{"id":13774,"date":"2024-06-30T17:09:25","date_gmt":"2024-06-30T21:09:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/?p=13774"},"modified":"2024-06-30T17:09:25","modified_gmt":"2024-06-30T21:09:25","slug":"the-coolest-4th","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/2024\/06\/30\/the-coolest-4th\/","title":{"rendered":"The &#8220;Coolest&#8221; 4th!"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-2969 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/independence-day-parade.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"919\" height=\"610\" \/><\/p>\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Do you have memories of super-hot 4<sup>th\u00a0<\/sup>of Julys?<\/h1>\n<p>I mean burn your feet as you run across the beach hot, fry an egg on the sidewalk kinda heat. It\u2019s the day that says, \u201cSummer has definitely arrived.\u201d And it always seems to be a scorcher!\u00a0With all the outdoor activities planned such as parades, sporting events and fireworks,<sup>\u00a0<\/sup>there is no retreating to air-conditioning.<\/p>\n<h4 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #000080;\">Check out these easy (and economical) ways to keep cool while showing your patriotic spirit. Fun for all ages!<\/span><\/h4>\n<h4><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\" wp-image-2971 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/crowns.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"320\" height=\"258\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/crowns.png 318w, https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/crowns-300x242.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 320px) 100vw, 320px\" \/><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><span style=\"color: #800000;\"><em>Freeze<\/em><\/span> <\/strong>wet red, white and\/or blue bandanas. Store in a resealable plastic bag in a cooler. As needed, wrap around your neck or wrist for a cooling accessory.<\/li>\n<li><em><strong><span style=\"color: #800000;\">Decorate<\/span><\/strong><\/em> mini fans with stars and stickers to take with you to events. This is a fun craft activity to do with the kids, and practical in the moment of need.<\/li>\n<li><em><strong><span style=\"color: #800000;\">Find<\/span><\/strong><\/em> silly hats to decorate in red, white and blue.<\/li>\n<li><em><strong><span style=\"color: #800000;\">Mix<\/span> <\/strong><\/em>up a batch of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dinnertime.com\/recipes\/5595\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">freezer pops<\/a> to share as the heat climbs.<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\"><em><strong><span style=\"color: #800000;\">Set up<\/span><\/strong><\/em> relay races that will cool off the participants. Check out these<a href=\"https:\/\/www.easy-party-ideas-and-games.com\/water-relay-race.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"> relay race ideas using water<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><em><strong><span style=\"color: #800000;\">Start<\/span><\/strong><\/em> a water-balloon fight. Use red, white and blue balloons to stay in theme.<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignright wp-image-2994 \" src=\"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/water-balloons-300x214.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"320\" height=\"228\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/water-balloons-300x214.jpg 300w, https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/water-balloons-768x548.jpg 768w, https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/water-balloons.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 320px) 100vw, 320px\" \/><\/li>\n<li><em><strong><span style=\"color: #800000;\">Make<\/span><\/strong><\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/fabulesslyfrugal.com\/diy\/summer-fun-with-ice-chalk-recipe\/#.WzQEui2ZNE4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"> frozen sidewalk chalk<\/a> in red white and blue. Hold a contest to see who can create the best 4th of July-themed picture.<\/li>\n<li><em><strong><span style=\"color: #800000;\">Hold<\/span><\/strong><\/em> a watermelon-eating contest. See who finishes a slice first while keeping their hands behind their back. Sticky and fun!<\/li>\n<li><em><strong><span style=\"color: #800000;\">End<\/span><\/strong><\/em> the day with a<a href=\"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/2023\/06\/28\/get-your-singing-voices-ready-3\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"> sing-along of patriotic songs<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Whether it\u2019s the 4<sup>th\u00a0<\/sup>or any other blistering summer day, the last place I want to be is in a hot kitchen. Cooking outside on the grill is a good option, but when it\u2019s super steamy, I like to make dinner early in the day, and serve it refreshingly chilled. In my first home, we didn\u2019t have air-conditioning, so making cold dinners was a way to lower everyone\u2019s temperature. I still approach dinner in the summer with the same goal to find delicious recipes that are good cold.\u00a0Most protein sources are pretty tasty cold or hot. Ham, chicken and steak all work well when served cold, and still retain wonderful flavor. Serve them sliced with a salad, or chilled soup.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">However you choose to stay cool, we at DinnerTime are wishing you a fun and safe 4th of July.<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3001 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/fourthofjulyparty.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"625\" height=\"352\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/fourthofjulyparty.jpg 625w, https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/fourthofjulyparty-300x169.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 625px) 100vw, 625px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\">Here are a few of my favorite recipes to bring the temp down at my house.<\/h3>\n<h5 style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Search in your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dinnertime.com\/plan\/recipe-box\/summer\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">DinnerTime Recipe Box <\/a>for many more delicious recipes.<\/em><\/h5>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"col-sm-4\">\n<h5 style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dinnertime.com\/recipes\/5174\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">East African Fresh Tomato and Cucumber Salad<\/a><\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-sm-4\">\n<h5 style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dinnertime.com\/recipes\/4691\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">No-Bake Cookie-Dough Ice Cream Sandwich<\/a><\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-sm-4\">\n<h5 style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dinnertime.com\/recipes\/5497\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Asian Chicken Skewers<\/a><\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"col-sm-4\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dinnertime.com\/recipes\/5174\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3018 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/east-african-cucumber-salad.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"256\" height=\"256\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/east-african-cucumber-salad.jpg 256w, https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/east-african-cucumber-salad-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 256px) 100vw, 256px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Vibrant and fresh!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-sm-4\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dinnertime.com\/recipes\/4691\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13776 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/no-bake.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"256\" height=\"256\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Cool off with these yummy treats!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-sm-4\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dinnertime.com\/recipes\/5497\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3020 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/asian-chic-skewers.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"256\" height=\"256\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/asian-chic-skewers.jpg 256w, https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/asian-chic-skewers-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 256px) 100vw, 256px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Delicious served warm or cold.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Do you have memories of super-hot 4th\u00a0of Julys? I mean burn your feet as you run across the beach hot, fry an egg on the sidewalk kinda heat. It\u2019s the day that says, \u201cSummer has definitely arrived.\u201d And it always&#8230; <a href=\"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/2024\/06\/30\/the-coolest-4th\/\" class=\"read-more\">Read&nbsp;More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":2969,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[5,4],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13774"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13774"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13774\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13792,"href":"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13774\/revisions\/13792"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2969"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13774"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13774"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13774"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}