JULY 4TH MADE EFFORTLESS! (2020)

Dear Friends,

While this year’s July 4th celebrations and gatherings may be different in many ways, this holiday gives us pause to remember the founding of our country. Although we are not a “perfect” union, any more than we are perfect individuals, we come together to give thanks for all that is good. This year maybe we will also challenge ourselves and discuss around our tables, how we can take our country forward in new, creative, and life-giving ways.

This year around our table, thirteen of us will gather — our family and their SO’s and my husband’s brother and their family and one fiancé. We thought Sumner and James would be married by this July 4th, but because of COVID, we will celebrate this union next year!

In between golf, tennis, hikes, and walks, we will enjoy a lot of family time on the porch for breakfast, lunch, cocktails, and dinners. I do like to make this time special, but I also want to enjoy myself while everyone is here. As much as I love to cook, I too want to linger on the porch, play golf, and enjoy our family. To make all of this … effortless … for me and everyone else, I plan and prepare in advance. Last year I shared my menus and my game plan. I’m doing that again this year. If you haven’t started planning for your family’s gathering, it’s not too late! While my list will evolve as we add tee times and other information, this will give you an idea of my process. I keep my list in the Notes function on my phone. I can easily add and edit and once it’s complete, I will email the list to our family to provide everything they need to know. Once everyone arrives, I post the list on the fridge along with a friendly reminder that the speed limit in the club is 20MPH. 🙂

Many of the recipes can be prepped or prepared in advance. For recipes that we (yes, that means others will be helping!) will make closer to our festivities, I’ve planned in advance when we will prepare each recipe. I will also make my grocery list in Notes. This too will be effortless as I simply copy and paste the ingredients needed into Notes from the EE Recipes online. For those of you who have the guide, you too can do this! If you have a guide and don’t have an online login, please email me so we can set that up for you.

Take a look at the list below and start making your list too. We’ve provided a PDF below that will help you get started. Of course, you can always just use Notes on your phone. In your EE guide and online, you also have a generic Shopping List that you can print. See Charts in Sources & Resources. Step Nine in Effortless Entertaining, “Plan Your Work and Work Your Plan.” With good planning and prep, our July 4th gatherings can truly be … effortless!

From our home to yours,

DeeDee@MyEffortlessEntertaining.com

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July 4th GamePlan   🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

13 people

Friday, June 26

    • CLT, DC, & ATL Dals arrive❣️
  • Dinner at home (8)
  • Chicken and Sausage Gumbo (Defined Dish)
  • Dress — Casual

Saturday, June 27

  • Golf, Tee time TBD⛳️
  • Dinner at the club (8)
  • Dress — Jacket, no tie

Sunday, June 28 

  • Virtual Church
  • Family Golf, Bloody Marys on Mountain Springs ⛳️
  • Lunch at 10th Tee
  • Chateau Montelena Private Tasting and Birthday Dinner (8) 🍷Charcuterie, sous vide Ed’s Best Rib-eyes, Scalloped Potatoes, Chopped Salad, Sour Cream Muffins, Birthday Cake 🎂
  • Dress — Nice Casual

Monday, June 29

  • Family Golf, Mountain Springs (9 holes), 5:00 ⛳️
  • Drinks on Dornie Porch, 7:00 & Dinner on Patio, 8:00.
  • Dress — golf, casual

Tuesday, June 30

  • Dinner at home (7)
  • Cucumber Spread, Pimento Cheese, Olive Oil Poached Halibut w Sauce Verte (California Cooking & Southern Style) Peel & Eat Shrimp, Asparagus, Salad, Game Day Brownies & Ice Cream
  • Dress — Casual

Wednesday, July 1

  • Pinehurst and TN Dals arrive! 😍
  • Dinner at home (11)
  • Asparagus & Prosciutto, Lawdashion’s Pork Tenderloin, Rice Salad, Ceasar Salad, Maw’s Blueberry Pie & Ice Cream
  • Dress — Casual

Thursday, July 2

  • One last TN Dal arrives! 🙌
  • Golf, Tee Times TBD ⛳️
  • Chip, Putt, Drink
  • Dinner at the club (13)
  • Dress — Nice Casual

Friday, July 3

  • Golf, Tee Times TBD ⛳️
  • Tennis Round Robin, 4:00 – 6:00
  • Dinner at home w Richardsons (19)
  • Charcuterie by Forest, Ribs, Barbecue and Yeast Slider Rolls (Crista’s), Slaw, Tomatoes and Burrata, Seasoned Succotash, Jalopeño Cornbread, Lemon Bomb
  • Dress — Casual

