Throw the Ultimate July 4th Party
Every year North Americans head outdoors to celebrate summer and Independence Day. Now I know you don't want to be outdone by the neighbors, so I've put together some of the best information for you to make the most out of your summer entertaining. I must emphasize that the secret to a successful cookout is in the planning. Whether you will be grilling hamburgers, steaks, chicken or fish or maybe smoking ribs or brisket you need to know more than just the secrets to barbecuing & grilling. This is why I have put together this list of great resources to help you out.

Entertaining and Party Organizing on American Independence Day

The first part of throwing a successful summertime bash is knowing how to cook for a crowd. If you happen to be a woman, don't be put off by the idea of grilling. Grillin' for Gals is a great guide to get you going. Remember to you are planning more than a meal, it's a party.

When cooking for a large gathering make sure you prepare something for everyone. Throw on a couple of Hot Dogs for the kids while you are grilling the rest. In fact, try getting the kids fed first to alleviate their hunger for summer foods.

Cooking and Recipes

When putting together a meal decide the best way to prepare the dishes quickly and easily. Kebabs are a great main dish because you can cook everything at once. You don't have to stick to the basics. Try a grilled meal with a Chinese, Italian, French or Mexican style.

Start off with some great appetizers for the grill or other appetizers.

If you want tradition then you need a good recipe for Potato Salad, Cole Slaw or Barbecue Beans.

If you or some of your guests are vegetarians you can still do some 4th of July entertaining, only vegetarian style. Vegetarian grilling can be more than just veggie burgers, but you will be a success if you make them from scratch.

Remember to cool things off with some Frozen Delights or go the extra mile with Italian ice cream. There is a lot you can do with desserts like a nice dish of dirt or a margarita pie.

Drinks

When it comes to serving iced tea don't forget the iced tea, or even the iced coffee. Coordinate your drinks with the meal and the season. A slightly chilled wine will go great with grilled foods. There are also a lot of cool, refreshing summer cocktails you can choose from. You might even what to check out some patriotic drinks for this July 4th. Of course no great cookout is complete without beef. What you need to make this even particularly patriotic is a good selection of beers. Colleen Graham has just what you need to stock your cooler.

http://bbq.about.com/od/seasonal/a/aa062800a.htm

Labels: July 4th The Great American Cookout

What's a fourth of July without a barbeque. Here's a great way to have barbeque spare ribs as your main dish and enjoy your fourth of July!If you're having a fourth of July barbecue something classy to have that's going to go well with either cold beer or red wine is barbeque spare ribs. The best part about barbeque spare ribs is that they can be the main dish. For a serving of 4 people get about 4 lbs of pork spare ribs (or about three ribs per person). Get chopped coriander for the garnish.

Get the following ingredients for the marinade:
8 and ¾ oz of tomato ketchup
7/8 fl oz of chilli sauce
½ Tbsp cumin powder
4 Tbsp red wine vinegar
7 oz honey
3 1⁄3 fl oz soy sauce
8 garlic cloves , minced
8 ½ fl oz water
1 ¾ oz sugar

Mix all of that together in a medium size saucepan to get the barbecue sauce. Whisk together and bring to a boil. Cook for another minute and remove from the heat. Of course you can also get your favorite barbeque sauce to use as a marinade but where's the fun in that!

Cook Spare Ribs by adding them into a large saucepan and pouring half of the barbeque sauce. Add water to almost cover the ribs and bring it to boil. Then, turn down the heat and cover the lid and simmer for 2 and half hours until the meat is tender. You can check whether the the spare ribs are done or not by inserting a knife into the meat -- if there's little resistance then it's ready. Use a slotted spoon or a tong to remove the ribs from the saucepan into a tray. Let them dry off a bit before they're barbequed.

You can prepare the grill about 30 to 45 minutes before the meat is done. If you're using a charcoal grill, which is the best for that smoky smell and taste, wait until the charcoal is turned white and there are no more flames. It's easier if you're using an electric grill -- light it up and turn it to high and leave it about 20 minutes to heat up.

Dip the spare ribs into the rest of the barbeque sauce and place them on the grill. Cook for about two minutes. Turn the ribs over, brush with more barbeque sauce and cook for 2 more minutes. Repeat the same thing once more and remove the ribs from the grill.

Put the ribs into a serving dish and garnish with coriander. You can have coleslaw on the side. Either corn on the cob or grilled vegetables would be a great accompaniment. Have sweet potatoes or salads as your fourth of July appetizers. Most importantly, have fun and enjoy this fourth of July!

	Wanted To Ketchup With Ya..on July 4th . Wish your friends/ family/ near and dear ones lotsa fun on Fourth of July with this cute jig. [ Flash ]		Wishing You A Well Done 4th Of July ! Send this july 4th ecard to sizzle up your dear ones Fourth of July. [ Flash ]

Labels: Fourth of July BBQ

Fourth of July celebrations are never complete without fireworks. Since we were kids, we've enjoyed the wonder and magic of fireworks. We've wondered where it all came from, how it all got started and what's in fireworks.

