Independence Day!

The Fourth of July is coming up quickly! Independence Day, more commonly known as The Fourth of July, is the celebration of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. The Declaration (you guessed it!) declared our independence from Great Britain as a free and sovereign nation. 

Fun Facts: 

• Thomas Jefferson and John Adams both died on the same day, which happened to be the 4th of July.

• James Monroe also died on a later 4th of July, making the 3rd President in a row to die on the 4th.

• Calvin Coolidge is our only President to have been born on the 4th of July.

• Congress actually approved the resolution for independence on July 2nd

• Though the Declaration of Independence is dated July 4th, it's thought by historians that many of the signatures weren't added until August

Here's a fun traditional alternative to regular barbecue sauce for your picnics on Thursday:

Southern Mustard Barbecue Sauce

• 3/4 cup yellow mustard
• 3/4 cup cider vinegar
• 1 tablespoon light brown sugar
• 1 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 1/4 teaspoons fresh ground black pepper
• 2 teaspoons hot sauce (to taste)

Combine all ingredients in a saucepan and whisk. Simmer, stirring occasionally, for 20 to 30 minutes. Let cool and store in the fridge.

And because it's inevitable:

How to Remove Barbecue Sauce Stains

• Apply detergent to the affected area and soak in warm water for 15 minutes

• Rinse out the detergent and scrub the area with white vinegar

• Run through the wash like normal

And until next time, keep it clean!

Happy 4th of July!!

Monday July 4th will mark the day that the original thirteen colonies declared independence from Great Britain during the American Revolution. The Declaration of Independence was signed on that day in 1776 and now, the rest is history! Families often celebrate Independence Day by hosting or attending a picnic or barbecue. Patriotic themed decor is generally colored red, white, and blue in keeping with the colors of the American flag. Communities across the country have parades and fireworks displays (although safety concerns have led many cities to cancel fireworks displays due to drought and excessively dry conditions this year) happen in the evening at places like parks, fairgrounds, or town squares.

A few fun facts about the 4th of July:

• In July 1776, the number of people living in the newly independent United States of America was 2.5 million.
• THIS 4th of July, the U.S. Census estimates that our nation now has approximately 311.7 million people.
• Thirty-five places have “eagle” in their names. The most populous one is Eagle Pass, Texas (26,248).
• One place with “patriot” in the name. Patriot, Ind. (209).
• Benjamin Franklin wanted the turkey to be the national animal but was outvoted when John Adams and Thomas Jefferson chose the bald eagle.
• Over $211 million has been spent on the importation of fireworks from China.
• The first Fourth of July party held at the White House was in 1801.
• The stars on the original American flag were arranged in a circle to ensure that all colonies were equal.

So there you have it, a few fun facts that you can use to dazzle all of your friends and family at those July 4th BBQ's you will be attending this weekend! Wishing you and yours a restful yet fun Independence Day weekend! And as always, keep it clean!