"july 4" news and stories

What says "Fourth of July" more than the red, white, and blue of our flag?

Pastrywiz.com has a complex yet interesting recipe to make the above, a Flag Cake, a big cake that actually looks like our national symbol, stars and stripes and all. It's the perfect end to a family cookout or something to serve for when the fireworks are over. I can just imagine whipping this thing out and really making an impression on my guests.

Or maybe you don't want to make an entire cake. Maybe you just want something smaller and more individual for each of your guests on your kids. After the jump, a variation you might want to try.

Earlier this week I did a post about my love of iced tea. Not real iced tea, but the fake instant stuff with tons of sugar and lemon. A lot of people couldn't understand how I could like the fake stuff. But I stand by my taste.

However, I feel as if I should give the opposing view too, and since it's almost July 4 and it's already hot and humid, how about a list of several different iced teas? I'm pretty sure there's something here for everyone, whether you want non-alcoholic iced tea or something with a little extra kick.

I think one of the reasons I hate summer, besides the whole HUMIDITY factor, is that I don't like all the typical summer things. Beaches, cookouts, parades...all of these things mean pretty much nothing to me. And you can add fireworks to that list. I have never in my life set off any type of fireworks, and I don't think I've been around anyone who has either.

But I'll happily eat them! Here's a recipe for Chocolate Haystack Fireworks from Elizabeth LaBau at about.com. It's a very easy recipe to make and there's no cooking involved except a microwave, so your house won't get any hotter.

July 4th.  Surf and Stillwell Avenues.  The crowd, thousands strong,
bristles in the scorching heat, and the announcer hams it up.

"This, the hot dog, the symbol of patriotism!" he bellows; the crowd cheers.

It's the 91st annual Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest, and I stand in
the throngs to bear witness.  American Joey Chestnut keeps a one-to-two-dog
lead over five-time champion Takeru Kobayashi.  The mood tenses, tight
as a sausage skin.  The minutes tick by.  Kobayashi evens the score.
Then he steps ahead.  The clock winds to zero, and Kobayashi wins by a
dog and three quarters at 53.75.

The 12 minutes of the contest leave me breathless, and I marvel
at the notion of food as a patriotic symbol.  Is a hot dog patriotic? 
Do other foods share the honor?