Hooray for the Red White and Blue!

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It’s July, and the sweet smell of grilled burgers and fireworks seem to linger in the air. The sounds of crackling sparklers and children’s laughter make up some of our warmest memories. But no Fourth of July is complete without an invitation to a back yard barbeque! Plan an unforgettable Independence Day party for friends, family, or your church group with the following tips and steps.

Checklist

• Round Lifetime Tables
• Plenty of Lifetime Folding Chairs
• Shiny red, white and blue vinyl fabric. Cut into 48” squares (one per table)
• Either solid red, white and blue napkins. Or make “flag” napkins with “star” napkin rings: for this you’ll need paper towel rolls, glue gun, 2” red grosgrain ribbon, and large silver or gold stars
• Red and white gerbera daisies and blue iris or delphiniums
• Galvanized 2 quart metal buckets. Use either plain or decorated with stars and stripes: for this you’ll need red, white, and blue acrylic paint, brushes and some newspaper
• White dinnerware

Steps

1. Invitations set the scene for a party. Come up with a fun, creative invite for this years’ 4th of July and send it out one month ahead. Ideas: A photo of your dog with a big red, white and blue collar, photos of your kids in a wagon with flags, little flags with the invitation attached and placed in a mailing tube. Use your imagination…have fun with it.
2. Use round tables set out around the yard, covered with white tablecloths and vinyl square toppers. When guests arrive, let them and their children sit where they like.
3. Make the “star” napkin rings: Cut up the paper towel cardboard rolls into 2” widths. Then cut the grosgrain ribbon into lengths that will cover the circumference of the cardboard rolls. Glue the ribbon onto the rolls and allow to dry. Glue a big star onto the top of each ring.
4. Paint the buckets: Cover your small Lifetime Table with newspaper. Use red, white and blue acrylic paint and brushes. Paint each bucket with stripes and stars in a fun heart shape, using the red, white, and, blue downloadable stencils. Allow to dry and fill with flowers. Make enough for one on each table, and some for the buffet table if you like.
5. Make Deb’s delicious Lemon-Soy Swordfish Steaks with Avocado Butter, and make it a party to remember!

For easy serving, place white plates on rattan chargers and serve food buffet-style.

Tips

Recipe: Grilled Lemon-Soy Swordfish Steaks with Avocado Butter

Yeilds 8 swordfish steaks

• 1/3 cup soy sauce
• 1 tsp. Grated lemon peel
• ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 T. Dijon mustard
• ½ cup Safflower oil
• 8 swordfish steaks
• Avocado Butter (recipe below)

1. Mix together the soy sauce, lemon peel, lemon juice, garlic, mustard and oil in a bowl and blend well.
2. Place swordfish steaks in a large ziplock bag, pour the marinade over and seal, squeezing out all the air. Refrigerate. Marinate the fish for 1-3 hours, turning the bag occasionally.
3. Grill fish over hot coals for about 3 minutes on each side. During cooking, brush with marinade. Serve with Avocado Butter

Recipe: Avocado Butter

• ½ cup softened butter
• 1 ripe avocado, mashed
• 4 T. fresh lemon juice
• 2 T. chopped fresh chives
• 1 T. chopped fresh parsley
• 1 T. chopped fresh basil
• 1 tsp. Worchestershire sauce
• freshly ground pepper to taste
• ½ tsp. Sea salt

1. Blend together the butter and avocado until smooth. Add remaining Ingredients and mix well. Refrigerate, covered, until serving time. Can be made 1-2 hours ahead.
   1. Printable Invitation 
   2. Stencil Example
   3. Printable Bucket Stencil
   4. Printable Bucket Stencil White
   5. Printable recipe.