Happy birthday, America!
Back when I was a little girl, public school wrapped up in early June, and we were deep into summer by the time July 4th rolled around. Now it feels more like the kick-off to summer, and life feels anything but simple.
The Fourth of July always conjures up Norman Rockwell images of wholesome summer fun, because who doesn’t love donning their red, white, and blue and waiting for the fireflies to rise out of the grass, and enjoying picnics, barbecues, and fireworks with friends and neighbors? Simple traditions bring us together in the name of freedom and our collective pride of being a part of this amazing country.
While these days may feel quite the opposite of Norman Rockwell idealism, with big uncertainties looming, I hope we can find comfort in the little things that connect us this July 4th — taking special care to appreciate our differences, which is one of the privileges of being an American. Perhaps because of the world’s current precarious nature, this July 4th will be even more spirited and reflective of what it means to be an American.
So, wear those red shoes, stock up on sparklers (ACME has a great supply), and get your patriotic playlist together. Then, go full-on Americana with your menus and tablescapes. Blue tablecloths, red plates, white and blue hydrangeas for the table, burgers and dogs on the grill, corn on the cob, and macaroni salad for dinner.
Wrap it all up with this simple summertime dessert to get in the proper spirit of things. The bright red strawberries and white whipped cream are the perfect complement to blue table linens. Or simply throw in some blueberries and — just like that — it symbolizes our star-spangled banner.
If you bring it to a picnic, slice your strawberries in advance and transport the whipped cream in a metal bowl, set on ice in the cooler, then simply assemble when ready to serve.
Make it a magical Fourth, and celebrate our nation’s birthday with the simple things.
Lemon Strawberry Parfait
Serves 4
Ingredients:
1 cup heavy cream
4 Tablespoons sugar, divided
2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice,
divided
3 cups fresh strawberries, sliced
Lemon zest for garnish
Directions:
In a chilled medium-size bowl, whip the heavy cream with 2 tablespoons of the sugar and 1 tablespoon of the lemon juice. Gradually add in the remaining sugar and lemon juice whipping until the cream is thick but not over whipped.
Alternate layers of whipped cream and sliced strawberries in an 8-ounce glass, then top each with a dollop of cream and lemon zest.
