Saturday, July 7, 2012

Summer Fruit: A Watermelon Basket



That beautiful season the Summer!
Filled was the air with a dreamy and magical light;
and the landscape
Lay as if new created in all the freshness of childhood.
~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow


We gave my middle son an open house in June for his high school graduation.  We served hot and BBQ chicken wings, coleslaw, cheesy potatoes, and pulled pork, along with a taco bar.  Everything turned out great, but the hit of the party was the Watermelon Basket.


I've written an article with step by step instructions for the basket, and variations on the theme for baby and bridal showers.  You can find the article here: http://oldfashionedliving.com/A-Watermelon-Basket-for-All-Occasions.html

I hope you all our staying cool and hydrated during the heat wave we are experiencing!


~Brenda

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Fourth of July Celebrations


If anyone, then, asks me the meaning of our flag, I say to him - it means just what Concord and Lexington meant; what Bunker Hill meant; which was, in short, the rising up of a valiant young people against an old tyranny to establish the most momentous doctrine that the world had ever known - the right of men to their own selves and to their liberties. ~Henry Ward Beecher


It's been a hot, chaotic summer so far, and I'm hoping for a few cool days and less chaos in July. All of us at Old Fashioned Living hope you have a safe, happy Fourth of July week. We have some great ideas to help you with your celebration:

Watermelon recipes are delicious if you can keep it around long enough to cut it up:)
http://oldfashionedliving.com/watermelon.html




A summer menu complete with burgers, pasta, muffins and Banana Split Squares for dessert. http://oldfashionedliving.com/celebrations.html


I love the recipes in this article on Cool Tea Refreshments, which include the use of fresh mint. Any variety of mint can be used, including spearmint, peppermint, pineapple mint or even chocolate mint. http://oldfashionedliving.com/icedteas.html


Enjoy your week!  ~Brenda