There is an old fable about a Chinese cook who accidentally mixed the three common kitchen ingredients – saltpeter or potassium nitrate, sulfur and charcoal and lighted it. It produced colorful flames as well as making a huge explosion when enclosed in a bamboo shoot. This discovery led to the invention of sparklers and firecrackers. There is evidence that the Chinese used fireworks for entertainment as well as to cast away evil spirits since 206 BCE – AD 220. But the Chinese discovery of fireworks is just one side of fireworks story.

Fireworks were also thought to have originated in India. There are references in ancient Hindu literature to smoke balls suggesting the knowledge of gunpowder. In the famous Ramayana myth Vishwamitra uses a weapon called the shikhara – which led historians to conclude that the ancient Hindus were acquainted with gunpowder. It would not be surprising as the ancients share the silk route for trading. The same trade route used by Marco Polo and the Arab traders which transported fireworks into the west.

Fireworks were used as fuel to power rockets that had arrows in them. In the 6th century the Chinese would use these rocket arrows against the Mongol invaders. The principle behind these rocket-arrows is still used today when we see the fireworks.

Back in those days black powder wasn't easily available so nitre-beds had to be prepared by mixing manure with either mortar or wood ashes. Common earth and organic materials like straw to allow air to circulate inside. A typical pile is about 1.5 by 2 meters wide and 5 meters long. The whole pile is covered from the rain and kept moist with urine. (Ok can it get any gross?) It was often turned to accelerate decomposition and leached with water after a year. After all that, the liquid that contained the various nitrates was converted with wood ashes to potassium nitrates, crystallized and refined for use in gunpowder. In England this privilege of making gunpowder and explosives was a monopoly of the family of John Evelyn since before 1588!

Today the scene is different. Potassium nitrate comes from deposits of sodium nitrate in the Chilean deserts. The sodium nitrate is purified and then reacted with potassium chloride where the less-soluble potassium nitrate is precipitated out. Now, that sounds much better doesn't it?

Sulfur is used in fireworks because of its flammable nature. There are two ways to get sulfur – the Sicilian process, which was first used in Sicily and the Frasch process. In the Sicilian process, the sulfur from rocks present in volcanic regions are extracted. First the sulfur deposits are piled and stacked in brick kilns built on sloping hillsides with airspaces between them. The powdered sulfur is then put on top of the sulfur deposit and lit on fire. It produces heat as the sulfur burns and melts the sulfur deposits, causing the molten sulfur to flow down the sloping hillsides. The molten sulfur can be then collected in wooden buckets. They then purify the sulfur through distillation.

Frashch process is a more scientific process where three concentric pipes are used. Outermost pipe contains superheated water which melts the sulfur and the innermost pipe is filled with hot compressed air which makes foam and pressure. The resulting sulfur foam comes out of the middle pipe. This process produces sulfur with 99.5% content purity.

The Fourth of July celebrations in America had fireworks since 1777! That's before the American Revolutionary War was won from the British. Each year retailers across the nation get a surge in fireworks sales. Although fireworks in your back yard might be fun we can never miss out the public displays of fireworks like Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks in New York or the other fireworks in cities like St. Louis, Washington, DC, Boston, and Philadelphia. Every Fourth of July, we become kids again with BBQs, hot dogs and fireworks make it a nice complete summer evening.

Labels: Behind The Fourth Of July Fireworks

Here's some fun wishes for July fourth . Wish your friends and everyone a happy July fourth and tell them to have a great day

God Bless America ! Celebrate the spirit of America with this beautiful 4th july ecard. [ Flash ] Rockets' Red Glare... Reach out to your friends/ family/ dear ones with this famous quote from 'The Star Spangled Banner'. [ Flash ]
	Happy 4th July ! Spread the spirit of red, white and blue on Fourth of July with this beautiful 4th of July wish. [ Flash ]		Wishes Across The Miles... Send your july4th wishes to a dear one who is far away on Fourth of July with this warm and bright ecard. [ Flash ]
	Here's To USA ! Make your dear ones' Fourth of July an extra special one with this cute and dazzling US independence day ecard. [ Flash ]		My Fourth Of July Wishes For You... Here's a wish with a sweet difference to bring on the smiles your friends/ family/ loved ones on Fourth of July. [ Flash ]

Labels: 4th of July Fun Wishes

Fourth of July Independence Day Parade

America's Independence Day Parade takes place late morning every July 4th, right on Constitution Avenue from 7th to 17th Street before a street audience of over 300,000 spectators. The Parade consists of invited bands, military and specialty units, floats and VIP's, and is a patriotic, flag waving, red white and blue celebration of America's birthday. The Parade is co-hosted by the National Park Service and produced by Diversified Events, which is under contract to the National Park Service.

Bands are invited based on recommendations from each state's Governor's office. Other times these recommendations come from a state's music educators office or the state tourism board at the governor's request.

Representation from all parts of the United States is the goal of the parade National Selection Committee. Bands must submit a video recording, photos, and biographical information detailing experience, honors, past adjudication results, festival ratings, etc. The deadline for band applications is January 15th of the year of the parade the band is applying to participate in, and bands are notified of their acceptance no later than February 15th of the same year. Marching bands are selected on the basis of overall quality, as well as geographical, ethnic and stylistic diversity.

