.
The kids are finally out of school for the summer and I’m shocked at how fast the time is already flying by. It’s HOT around here, and the boys seem to want to spend their days in one of two places: the pool or the couch playing video games. Sigh.
The 4th of July will be here before we know it, and I can’t wait for the backyard BBQs and our traditional picnic on the grass while we wait for the county fireworks to start. These firecracker popcorn balls (with a fun surprise inside!) are such a fun and tasty treat to take to any Independence Day celebration or get-together this year.
And best part of all, they’re a fun and easy kitchen project that the kids can help with (believe me, they’ll love drizzling the blue and red melted candy coating over the popcorn balls and sprinkling them with red and blue sprinkles…almost as much as they’ll enjoy biting into the popcorn balls and discovering the Pop Rocks inside!
Side note: my kids LOVE Pop Rocks. We go to this local ice cream place and for years the only ice cream any of them would get was vanilla mixed with Pop Rocks. I guess there’s something fun about having your tongue fizzle while you eat, right?
Here’s how easy these popcorn balls are to make! Where would you like to take these treats?

1 bag popped popcorn
1 bag marshmallows (10 oz)
Red wafer melts (6 oz)
Blue wafer melts (6 oz)
2 packs blue Pop Rocks
2 packs red Pop Rocks
Red & Blue Sprinkles
1. Melt marshmallows on low heat
2. Mix melted marshmallow with popcorn
3. After cooling a minute, use greased hands to shape gooey popcorn into balls, leaving a hollow pocket inside the ball
4. Fill pocket with 1 tsp Pop Rocks and close hole all the way with more popcorn
5. Melt wafer melts as directed on package
6. Use a fork or a piping bag to spread melted wafers over balls and add sprinkles, if desired
7. Let cool completely before enjoying
Here’s a printable recipe for you. Just click on the image below (don’t right click, because that will save the smaller photo file and won’t print as well). Enjoy!
These Firecracker Popcorn Balls are easy to make and so much fun to eat. They're a red white and blue sweet treat with an exciting surprise waiting on the inside of each popcorn ball!
© 2019, Food Fun Family. All rights reserved.
]]>Let’s hear it for the red, white and blue!
I love this time of year, when we can wear, decorate, and eat everything red, white, and blue. These recipes have my mouth watering, and I can’t wait to throw a small 4th of July party (even if it’s just for my husband and kids in our backyard) to try out a bunch of these tasty and patriotic treats.
Welcome to Delicious Dishes Recipe Party! In case you’re new to the party, here’s what you need to know:
Delicious Dishes is a weekly link party where bloggers can share their most delicious recipes while checking out the amazing recipes that other bloggers are sharing.
Each link you share here will be seen on each of the hostess’ blogs listed below >>
Food Fun Family – Blog / Facebook / Pinterest
She Saved – Blog / Facebook / Pinterest
Walking on Sunshine Recipes – Blog / Facebook / Pinterest
5 Minutes for Mom – Blog / Facebook / Pinterest
This Mama Loves – Blog / Facebook / Pinterest
Clever Housewife – Blog / Facebook / Pinterest
Bunny’s Warm Oven –Blog / Facebook / Pinterest
Each week we will be featuring our favorite recipes from the week before and pinning them to our Delicious Dishes Pinterest board.
We hope you’ll have fun with our party…we know we will!
#1: Soft Sweet Light Rolls from Joyful Homemaking
#2: Elbow Macaroni Salad from Spaceships and Laserbeams
#3: Cheesy Beef and Wild Rice Casserole from Eat Move Make
These are the recipes that the hosts loved the most…
I loved Patriotic Cake Batter Dip from This Mama Loves
Lois loved Patriotic Mini Cheesecakes from Kleinworth & Co.
Brett loved Patriotic Brownies from She Saved
Susan loved 4th of July Red Velvet Brownie Firecrackers from Tuxedo Cats and Coffee
Keri Lyn loved No Bake Cheesecake Pudding Parfaits from Walking on Sunshine Recipes
Emily loved Blueberry Watermelon Poke Cake from April Go Lightly
Mary loved Strawberry Jello Flag Cake from Adventures of Mel
Follow us along on our Pinterest board. We pin a ton of recipes that are shared to our linky party each week. So get your recipes ready. We can’t wait to see what’s cooking in your kitchen this week.
Now let’s get this party started!
© 2018, Food Fun Family. All rights reserved.
]]>Based on how much my husband has been talking about the annual Memorial Day BBQ that we’re heading to next week, I’m convinced that Memorial Day is his favorite holiday of the year. Or at least his favorite annual event. I admit that our Memorial Day BBQ is something that I look forward to all year as well. Good friends, good weather, and amazing food.
