
The 4th of July
What are your July 4th traditions? Our 4th of July doesn’t have any food traditions (this is highly unusual for me because I love food traditions!). Though it does make me think of corn on the cob, fried chicken (or burgers and hot dogs on the grill), deviled eggs and watermelon. If I was making a special meal for the 4th, I’d include some or all of these foods for sure! I’m guessing these were foods we had on the 4th of July when I was a kid. And for dessert, I’d likely make these Carmelitas.
We’ve been going to Chautauqua, NY for 10 of the past 11 years and 9 of those years we’ve been there for the 4th of July. We’re there this year too! A big part of our tradition is the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra Pops Independence Day Celebration in the Amphitheater, which includes the audience popping paper bags in time to the cannon shots in the 1812 Overture! Then, it’s just a short walk to the lake to watch the fireworks around Chautauqua Lake. When the girls were younger, they participated in the Children’s 4th of July Parade for all the Chautauqua Children’s School kids. Here’s a photo of Ellie in the Children’s School Parade back in 2012.


A Simple Family-Favorite Recipe
Since the 4th of July is just around the corner and you might be looking for something to take to a get-together, I thought now would be a good time to share this recipe for Carmelitas. It’s hard to beat this combo of caramel, chocolate, oats and brown sugar! Carmelitas are DELISH and simple to make! It’s one of my most requested recipes and one of my family’s favorites.
My mother-in-law gave me the recipe many years ago. She found it in an issue of Child M