America’s 250th Independence Day is tomorrow so let’s get ready to celebrate. We’ll need some patriotic decor, and some great food to last through the holiday weekend. I started the decorating outside, by placing flags in the flower baskets.
Shop your house for red, white and blue to make a festive table. For this table, I used red chargers with white stoneware dinner plates topped with red salad plates. Crystal water glasses and everyday flatware make up the settings. The centerpiece is my melamine flag theme platter with silk flowers and dollar store star sprays.
The napkins are rolled like firecrackers, and a bit of blue star wire garland is added to bring more blue to the setting.
These sprays are just perfect for patriotic decor and I’ve had them for many years. They were just a dollar each, now I think they are $1.25. They are intended to be a weight to tie to helium balloons, but I think they are ideal for decorating a table. Add a couple of red candles and you are done. These are sitting on my original design Patriotic Table Runner. The ruler I used for it is discontinued, so just use any 12-1/2-inch star pattern.
For a tasty appetizer platter, make my Perfect Deviled Eggs using the last recipe you’ll ever need, and serve with Ham Rollups. I know I show you this on every holiday, but it is still my favorite thing to make for cookouts and appetizer take-alongs. Deviled eggs are always a hit. No matter how many I make, they are always gone by the end of the party.
Our cookout will be one of our favorite meals, bratwurst with grilled corn.
I cut the corn off the cob so it is easier to eat and add some butter. Yum!!
You can always used canned or frozen corn if you don’t like to deal with the cobs, or you don’t have access to the fresh ones. I put mine in a cast iron skillet on the grill with the meat. This meal was grilled pork ribs and we also had some grilled zucchini. Everything cooks outside so the kitchen doesn’t heat up.
If your tomatoes are getting ripe in your garden, now is the best time for one of my tomato pies! Start your tomatoes drying today so you can have them ready for your holiday meal tomorrow. See the tutorial on my post – Tomato Pie. Download the recipe – Carole’s Tomato Pie.
It is too hot to eat outside here, but maybe you can. Patriotic napkins unfolded over white woven placemats make a wonderful table with nothing to store after the holiday. I love these melamine star plates, and use them often for outdoor meals around patriotic holidays. The napkins are held with strawberry napkin rings.
Strawberries make an appearance for dessert, too. The fresh ones right now are scrumptious!
Add strawberries and blueberries to purchased pound cake topped with vanilla pudding and whipped cream (or low sugar cool whip) for a patriotic trifle dessert that looks and tastes fabulous yet takes almost no time.
Maybe have some of my Double Chocolate Delight Cookies. The recipe is scaled down to make just 18 cookies, perfect for the two of us without dozens left over.
I’ll put patriotic quilts out in the den. My To the Nines pattern is available on My Patterns page.
And my recently published Freedom Waves pattern is available at Quilting Daily, just in case you missed the magazine. The pattern is on sale this weekend for $4. You can also order the magazine there as well.
Paint a thrift store hat white, and add tulle or patriotic ribbon and some silk flowers for a cute accessory to sit in the evening waiting for the fireworks show.
Enjoy the fireworks!
Happy Independence Day!!
What are your plans for this weekend?
From My Carolina Home 
Happy Independence Day from your neighbor in Virginia. I love your tablescapes and how you creatively use inexpensive items to make a. Beautiful composition. I was thinking of you yesterday as I decided to make your Scrap Dance Twist quilt pattern for my Christmas in July project. It is my all time favorite pattern and I have made it a few times already. I have used two charm packs on one,a few fat quarters for another, and random blue scraps for another. All have been gifted and greatly appreciated. I have a cute Christmas layer cake and off i go today to cut it out. Stay cool!
Happy 250th! Everything is so inviting.
What a wonderful celebration display! Thanks for the great recipes and dinner ideas.
I’ve just finished making macaroni salad and will make Deviled Eggs later. Will be too hot to grill out so tomorrow BBQ Beans in Slow Pot, Corn on the Cob in the Microwave and Hamburgers on the stove. The rest will be from the fridge.
love your tablescape. It looks so festive. Have a happy & safe Independence Day!
You are way more into it than I am. I can’t seem to get my head around celebrating this year — it seems so little to celebrate. Instead, I’m celebrating the immigrants who came to this country, the pioneers who built it, the press who protect it, the protestors who take a stand against authoritarianism and the founders who would be appalled. But I will hang out my flag because it is time to take it back.
All that said, everything looks beautiful and delicious! I love your deviled egg tray — that’s one f the coolest ones I’ve seen. And of course your gorgeous quilts and yummy sounding food. Have a wonderful fourth!
Your house and tablescape look wonderful, Carole! Yummy meal ideas, too. We will be having some friends over for ice cream and watching the fireworks. Simple, but fun! Happy 4th!
Beautiful table and delicious food are perfect for celebrating America’s 250th birthday!🇺🇸
Happy Independence Day to you and your other half..You table is perfect
Thanks so much for the wonderful ideas. I can almost taste the wonderful banquet! I got out the box of last year’s decor and went to the $ store and got more – living on the corner I feel a need to really decorate. We will be dining on franks, chips and corn on the cob at the annual town picnic. Hope the weather cooperates! Forecast is iffy. Thanks again for all the wonderful recipes and photos!
everything looks great! we don’t do a lot and decorating in my house would be a waste of time but picnic fare is the best. Your table always looks the most inviting and fun – I find for sweets I need to cut the recipe way down as well or there is just too much – even if I freeze in bags
Your table scapes and patriotic quilts are pretty and festive! Deviled eggs are the best; I’ve never brought home a leftover from any I’ve taken to a potluck.
I made a flag quilt for our entry to celebrate the 250th birthday of our country. We’ll grill moose steaks for the 4th. They were given to us by a neighbor who hunts. I’ve got nice big potatoes to bake too, in case we don’t fancy the moose.
I’m not planning anything special except to watch fireworks on tv. It’s too hot and humid to go to any of the parades. Hope everyone has a safe Fourth.
As always your table is beautifully appointed and you should be proud. Your country is about to experience a special time in its history and will be celebrated by many. Wishing you both a very happy exciting 4th July!!
Mary :))
As always, I loved your post. I’ve decorated for the 4th (really until Labor Day and May even leave things out longer). Your tablescapes have encouraged me to set a pretty, festive table. I love your quilt that was featured and thought I’d order the pattern but decided I wanted the whole magazine. Thanks for including the link. We’re on our own for the 4th but I like making things festive for us. Hamburgers, corn 🌽 n the cob and berries for dessert. Happy 4th!💕🇺🇸❤️🌽🍔
What a great celebration 250th birthday! Sending you all very gest wishes from New Zealand.
Thank you for the cookie recipe!
I am enjoying your site!! It’s MY birthday tomorrow and I’ve always felt great about “sharing” the day with everyone!
I made your pork chop with tomato yesterday – fantastic!! Thank you for sharing. I printed the recipe from today to make the chocolate cookies – can’t wait to taste.
Enjoy your day
aurora
Everything looks so festive. We will have the family here (around50) so it’s a big potluck with burgers and dogs here. Have a wonderful 4th!
Good to see you decorating and enjoying the festive occasion. The table setting is stunning.
I hope you were out and about and enjoying the 250th party.