Today we’ve collected some tasty and visually appealing red, white and blue recipes that are perfect for Memorial Day, the 4th of July, or ALL summer long.
Really…is there a wrong time to eat these tasty, patriotic treats?
Welcome to Delicious Dishes Recipe Party! In case you’re new to the party, here’s what you need to know:
Delicious Dishes is a weekly link party where bloggers can share their most delicious recipes while checking out the amazing recipes that other bloggers are sharing.
Each link you share here will be seen on each of the hostess’ blogs listed below >>
Food Fun Family – Blog / Facebook / Pinterest
She Saved – Blog / Facebook / Pinterest
Walking on Sunshine Recipes – Blog / Facebook / Pinterest
5 Minutes for Mom – Blog / Facebook / Pinterest
This Mama Loves – Blog / Facebook / Pinterest
Clever Housewife – Blog / Facebook / Pinterest
Bunny’s Warm Oven –Blog / Facebook / Pinterest
Each week we will be featuring our favorite recipes from the week before and pinning them to our Delicious Dishes Pinterest board.
We hope you’ll have fun with our party…we know we will!
#1: Chocolate Vanilla Ice Cream Cake from Joyful Homemaking
#2: The Best Brownies in the World from Cravings of a Lunatic
#3: Raspberry Coconut Pops from Play Dates to Parties
These are the recipes that the hosts loved the most…
I loved Flag Fruit Sugar Cookie Pizza from Walking on Sunshine Recipes
Lois loved Jello Poke Cake from The Country Chic Cottage
Brett loved Red White and Blue Strawberry Cheesecake Bites from Cincy Shopper
Susan loved Patriotic Candy Coated Pretzel Sticks from Meatloaf and Melodrama
Keri Lyn loved American Flag Fruit Skewers from My Turn for Us
Emily loved Strawberry Shortcake with Wild Blueberry Sauce from Celebrating Everyday Life
Mary loved Patriotic Twizzlers Flag from Clever Housewife
Follow us along on our Pinterest board. We pin a ton of recipes that are shared to our linky party each week. So get your recipes ready. We can’t wait to see what’s cooking in your kitchen this week.
Now let’s get this party started!
© 2018, Food Fun Family. All rights reserved.
]]>Happy 4th of July!
We’re taking the holiday off from our normal Delicious Dishes linky party, but will be returning next week!
I hope you’re having an amazing 4th of July! Here are just a couple of patriotic posts I know you’ll love!
© 2017, Food Fun Family. All rights reserved.
]]>Where did the month of June go? I’m not ready for June to be over. It definitely went way too fast! We’re 11 days into our summer vacation and it already feels like it’s been ages since school was in session. My life now consists of waking kids up for morning swim team practice, driving and picking kids up for camps and trips, volunteering hours and hours of time for two swim meets a week….and work.
As I type that out, I realize that my summer sounds a whole lot like my school year. I desperately want to go on a vacation, but for now it’s swim team and work. Anyone else have a summer as exciting as mine?
This week the Delicious Dishes hostesses decided to feature some 4th of July favorites. We LOVE what you guys have shared! Here are a couple of the July 4th recipes from my blog, too!
Welcome to Delicious Dishes Recipe Party! In case you’re new to the party, here’s what you need to know:
Delicious Dishes is a weekly link party where bloggers can share their most delicious recipes while checking out the amazing recipes that other bloggers are sharing.
Each link you share here will be seen on each of the hostess’ blogs listed below >>
Food Fun Family – Blog / Facebook / Pinterest
She Saved – Blog / Facebook / Pinterest
Walking on Sunshine Recipes – Blog / Facebook / Pinterest
5 Minutes for Mom – Blog / Facebook / Pinterest
This Mama Loves – Blog / Facebook / Pinterest
Clever Housewife – Blog / Facebook / Pinterest
Bunny’s Warm Oven –Blog / Facebook / Pinterest
Cooking in Stilettos – Blog / Facebook / Pinterest
Each week we will be featuring our favorite recipes from the week before and pinning them to our Delicious Dishes Pinterest board.
We hope you’ll have fun with our party…we know we will!
#1: Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Walnut Cookie Recipe from The It Mom
#2: Chicken Waldorf Salad from Cooking in Stilettos
#3: Simple Banana Bread from The Bewitchin Kitchen
These are the recipes that the hosts loved the most…
Lois loved Cherry Stuffed Oreo Truffles from Premeditated Leftovers
Brett loved Homemade Star Cookies from Ann’s Entitled Life
Susan loved Patriotic S’mores from Domestically Speaking
Aly loved Patriotic Berry Pie Recipe from Stagetecture
Keri Lyn loved Fruit Flag from Lydi Outloud
Emily loved Patriotic Mini Meltaway Butter Cookies from Tinselbox
Mary loved Patriotic Brownies from She Saved
Follow us along on our Pinterest board. We pin a ton of recipes that are shared to our linky party each week. So get your recipes ready. We can’t wait to see what’s cooking in your kitchen this week.
