Start July with some Firecrackers!

July is coming! I'm going to post my I Hate to Cook Almanack (Peg Bracken, 1976) entry a bit early since it has a lavish (for her) menu for Calvin Coolidge's birthday, and I want it to be up in time for you to celebrate. (His birthday happened to be on Independence Day, so you could celebrate that more obscure holiday instead if you're so inclined.)

Yes, this menu starts out with Firecrackers, and they are an appetizer rather than the things you may use after dinner to blow your fingers off.

They're cheesy Rice Krispies treats, sparked up with some red pepper and Tabasco.

Betty's Good Baked Fried Chicken is, handily, actually just baked (I guess the Ritz crackers and mayo are supposed to make it taste fried?), and can easily be timed to the parade:

I'm not sure whether the Tri-County All-Girl Brass Band is slow at marching or whether it's just a long way from Twenty-Second and Main all the way to the Town Square.

Crumpacker's Cucumber Coleslaw is apparently a way to use up any extra raw veggies, as it can accommodate radishes, turnips, zucchini, and/or carrots, plus there's enough leftover sour cream dressing for potato salad.

Bracken is just as practical on holidays as any other time!

The story for the Soccatumi Cake sounds a bit suspect...

I'm not sure any kind of princess made cakes from box mixes and Buttery-Flavored Wesson Oil, but our domestic princess Bracken highly recommends the cake with ice cream since there's no frosting.

There's even a recipe for the punch!

It's just instant tea mixed with Hawaiian Punch and water, but you can tell this is a serious occasion when there's a FULL menu! Bracken went all-out for Coolidge, and now you can go all-out too. Happy almost-July!