make my own version of “Patriotic Pinwheel Wreaths,” to express my sheer delight in being American on the Fourth of July.
These wreaths must be weatherproof. That’s why I purchased plastic red, white and blue plastic pinwheels, along with wire wreaths and waterproof ribbon.
Find out how to make this patriotic craft here.
Jackie Baird Richardson is an interior designer, editor at The WON and avid junker. Watch for her design tips and occasional crafting ideas, bringing the outdoors indoors. View all posts by Jackie Richardson