The Nation's Capital offers unlimited excitement on July 4th in addition to the parade. A National Folklife Festival on the Mall features different cultures in the Americas and a variety of ethnic groups. That evening, parade participants are all part of the audience of the PBS Concert at the Capitol Building featuring the National Symphony Orchestra and one of the country's largest fireworks displays. There is no greater location displaying greater excitement on America's birthday than in our nation's capital!

Units in the parade consist of approximately 20 - 25 marching bands (including fife and drum corps), 15 floats, 20 specialty units (military, giant balloons, equestrian, municipal entries, drill teams), 15 celebrity participants (movie/television and recording artists, as well as local and national dignitaries and officials).

Labels: Fourth of July Independence Day Parade

t's Fourth of July ! A day to remember all the heroes who have given their lives for our nation 'n those who are keeping us safe 'n secure. Spend a moment of silence in their memory as you pay tribute to them 'n salute their courage 'n valor. Add to the celebration by sending your friends/ family members/ dear ones our special Fourth of July ecards from the Tributes section. It's surely gonna make this day more special !

	Land Of The Free... Home Of The Brave ! Express your gratitude to someone special as you wish him/ her on this special day. [ Flash ]		Saluting Your Bravery 'N Courage... Pay tribute to the national heroes on Fourth of July with this touching ecard. [ Animated ]
	You Keep Our Land Safe 'N Secure... Show how proud you feel for someone special who safeguards your nation with this beautiful ecard. [ Flash ]		Honoring The Courage... A Fourth of July Tribute ecard with a warm message to honor the bravery of the national heroes. [ Postcard ]

	Proud To Be Part... Send this ecard to celebrate Fourth of July with someone who is as proud to be an American as you are. [ Flash ]		Celebrating Our Great Nation... Share your pride of being an American with this beautiful ecard. [ Flash ]
	Sharing With You The Pride... Spread the spirit of patriotism among your friends/ family/ near and dear ones with this inspiring wish. [ Flash ]		God Bless America ! A beautiful ecard for your friends/ family/ loved ones to celebrate the spirit of America with a proud heart. [ Postcard ]

Labels: Fourth Of July Tributes and Wishes

Independence Day fireworks are often accompanied by a pops orchestra playing patriotic songs such as "The Star-Spangled Banner", "God Bless America", "America the Beautiful", "My Country, Tis of Thee", "This Land Is Your Land", and "Stars and Stripes Forever". Some of the lyrics recall images of the Revolutionary War or the War of 1812. While the "1812 Overture" refers to Russia's defeat of Napoleon, it has been traditionally used by the Boston Pops and broadcast nationwide on PBS, so many Americans also associate this musical work with the July 4th fireworks.

"The Star-Spangled Banner", the USA's national anthem, commemorates the United States flag that was visible by the light of the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air. This view of the flag through a night of bomb bursts inspired the captive Francis Scott Key during the War of 1812, and provided hope for the United States as it defended Fort McHenry.

Firework shows are held in many states, and many fireworks are sold for personal use or as an alternative to a public show. Safety concerns have led some states to ban fireworks or limit the sizes and types allowed. Illicit traffic transfers many firecrackers from less restrictive states, showing that the American people have nevertheless found a way to celebrate "with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations."

Most fireworks shows in the United States end in an intense finale, with a volley of fireworks rapidly launched almost simultaneously. Major displays are held in New York and Boston harbors and on the National Mall in Washington, DC. Detroit, Michigan and Windsor, Ontario also host one of the largest fireworks displays in the world over the Detroit River each year to celebrate both American Independence Day and Canada Day during the Windsor-Detroit International Freedom Festival.

It's Fourth of July ! As you have a blast of fun and celebrate the day with sparkling fireworks, wish your friends/ family/ near and dear ones a joyous time with our beautiful Fourth of July Fireworks ecards. Send These Lovely $th of July Fireworks to your Friends relatives and aquaintances and wish them a happy Birthday America Greetings with with these lovely Independence day fireworks Ecards

	Happy Independence Day ! Send this sparkling wish to dazzle up your dear ones' Fourth of July. [ Flash ]		4th Of July Sparkling With Fun ! Wish your dear ones a sparkling Fourth of July with this dazzling ecard. [ Interactive ]
	See The Fireworks... Send this ecard to brighten up your dear ones' Fourth of July. [ Interactive ]		Happy 4th Of July ! Reach out to everyone you know with this sparkling ecard. [ Animated ]
	Set Of Fireworks For Ya... Send your dear ones wishes for Fourth of July with this sparkling set of fireworks. [ Interactive ]		Wishing You A Happy Fourth Of July ! Add more sparkles to your dear ones' Fourth of July with this warm and bright ecard. [ Flash ]
	Happy Four July ! A cute ecard filled with lots of sparkles to wish your friends/ family/ loved ones a happy Fourth of July. [ Flash ]		Here's To USA ! A cute and bright Fourth of July wish for your friends/ family/ loved ones. [ Flash ]

Labels: American Independence Day Fireworks Ecards