Summer is Here, Let's BBQ

     Do you love outdoor entertaining as much as we do?   If so, why not invite friends over for a Patriotic Backyard BBQ on July 4th!   We have tons of ideas to make the day special.  Our Designing Dishes YouTube video goes into great visual detail with decorations, games and food.
     Decorating in red, white and blue has so many possibilities.  Purchase small and medium flags at a dollar or craft store and line them down a walkway or driveway.  Fill inexpensive blue plastic pots with sand and cluster large groupings of flags.  Use banners, windsocks, paper lanterns and a large flag to set the ambience.  Set the buffet table with plaid tableclothes over long white linens and use white lanterns and candles wrapped with ribbon as a centerpiece.  Use blue square plates, red bowls, blue crystal glasses and red and blue napkins wrapped in patriotic ribbon.  And finally, add a little whimsy to the decor.  For our whimsy, we used a bright blue Smart car with the top down and set up a beverage area on the tailgate and then placed a large patriotic umbrella out of the top of the car.  It was the talk of the party.
     Kids will have the best time if you plan games and activities for them.  We had a bike decorating contest with judges and prizes.  There was coloring of "lady liberty" masks, paddle ball, egg toss, races, and sparklers for everyone. 
     The food was also a hit.  There was popcorn, taffy and red licorice to snack on.  We chose food that we could make on the grill.  We made chive buttered corn in the husks, stuffed turkey burgers with red pepper relish and herb marinated flat grilled chicken.  Deviled egss and a summer vegetable salad were great sides dishes.  The dessert table had decorated pound cakes with buttercream icing and fresh raspberries and blueberries, sugar cookies with red and blue m&m's and finally white chocolate covered strawberries dipped in bright blue sugar sprinkles and accented with gold fondant stars.  Blue and red raspberry lemonade with decorated homemade stirrers completed the table. 
     Our Patriotic Backyard BBQ was a success.  Hope yours is too!

Simply delicious corn chowder!

This mouth watering corn chowder recipe is on You Tube under Designing Dishes.  Here are the ingredients and directions.
Melt 1/4 cup butter in a large saucepan.  Add 1/2 cup flour and stir for about 1 minute as you cook over medium high heat. Add 2 cups chopped onion and cook for 5 minutes.  Add 2 1/2 cups chicken stock and stir to blend.  Cook over medium high heat for about 3 minutes.  Stir in a 15 oz can kernel corn, 15 can cream style corn, 2 cups diced potatoe, salt and pepper to taste, 1 T. worchestershire,1/2 tsp. dried dill, 1/4 tsp. marjoram, and a dash of nutmeg.  Cook on low heat until potatoes are fork tender.  Add 1 cup heavy cream.  This serves 4 to 6. Every body says this is the easiest and best tasting corn chowder ever! Try this and let us know what you think!!