Now let’s get this party started!
© 2017, Food Fun Family. All rights reserved.
]]>Happy 4th of July!
The summer is flying by but I am thrilled that Independence Day is here. The 4th of July is one of our favorite days. BBQs, fireworks, concerts, hanging out with friends…
One of the biggest challenges we had when the kids were little was keeping them entertained while we waited for the fireworks presentation to start. I wish I’d had this scavenger hunt for them to pass the time!
I hope you’ll enjoy this fun printable with your kids this season!
Get ready to search for all things related to Indepedence Day, summer, and all things patriotic! The best thing about this scavenger hunt is that it can be played many different ways – use the printable list as a guide and make the game your own. Simply print off as many sheets as you need, and then go have some fun!
Print:
PDF version of the 4th of July scavenger hunt
Jpeg version of the 4th of July scavenger hunt
© 2016 – 2018, Food Fun Family. All rights reserved.
]]>This post is sponsored by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company in conjunction with Blog Meets Brand, and I have been compensated for my participation. All opinions are my own.
Can you believe that it’s almost 4th of July weekend? The summer is flying by! I can’t believe we’re in the last week of June and it will be July before we know it.
I’m excited to let you guys know about the Star Spangled Celebration at Kings Dominion in Virginia. You will LOVE all that they’ve got planned to make this 4th of July weekend your BEST one ever.
Kings Dominion is celebrating July 4th all weekend long (July 2, 3, and 4) with live entertainment, fireworks, and more!
Because what would the Fourth of July be without fireworks?
Plus – and this is the BEST part – all active and retired military personnel get FREE admission to the park! What better way to celebrate Independence Day than by giving back to those who serve our country and their families?
Note: Military who qualify for the free admission ticket include but are not limited to active military, retired military, and veterans with honorable or medical discharge. Either a DD 214 or government issued ID will be accepted.
Here’s what makes the Star Spangled Celebration so much fun:
They’re going to be kicking off the fun with the Military Chef’s BBQ Challenge on Saturday, July 2. Some of the military’s best Chefs will battle head-to-head right under the Eiffel Tower. Guests can watch their favorite military teams fight for the championship. The cook-off will be judged by an all-star panel of local Chefs. The Military Chef’s BBQ Challenge is an official qualifier for the World Food Championships held later this year.
Can’t wait to head to Kings Dominion? There’s MORE FUN to look forward to for the rest of the year, with festivals and celebrations including KidsFest (7/16-7/24), BBQ and Brewfest (8/6-8/21), and Great Pumpkin Festival (9/19-10/30). I can’t wait for KidsFest (we’re going in a few weeks!) and the Great Pumpkin Festival (because I love amusement parks when they’re all dressed up for Halloween! Which event are you most excited to attend?
© 2016, Food Fun Family. All rights reserved.
]]>This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Martin’s Food Markets for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.
To me, the 4th of July means barbecuing with friends and family, sitting under the stars on a big blanket with all of the kids around, waiting for the fireworks to begin.
Over the years we’ve fallen into a 4th of July food rut. Basic hamburgers and hot dogs with a big bowl of watermelon and a couple bags of chips are so….easy. This year, we’re shaking things up a little with a new delicious burger with a twist. You are going to LOVE this burger. And trust me, this is NOT your ordinary run-of-the-mill burger.
This Sweet ‘n’ Southern Burger from the recipe center at Martin’s Food Markets has inspired me to look for even more tasty and simple recipes that I can make this 4th of July to add some fun variety to our celebrations.
I’ve been browsing through some of the other recipes from Martin’s Savory Recipe Center and can’t wait to try more of them. They’re made with easily accessible and affordable ingredients (which I love!) and they take the work and the worry out of planning our 4th of July events with family and friends.
Ok…back to these delicious burgers. Did I mention that they are made with ground chicken? I have fallen in love with using ground chicken to make burgers – both for the flavor and for the lower fat content. These burgers combine a few ingredients I never would have thought to pair in a burger recipe, but they work better than you could ever imagine.
Trust me. You are going to want to try this recipe! Like now. Grab your keys, head to the store, and get the ingredients. Then come back, cook it up, and let me know how much you loved it, too. Deal?
