Celebrate Independence Day with Patriotic Sweets!

The 4th of July is just around the corner and many Americans celebrate with candy, fireworks and family activities such as parades. Independence Day is the only federal holiday that commemorates the Declaration of Independence, which was adopted in 1776 on July 4th. This document declares the U.S. independence from Great Britain and it is one of the most historic and fun holidays of the year.

In order to get the most out of the 4th of July this year, consider some of the various patriotic candies that you can buy for parades, parties and family gatherings. There are plenty of options.

Patriotic Bubble Gun Coins are one of the most popular candy options for Independence Day. These coins come in red, white and blue foil in large bags with 100 pieces or more. Not only are they tasty and fun for kids, but they can also be thrown into a bowl for a centerpiece at a barbeque.

Shop JellyBelly.com Today!Jelly beans are another great choice when it comes to patriotic candy. Jelly beans come in large assortments of flavors and colors, but for the 4th of July, it is fun to mix red, white and blue options. You can get flavors like cherry, strawberry and fruit punch in the red color or you can choose blueberry and coconut flavors from the blue and white jelly beans. The mixture is patriotic and easy to pass around at a party.

There are even popsicles made in a patriotic style. You can find American flags on sticks, liberty bells, Uncle Sam, stars and plenty of other variations. The flavors vary but any child will love these popsicles on Independence Day or any other day of the year. Patriotic suckers are great to throw out at parades since they will not melt if the day is warm.

Hard candies are another great option for parades and there are wonderful choices. You can simply get hard candies in the American colors or you can go all out and get candy that has a patriotic flag design on it for added flair.

If you want to take things a step further, consider making caramel apples and dipping them in red, white and blue sprinkles before the caramel dries. You could also make chocolate covered strawberries in the same sprinkled manner to catch your guests` eyes and taste buds at the same time.

There are plenty of American themed options when it comes to candy for the 4th of July celebrations. Don`t forget the retro sweets that have been around for decades. These treats are not only patriotic, but also memorable and fun for those who remember when they ate them as a child.

Restaurant Review: The Crown in Danville, CA

The Crown

331 Hartz Ave.
Danville, CA 94526
925-855-2185
CrownPub.com
Yelphttp://www.yelp.com/biz/the-crown-danville

 

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This is my kind of dance club.

Clearly, this isn’t a dance club… and that’s pretty much my point. I enjoyed the food the couple of times I ate here and I went in a couple times for the DJ on Saturday nights and danced. I like that it’s not super crowded, and the DJ they have plays a pretty good mix of some current music and some old favorites. And it’s not pumping techno and I don’t have to squeeze my ass through a sea of people to get to my friends.

As well, I LOVE that they still have all the seats and such available after dinner service during the dancing so I can easily still have a home base for my coat, drink, and take a breather when I don’t feel like dancing.

As for the food, because that’s probably why most of you are going there… it was solid. Good quality, impressive portions, fair prices. I’ve had the fish & chips… and let me tell you, if you’re expecting a few fish portions you’re going to be surprised. It was one gigantic fish fillet battered deliciously… literally about 3″ wide at it’s widest and 9-10″ long. Huge and delicious.

I like the clientele, pretty low key, and I never had any issues with the bartenders knowing what to recommend or knowing how to make a drink I ordered (which happens more than I’d like when trying to order some drinks I used to think were pretty common).

The biggest downside of this place for me is that it’s in Danville… and I live in San Leandro… I’d pretty much have to get someone else to drive me to really have some drinks & have a good time because that long of a cab ride is out of the question 🙂

Restaurant Review: Rothmann’s Steakhouse in New York, NY

Rothmann’s Steakhouse

3 E. 54th St.
New York, NY 10022
212-319-5500
Rothmanns54.com
Yelphttp://www.yelp.com/biz/rothmanns-steakhouse-new-york

 

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The best steak I’ve ever had – no joke. I was lucky enough to be taken here by my company while in town for a conference. We were seated in the back room due to being a large party and I loved the atmosphere and food.

The servers were incredibly knowledgeable when making recommendations and quick with the drink refills, more bottles of wine, etc. And the food was delicious – seriously, I dream about this steak!

I had the Filet Mignon with some potatoes, I believe, and it was perfect. We were sharing the sides and I seriously could have eaten the whole thing myself. So good. I’d love to go back… if I can just convince my boss… 🙂

Swiss Chicken with White Wine

This recipe was submitted by Eric Nagel: My family has been enjoying eMeals for a few months now (my review of eMeals can be read here), and recently we had our first meal that called for wine.  The kids loved the Swiss Chicken, but I thought the stuffing was rather dry (and burnt, in some areas). Next time we have this meal, I’d like to cover the dish with aluminum foil to see if the stuffing could remain moist. Also, my wife just grabbed a bottle of wine from the basement (it was a bottle from my recent shipment from Laithwaites wine club) – I wonder how a different white wine would change this dish?

Swiss Chicken with White Wine
 
Author: 
Recipe type: Entree
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Ingredients
  • 4-6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 10-3/4 oz. cream of chicken soup (1 can)
  • ¼ c. butter, melted
  • ¼ c. white wine
  • 1 c. stuffing mix
  • 6 slices Swiss cheese
Instructions
  1. Melt the butter & combine with the stuffing mix.
  2. Combine wine & cream of chicken soup.
  3. In a casserole dish, cover chicken with a slice of cheese each.
  4. Pour over the wine & soup mixture, then the stuffing.
  5. Bake uncovered at 350° F. for 45 minutes.

 

Restaurant Review: Rodz Grill in Angel’s Camp, CA

Rodz Grill

730 S. Main St.
Angel’s Camp, CA 95222
209-736-0170
Yelphttp://www.yelp.com/biz/rodz-grill-angels-camp-2

 

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Solid food, pretty good quality, friendly service, good prices. All of that warrants 3 stars easily.

I can’t give it more than that, in fairness, as I’m not a regular and wasn’t really blown away by anything here. I do appreciate that they have a “ground beef steak” and eggs meal, which I love and don’t get enough, and everything was cooked well. The hash browns were impressive though as they were the perfect balance between crispy and soft.

Will I go there again? Yes, I would. And probably will since it’s next door to the motel I’m staying at on this trip. It was quality food and I’d be happy to give them more chances to wow me on future trips to Angels Camp.