Fourth of July 250th Celebration

This week we are celebrating with our Fourth of July 250th Celebration.

It seems like this post should be a whole lot of Red, white and Blue and tons of bunting but I assure you that it is not. While I do want to celebrate the 250th year of our nation, sometimes I just don’t feel it. Does that make sense? If so just raise a glass check out my recipe and move on.

JUMP TO RECIPE

It is like I go through the motions and try really hard but it is just not translating in way I really want it too. So rather than write a disappointing post, I decided to just be honest. I kept it very clean and simple and we are not really doing anything to earth shattering to speak of this year. We did get a new kitten which seems to be taking a lot of time this season, which is fine by us. On the front porch this season I ordered a 250th special edition flag back April so we could put it out for Memorial Day. Along with a fun set of patriotic ribbon to replace the bow on our door after we were finished with Easter. It also had the 250 year ribbon to care the theme into the wreath and around my gardenia toparies and the iron planters which I added some ribbon to top finales. I used our existing Liberty, America and Freedom pillow covers from last and added in the Pledge of Allegiance lumber pillows which I thought was a nice touch to round out the porch.This year I ended up planting my own hanging baskets since my usual little hometown garden garden supplier, sadly went out of business at Spot Rd. A sad state of affairs considering it was a family owned and operated business for years in this area. Which reflects directly on how this county is growing so rapidly, but leaving behind all charm and the things that I loved so much about when we first moved here. It very much reminds me of my childhood county where I moved away from….which indeed is a warn not to take lightly.

As you head inside you can our patriotic table, I set for Memorial which at the time had Blue Moon pies to celebrate the Blue Moon back at the first of June. We just had the second full Moon of June the Strawberry yesterday as we head right into July. Yes we had RC colas with these and they were delicious.

I was also inspired to make a large Moon based purchase of the Retro Blue Horizon Pyrex which you can see a few of the piece on the table along with my Blue Willow china for the season. The Blue Horizon Pryex was is a coveted set because it was released in conjunction with the Apollo 11 moon landing. The original advertisement, showing the Horizon Blue collection sitting atop the moon’s surface with Earth in the distance, was released to commemorate the success of the Apollo 11 moon landing in July of 1969.

I have been trying to decided which set I was going to collect and around the end May it just became so very clear that this was going to be the set. I love the pattern, and why it was released. The name spoke to me and I have always love this shade of blue. While I still have my Spring Blossom or “Crazy Daisy” set in the avocado green this is true more me. I am  so glad I waited since the Amish Butterprint was just not speaking to me, even thought I like the color.

You may have also noticed in the back ground of my table a few other amazing little antiques as well. two of these guys I purchased last year and actually re painted for this years sideboard. While I only painted their coats, one was black and the other was green and really wanted them to be red and blue for the theme. I am sure there is a historian some where saying I ruined them and for antique value I probably did. However they were in rough which you can see from where I left there faces, hats, hands, arms, and remaining parts alone. The coats were heavily chipped, and looked as if they had been painted before previously if you look at the red coat guys face, you can still see the green on his chin, tie and rifle. The other fun item is a commemorative plate, given to my husband a bi-centennial baby for his birthday. Yes he turned 50 this year so it seemed appropriate to put this little historical nugget out too.  As you had around back on to the patio we planted the pallet wall full of red inpatients which really dress up the outdoor dining space. Last year put strawberry in this wall unit but decided they need a little bit more sun so they went out into the yard and the impatients love the shade from the deck above just like the herb garden does which adjacent to it.          The outdoor dining table gets the outdoor dishware which is easy care melamine so if you drop it on the stone patio, no worries noting breaks.

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This time of year the Rainier Cherries are in season which are my favorite. I can eat them by the bushel, just chilled from fridge, as a purest; but if you just must do something else with them here is my suggestion. Perfectly gloriously vibrant sorbet that delivers an intense cherry flavor that’s both sweet and tart in single bite—like summer captured in frozen form. The texture remains smooth without icy crystals, thanks to the corn syrup working its magic. This also makes great popsicles or a cocktail mixer too.

Rainier Cherry Sorbet

2 pounds fresh Rainier cherries, pitted
– ¾ cup granulated sugar
– ½ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
– ¼ cup light Karo corn syrup
– ⅛ teaspoon sea salt (fine ground)

Instructions:

Combine pitted Rainier cherries, sugar, and sea salt in blender at high speed for approx. 90 seconds until completely smooth and no cherry chunks remain. Strain cherry puree through a fine-mesh sieve into bowl. Whisk in freshly squeezed lemon juice and light corn syrup until incorporated. Cover tightly with plastic wrap, make sure the wrap touches the surface of the mixture to prevent any oxidation.
Chill in the refrigerator for 4 hours until thoroughly cold. Pour the chilled sorbet base into your ice cream maker’s pre frozen canister.
Churn according to manufacturer’s instructions (mine was 25-30 minutes) until the sorbet reaches soft-serve consistency.Transfer the churned sorbet to an airtight container, smoothing the top with an offset spatula. Freeze for additional 6 hours until firm enough to scoop.

If you liked this post check out my other 4th of July Celebrations:

Grilled Crab Legs for The 4th Of July

Record Breaking 4th of July Celebration

A Fourth of July Fish Fry

A Farm to Table Fourth of July

Fourth of July Tablescape