The 4th of July is a day to commemorate, celebrate, and enjoy community. It is a time to unite in the things that make us citizens of this great nation. I know that there are many issues, topics, and ideologies that divide us, especially today, but I believe that the greater bond that holds us together is our citizenship. The umbrella of freedom that we are sheltered under provides us with the liberty, freedom, and responsibility to hold our beliefs, speak and share them, while also respecting the ability of our neighbor do the same, regardless of the incongruency of those beliefs with the ones you hold.
Independence Day is the day that we threw off the shackles of having the government decide and speak for us. It is the day that the People joined together, and with a common voice but differing ways to achieve the specifics, rose up and called for liberty and freedom was born. In our history, we have not always gotten it right, done it the best, or listened to the reasoning of better angels. However, despite our flaws and foibles, I have hope that we have and will continue to learn from our mistakes and truly be a city on a hill.
We celebrate with our neighbors and our subdivision. We begin the day with a parade. The kids decorate their bikes and scooters with red, white, and blue streamers, flowers, and other patriotic items. I loaded up with supplies from the Dollar Store. The parade is a great time for all the neighbors to get out and either visit with one another or have an opportunity to meet each other. We are relatively new to the ‘hood, and I met the sweetest family who live around the corner from me. Instead of streamers and bows to join them in the parade, they brought their pet parakeets, on their shoulders! I had never seen such a thing and it was intriguing.
{Side Story: that bird later flew the coop and ended up flying away to another neighborhood about 5 miles away. It was successfully reunited with her family eventually, but I guess the bird got a taste of the freedom that 4th of July!}
Speaking of taste, food always comes to mind when celebrating on July 4th. There are sneaky places that peanuts, and tree nuts can show up in your holiday menu.
Our Menu: We are having BBQ Baby Back Ribs, grilled hot dogs, potato salad, coleslaw, fruit, and brownies!
- Check your buns! Bread is a sneaky place that doesn’t always come to mind as a place for peanuts and tree nuts. Many bakeries have cross contamination so always check those labels. We had to change loaf bread a few years ago because the bread we used was being produced in a factory that also processes peanuts and tree nuts. If we are at someone else’s house and the label is gone, we skip the bun.
- Read the ingredients for your hot dogs. Some can contain Lupine flour which is a legume in the same family as peanuts. It has been noted that severe reactions have occurred because of hot dogs or meat products that contain lupine flour. Not to go into to many details about the composition of a hot dog but they are not always all meat, or prime cuts of meat.
- Check the BBQ Sauce! If you buy bottled BBQ Sauce, be sure to check it or ask your host when you are at a social gathering. I have seen some sauces use peanut oil. I will be making my own BBQ Sauce. Stay tuned for that recipe!
- Some of my friends make brownies from scratch. I know, it sounds crazy and laborious to me too, but they swear it is easy. I get my brownies from a box. I have noticed that Duncan Hines has either changed its labeling or is starting to produce mixes that are not also processed with peanuts and tree nuts. I am still a bit weary and use Betty Crocker. Enjoy Life premade, individual brownies are a good choice if you visit someone’s home.
I hope you enjoy your Independence Day Holiday is full of fun, friends, and safe food!
What is on your Independence Day Menu? Share your favorite 4th of July Foods below in the comments.