Saturday, July 4

    • Family Golf, Mountain Springs ⛳️
    • Dinner at home
  • Guacamole and Salsa, Fried Chicken (Painted Fish), Vegetable Salad, Tomato Pie, Chocolate Chip Cookies
  • GGCC Fireworks 💥💥💥
  • Dress — Casual

Sunday, July 5

  • Everyone leaves except the Moms and Dads
  • Dinner on the patio  (4)

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Printer-friendly Fillable One-Week GamePlan**

**Best filled out in your Web-browser or Adobe Acrobat

Signature Cocktails

  • Cucumber Jalapeño Limeade
  • Swoon Jalapeño Margarita
  • Liz’s Perfect Margarita
  • Grapefruit Martini
  • Old Fashioned
  • Cosmos

On Your Own

Breakfast – OYO

  • Eggs & Egg Casserole
  • Toast
  • Bacon
  • Avocado
  • Blueberry Muffins

Lunch – OYO

  • Sandwiches, 10th Tee, Beach

On Hand

  • Sandwich … Turkey, Pimento Cheese, Tomato, Bacon, Avocado, Pesto, etc
  • Orzo
  • Chips
  • Fruit

What to Wear and What to Pack

What to Pack

  • Jacket (no tie), long sleeve dress shirts, cute tops, casual dresses, jeans
  • Work out, hiking, and tennis clothes
  • Golf clothes, shoes, clubs
  • Bathing suits
  • Wraps, Sweaters

Dress

  • Casual — golf shirt/long sleeve shirt, shorts, khakis, jeans for men. Casual dress, pants, or jeans for girls
  • Nice Casual — long sleeve shirts for men and simple dresses or cute tops with jeans for girls,
    jeans okay

Note: Club is allowing jeans for dining on the patio. We still prefer long sleeve shirts and jackets for men on the weekends even with jeans.

To-Do List

Thursday, June 18 – Sunday, June 21

  • Lemon Bomb
  • Pimento Cheese
  • Ribs Sauce
  • Ribs Rub
  • Order Barbecue, Yeast Slider Rolls from Crista’s
  • Order Birthday Cake
  • Order Halibut, Limas, Pies

Monday, June 22

  • Grocery
  • Prepare Egg Casserole “Muffins”
  • Prepare Blueberry Muffins

Tuesday, June 23

Wednesday, June 24

  • Prepare Chicken & Sausage Gumbo

Thursday, June 25

  • Maw’s — Halibut, Limas, Corn, Tomatoes, Pies
  • Make Game Day Brownies
  • Prepare Cucumber Spread, Pimento Cheese
  • Prepare and freeze Succotash

Friday, June 26

  • Grocery
  • Prepare Jalapeño Cornbread
  • Season and seal steaks – Ed
  • Prepare Scalloped Potatoes

Sunday, June 28

  • Prepare Charcuterie, Sour Cream Muffins, Chopped Salad (before wine tasting)

Monday, June 29

  • Elizabeth – Place cards (incl Richardsons) and drink recipe cards

Tuesday, June 30

  • Prepare Pork Rub and Sauce
  • Prepare Sauce Verte for Halibut

Wednesday, July 1

  • Prepare Rice Salad
  • Prepare Asparagus and Prosciutto, Salad

Thursday, July 2

  • Prepare Vegetable Salad

Friday, July 3

  • Prepare Jalapeño Cornbread

Saturday, July 4

  • Pick up Chicken
  • Prepare Tomato Pies

Printer-friendly Fillable Shopping List**

**Best filled out in your Web-browser or Adobe Acrobat

 

Style Points

Find a few July 4th decorations …. flags, pinwheels, lanterns, bunting … have some fun!

 

Tips & Quips

 

Without question, one of my best ideas EVER! You can see last year’s list and this year’s is ready to go. I never had to ask anyone to empty the dishwasher … Everyone wanted to make sure they added their name!
Last year I ordered Makeup towels for the girls as their Welcome gift. These are a win-win for host and guest — a party favor from the weekend for your guests and no makeup on your white hand towels! We gave the boys tee bags with golf balls, tees, and ball marks. I can’t tell you what I’m doing this year … it’s a surprise! Available here

Wine Markers are essential with so many people drinking out of so many glasses. These are my favorites. Available here
Signature Drink recipes will be posted in the bar so
everyone can make their own!

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