'Muurricaa: 3 Steps to the Perfect July 4th Cookout

Only a week until July 4^th! I’m sure for most of you this came up quick, which means you are probably not prepared for your Independence day cookout! Well don’t worry, I got you covered. Follow these 3 simple steps and you’ll be ready for the 4^th in no time.

1. Food & Drink. We all know there will be hamburgers and hotdogs involved in this years cookout, but why not spice it up a little bit with a few of these festive food and drink ideas!

- Star Spangled Sangria: This yummy and festive drink calls for 1 bottle of white wine (I prefer Barefoot Moscato), 4oz of vodka, 2 oz of triple sec, 2 oz of simple syrup and 6oz of sparkling wine or sierra mist. Mix fruit, vodka, and triple sec and let sit over night. When you are ready to serve, mix bottle of wine and simple syrup together then add in the fruit and alcohol mixture that had been sitting in the refrigerator overnight. Add a dash of sparkling wine or sierra mist, serve on ice, and enjoy!

   

Star Spangled Sangria

- Layered 4th of July Drinks for the Kids: How cool is this! Patriotic colored, layered drink, and it's super easy too. Just fill 3/4 of the glass with cranberry juice, fill with ice, and then slowly pour Sobe Pina Colada drink and blue Gatorade or Powerade on top. Add a cute straw and enjoy!

- Truffle Dessert: This one is super simple and delicious!

- Festive Fruit: Everyone loves a nice fruit salad for the summer, but why not make this to go along with your July 4th theme as well. It's easy. Pick up a star shaped cookie cutter at the store, if you don't have one already, and cut up the watermelon into stars. Next add in blueberries and strawberries, and you've got yourself a beautiful fruit salad that looks as good as it tastes. 

2. Games & Activities: Now that we got the food covered, it's time to figure out what your guests are going to do at this party to keep them busy. What's better than a few yard games to get people laughing & enjoying the nice summer weather. How about setting up a photo booth where people can grab some props and take some family photos, where the memories will last beyond the BBQ? Relays and races are always fun too. Split up into a few teams and make up a relay race. Use some american flags and other 4th of July themed things to keep the festive party theme going. If those ideas aren't for you, who doesn't love Balloon Darts? Paint a wood board red, white, and blue, and grab a few balloons and some darts, and let your guests test their accuracy. All of these games are simple ideas that can make your cookout the best one on the block.

3. Props & Decorations: Now that we know what people will be eating, and what they will be doing, it's time to decorate. Here are a few simple, yet cute ideas to make your 4th of July cookout one to remember.

Written by: Nicole Noonan