Get the recipe for this Sweet ‘n’ Southern Burger and a ton more tasty and affordable ideas for your summer BBQ, picnic, and any-day-dinner plans at Martin’s Savory Recipe Center. Who knew that something as simple and American as the hamburger could be so easy to customize to your preferences – right at home?
Which of these tasty burgers are you most excited to try?
Get all of these burger recipes plus a ton of easy-to-prepare side dishes, salads and desserts (I’m eyeing that summer berry tiramisu, personally!) at Martin’s Savory Recipe Center. They are perfect for summer meals outdoors or around the family table. Enjoy (and save me a serving)!
© 2016, Food Fun Family. All rights reserved.
]]>
Summer time is for reading, whether you’re a kid off school for a few months or an adult with a little relaxation time next to the pool. We’re always looking for recommended reading lists for summer reading, and although my kids are a little bigger now, there’s still something special to me about picture books.
We used to have a tradition of gathering holiday and seasonal themed books from the library or the used book store to enjoy as a family. We loved our read aloud time together each day! As a tribute to those younger days, and in celebration of Independence Day coming up so soon, I made a collection of 10 fun 4th of July picture books.
From educational books to craft books to fun stories with bright pictures, these patriotic books will delight kids and teach them a few things about this wonderful country that we live in!
Note: Amazon links are used within this post.
Two-time Newbery Honor author, Alice Dalgliesh, makes history come alive in this accessible story of America’s birthday. It’s a great read-aloud book that teaches kids about the history of our great land.
“I led a pigeon to the flag” . . . “and to the wee puppet” . . . “one nation, and a vegetable” . . . What was that again? Children in the United States have been reciting the Pledge of Allegiance since 1892 — and for about that long, they’ve found its big words confusing. Now, beloved children’s book author Bill Martin Jr (BROWN BEAR, BROWN BEAR, WHAT DO YOU SEE?), fellow literacy expert Michael Sampson, and Caldecott Honor-winning artist Chris Raschka give America’s children a hand, and explain this patriotic poem once and for all. A new paperback edition offers notes and suggested activities to help parents and teachers make this book even more interesting to and fun for children.
Step-by-step instructions with full-color illustrations introduce Independence Day crafts, including July 4th wavers, glitter stars, and flag fans.
From his unique perspective as the great, great grandnephew of “America the Beautiful” writer, Katharine Lee Bates, Chris Gall transforms this beloved patriotic song into monumental works of art–from purple mountain majesties to gleaming alabaster cities. Honoring his ancestry and national pride, Gall pairs the beautiful lyrics with striking illustrations of notable American images such as Pike’s Peak, the Tuskgee Airmen, and firefighters raising the American flag at Ground Zero.
It’s the 4th of July and all over town, people are getting ready. Jenny Sweeney gives her dog, Rags, a bath. All the preparations lead up to the big parade and a night of bright fireworks. It’s a great day. “Happy Birthday, USA!”
Little ones will love learning American history in Tanya Lee Stone’s latest alphabet book. Rhyming couplets that flow through the alphabet help kids celebrate everything from the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence to Thomas Jefferson and Harriet Tubman!
Celebrate our nation’s birthday! Learn about the 4th of July and its symbols and traditions in this fun and easy-to-read book. Enjoy a hands-on activity, too!
F Is for Flag shows in simple terms how one flag can mean many things: a symbol of unity, a sign of welcome, and a reminder that-in good times and in bad-everyone in our country is part of one great big family.
America: A Patriotic Primer is a succinct history of the United States, an ABC of the principles on which this country was founded, and a book for children and families to pore over, discuss, and cherish.
A is for America,
the land that we love.
B is for the Birthday
of this country of ours….
July 4th is here! Buster the Dog and his family are getting ready for the big event with a trips to the beach, barbacues, parades and much more Fourth of July fun. Buster and his family are also especially excited to see tonight’s July 4th firework display! Join Buster in celebrating this special day with lots of friends, family and of course cheer! This book is a short rhyming story that makes for a quick, fun and joyful and festive read during any story time.
This little board book for children uses only 200 words that convey the story of the Declaration of Independence, the Revolutionary War, and the freedom that was the result. It tells why we celebrate July 4th as America’s Birthday.
© 2015, Food Fun Family. All rights reserved.
]]>
I have gotten addicted to pudding cups…so when I needed to come up with an idea for a patriotic recipe or craft, I immediately thought about a red, white and blue pudding cup with berries. I loved how they turned out! My husband and I ate them all…we couldn’t get enough of them!
The best thing about these pudding (and jello!) cups is that they’re so easy to make. Ok…maybe the best thing about them is that they taste delicious. Or that they look so cool.
I’ll let you decide.
Ingredients
Instructions
© 2015, Food Fun Family. All rights reserved.
]]>