The 4th of July is almost always comprised of social gatherings including BBQs and potlucks! When I was younger, I use to live in a cul de sac where the neighborhood was really child-friendly. Every 4th of July, we would block off the entire neighborhood and hold a huge potluck BBQ that would end in lighting off an obscene amount of fireworks into the darkness. Did anyone else ever use sparklers to write their names in the sidewalk as a kid? It’s so entertaining!
Now that I am old enough to have the responsibility of contributing to the potlucks I attend (instead of taking credit for what my parents bring) I am always searching for fun dishes to share with my friends and family! So, what can you make that feeds a large amount of people, doesn’t burn a hole in your wallet, and is easy to make but still nicely presentable?
Chocolate covered strawberries.
Not just chocolate covered strawberries but holiday-themed chocolate covered strawberries :) I mean, come on, it makes it so much better when you make your dishes look festive for the occasion! Of course, homemade salsa, guacamole, marinated meats, and potato salads are so delicious and essential to any picnic or outdoor gathering, but I can’t help but swoon over dishes that relate to the specific holiday.
And the best part: making this dessert is incredibly simple and quick!
Red, White, and Blue Themed Chocolate Dipped Strawberries
1 pound of ripe strawberries
1 bag of white chocolate candy melts (or a bag of white chocolate chips)
1 cup of confectioner’s sugar
1 tablespoon of milk
1 tablespoon of light corn syrup
Blue food coloring
Wax paper
Wash and completely dry the strawberries. In a pot, simmer 1-2 inches of water and place a glass or metal bowl on top of the pot to create a double boiler. Slowly melt half a bag of the candy melts. When the melts are completely melted, remove from heat, add the second half of the candy melts, and incorporate until smooth. If the mixture has cooled down too much to melt everything nicely, simmer the pot of water again and let everything warm up a little bit.
Once the white chocolate is completed melted, dip strawberries about 3/4 of the way and then set on a baking sheet lined with waxed paper for chocolate to harden. After you’ve dipped all the strawberries, in a separate bowl, mix together the confectioner’s sugar, corn syrup and milk. Then add as much blue food coloring (two drops at at time) to get the right shade of blue you want. If you want a thicker icing, use less milk. And if you want a thinner icing, add more milk.
Then spoon icing into a piping bag (I used a ziplock bag). If you are using a ziplock bag, cut a very small hole in the corner. Once the chocolate on the strawberries is completely hardened, drizzle the icing back and forth on the strawberries until about half of the white chocolate area is covered. If it’s easier, hold the strawberry by the stem/top as you drizzle so you can rotate it easily to make smoother lines. Let the icing set, then grab one for yourself, take a big bite, and enjoy!
What is everyone else making for the 4th of July? I’d love to hear!
Life Tastes Like Food 