Happy 4th of July from Sweetwater!

White Daisy, Campanula and Red Bee Balm

Finally! Our weather is reminding us of  why we love it here in Minnesota.
The flowers are thriving because of the last few weeks of cool wet days (the weeds too...but hey it is a holiday)
We will enjoy a relaxed family dinner and fireworks over Lake Waconia.
The 4th of July is a time for appreciating the American way of life and makes us nostalgic for days past.  Flags flying, bike parades, sparklers, roasted marshmallows and hotdogs....

Summer Fun for Generations!

For some more nostalgia, take a look at these vintage photos from LIFE magazine.

John is on a 65 mile bike ride today.  The Tour d'amico sponsored by a well known Minneapolis area restaurant.  He jokingly told me that if he rides too slowly, there won't be any food  left at the end of the race.  I can solve that.....I am making my own version of D'Amico Chicken Cherry Pasta.
Here is the recipe from Tastebook that is the inspriration....and here is Chicken Cherry Pasta Sweetwater Style:

D'Amico Style Chicken & Cherry Pasta Salad

Dressing

• 2 cups real mayo (light works fine)
• ¼ cup powdered sugar
• 2 T cider vinegar
• 2 T water
  
  • pepper and salt

Salad

• 1 box pasta cooked (I use rotini or large pasta shells)
• The meat from 1 rotisserie chicken
• 1 cup dried cherries (they are cheap at CostCo
• 3 green onions with tops chopped

• Combine sugar and vinegar. Add everything else and whisk together. Pour over salad ingredients.

This salad can be made ahead and keeps 3-4 days.  

It is probably too late to start decorating now....but for you procrastinators....here are some fun ideas.

Yeah...I know I told you I wasn't a Martha Stewart fan...but she really knows how to do the 4th of July.
Decorating for the 4th from Martha Stewart

Okay...I told you some of these would be kitschy...Here is a link from Kim's Kandy Kreations for  a  printable for "Firecracker Poop"....hey it really is kinda cute. 

Here are 21 July 4th ideas from FamilyFun.com

Have a wonderful holiday!