Independence Day Party

The Fourth of July happens to fall on a Tuesday this year and a lot of people are choosing to celebrate over the weekend. With these extra days there is no reason not to have a party, picnic or barbecue. Add some color to your Fourth of July parties by serving red, white and blue drinks. You can always try creating a flag in a glass by floating three of your favorite spirits or mixers that follow the color scheme on top of each other like the Red, White and Blue shooter or create layered Jell-O shots.

Another great way to show your patriotism and enhance the theme is to create a cocktail menu of your favorite red, white and blue cocktails and give your guests some options. This adds a neat effect to the party because each person with have a drink that represents a different color of the American flag in their hands. Choosing one cocktail for each color will limit the amount of ingredients you need to have on hand and get you out from behind the bar quicker. Here are some ideas...

Short & Stylin'
Serve while you wait for the grill.

• Red: Negroni
• White: Martini or Chocolate Martini
• Blue: Envy or Sapphire Martini

Tall & Refreshing:
Serve during or after the meal.

• Red: Americano
• White: Vodka or Gin & Tonic
• Blue: Blue Hawaiian

Frozen:
Serve while watching the fireworks.

• Red: Strawberry Daiquiri
• White: Pina Colada
• Blue: Blue Bayou

Summer Picnic Ideas:
For your next picnic or pot-luck, try out this low-fat version of a traditional picnic staple- Low Fat Macaroni Salad . And this Tropical Fruit Salad is a summer delight with the island flavors of pineapple and mango. Our guide to Low-Fat cooking suggests adding a fat-free whipped topping or some low-fat yogurt if you like, but it is delicious on its own too.

Photo Credit: © Cocktail Times