MAKE IT CUTE

Between the coastal granddaughter aesthetic and the seriously summery Cousins Beach vibes in the new Amazon Prime Video series The Summer I Turned Pretty, we're all counting down the days until we can host the perfect Fourth of July bash. To make your party an event to remember, a top-notch menu is *essential.* You're in luck, because we studied the gorgeous tablescape in episode 4 of TSITP to bring recipes from the screen to your table. 

1. Watermelon fruit salad

@ohh_happy_kay

Watermelon is pretty much *the* summer fruit. It's sweet and refreshing—what's not to love? For this recipe, the watermelon "shell" also doubles as a bowl. Here's what else you'll need:

Blueberries
Strawberries
Blackberries

Wash your berries and place them in a separate bowl in the fridge. Next, it's time to cut the watermelon. Either you or an adult (ask your mom or older sis) should cut the watermelon in half vertically and get as much of the fruit out as possible (a large metal spoon works well for this). Save as much of that watermelon as possible to use in the salad, or chop up the other half (if you want, you can use the other half as a second bowl instead!). Mix the watermelon in with the berries in a separate bowl and transfer the fruit into the hollowed-out watermelon. If the watermelon bowl seems unstable, feel free to place it inside a larger serving bowl. 

2. Caprese mini sandwiches

@j_tcatering

Since you'll probably be spending the day in and out of the pool, you need a sandwich that won't weigh you or any of your guests down. Enter: Caprese. It's fresh and light, but also extremely tasty. Here's what you'll need:

Baguette
Tomatoes
Basil
Mozzarella slices

Slice up your baguette. Then, layer a basil leaf, mozzarella and tomato on one slice of bread and place a second slice on top. To keep the sandwiches together, use a toothpick.

3. Bacon-wrapped pineapple bites

@foxandbriar

This combo might not pique your interest right away, but trust us—it's a match made in heaven. Sweet, tangy and savory, the pineapple bites cross off all the requirements for a tasty hors d'oeuvre. Here's what you'll need:

Bacon
Pineapple
Brown Sugar

Once you (or an adult) cut the pineapple into one-inch cubes, wrap each piece in a half-slice of bacon. Place your brown sugar in a bowl. Roll each piece in the brown sugar before placing it on an aluminum foil-lined baking tray and sticking it in the oven. Find full recipe details here. 

4. Funfetti cake

Picture the one Sussanah made—prior to Belly's fall, obvi. A cake is the sweetest way to end your party, not to mention how delish it is. Here's what you'll need:

Funfetti cake mix
White frosting
(storebought, or if you're feeling adventurous, here's a recipe)
Raspberries

Prepare your cake following the box directions in round cake pans. If the mix made two cakes, choose one to be the bottom, and slice a layer off the top to make it flat. Add a layer of frosting and then place the other cake on top. Finish frosting your cake and use washed raspberries to decorate the top. Don't forget to snap a pic before the squad digs in. 

Can't get enough The Summer I Turned Pretty content? Say no more:
🐚 Which character from TSITP are you?
🐚 All the fashion tips we compiled from TSITP

We can't wait to see your kitchen masterpieces! Tag us in your 4th of July party pics on Insta @girlslifemag for a chance to be featured. 

Slider image: @tsitpseries
GIF via Giphy

by Riley Yates | 7/4/2022