HAPPY 4TH OF JULY to the most insane & amazing community ever.
This 4th of July I’ll be relaxing by the pool with my family, eating, drinking skinny margs, Aperol Spritz or maybe even some mocktails. We’ll be having the best street tacos from ALCE 101’s taco bar (if you’re interested, check it out here).
I wanted to give you a quick little 4th of July resource for how to throw together some fun, last-minute plans for the day. Each of these ideas are quick, easy, efficient & will be a real hit. We’ll go over some recipes and drinks if you’re getting together with some friends or headed to a big party, and I’ll share some of my latest reads if you’re just chilling poolside (sounds like a dream).
Before we get into it, remember to stay safe, especially when it comes to your sun exposure. We created the BOUGIE Driving Gloves for days where you need some protection, but want to keep things cute. Also, throw your HOT MESS Ice Roller in the SLEEPING BAG for a quick midday depuff after too many chips. LOL.
Ok, let’s go.
How to Have an Epic 4th of July With Skinny Margs, Guacamole, Cake, and More
✩ THE SKINNY CONFIDENTIAL MARGARITA
Here’s the thing: I know what I want. I’m specific. Just because I know what I want doesn’t make me a bitch. So if you’re out for the 4th of July, remember to be kind, tip well and ask POLITELY for what you want (if you’re specific). That’s how you get it – you ask for it. Nicely.
Anyway, back to the margarita.
Ingredients:
+ 1.5 ounce blanco tequila
+ 1 ounce of Cointreau ( use Triple Sec if this is unavail )
+ limes ( tons )
+ a little lemon
+ a speck of agave ( like a fucking SPECK ! )
+ option: 2 squeezes of a grapefruit or even pomegranates
+ half rim of salt, always
directions:
Use a lime to rim the glass & then add salt to only half the rim. In a martini shaker add 3/4 fresh lime juice, one squeeze of lemon, then add Cointreau ( or Triple Sec ), & tequila.
HOT TIP: try a half rim of Tajin to keep things interesting.
rule of thumb: when making a cocktail, start with the cheapest ingredients first & finish with the most expensive last. Add ice to shaker ( you don’t want the ice to melt into your ingredients, so do this last ). Add ice to rimmed glass & shake and strain your cocktail over the ice. Garnish with a grapefruit slice or lime wheel.
✩ SUPER QUICK SPICY GUACAMOLE
This is a bombass recipe that takes like 5 seconds. Have to host a dinner party but have no time? I got you. Someone’s birthday? Bring this guac, you’ll be a real hit. Football Sunday? This guac needs to get involved. No football Sunday should be without guacamole.
Ingredients:
+ 5 organic avocados
+ Spicy Guac Starter
+ 1/2 organic lemon
+ Chili flakes ( optional for an extra zing! )
Directions:
Mash avocados, add the starter, squeeze lemon, & sprinkle chili flakes to taste…yes guys- it’s THAT easy. Grab a bowl of chips or endive lettuce pieces, crack a cold beer, & enjoy!
I should mention it’s always fun to sex up your guac: you can always add mango for mango guac! Corn or tomatoes are a fun addition too. Sometimes I add cilantro- BECAUSE YUM.
✩ STRAWBERRY SHEET CAKE
Ta-da. A cute, fun, pink strawberry cake. The best part about this cake from @acozykitchen is that you can decorate it however you want. You could even do little ghosts or pumpkins for Halloween- sheet cakes are so fun.
Roasted Strawberry Puree
♡ ¾ cup sliced strawberries ( about 4 strawberries )
♡ 2 tsp granulated sugar
♡ pinch of salt
♡ 2 drops red food coloring gel ( optional )
DIRECTIONS:
+ Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. In a small baking dish, combine the strawberries, sugar & salt. Transfer to the oven to roast for 10 minutes.
+ Remove it from the oven & transfer it to a food processor. Blend until completely smooth. Measure out 1/4 cup & set aside. ( Adrianna suggests keeping any extra puree to make cocktails – yum ).
Strawberry Cake:
♡ 1 ¼ cup & 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
♡ 1 ¼ tsp baking powder
♡ ½ tsp kosher salt
♡ ½ cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
♡ 1 ¼ of granulated sugar
♡ 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
♡ ⅓ cup milk
♡ 3 large egg whites
♡ ¼ roasted strawberry puree
DIRECTIONS:
+ Keep the oven at 350 degrees F & grease & line a 8×8-inch baking pan ( you can also use a 9 inch round pan, a 9×5 loaf pan– check both these options at 25 mins, or make cupcakes– check after 15 mins ).
+ In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder & salt. Set aside.
+ In the bowl of a stand-up mixer with the paddle attachment ( or in a large bowl with an electric mixer ), add the butter, sugar & vanilla. Beat until light & fluffy, about 2 to 3 minutes.
+ In a measuring cup, pour in the milk, egg whites, & reserved 1/4 cup strawberry puree & whisk until combined.
+ Turn the mixer to low speed &, alternating between the dry ingredients & the liquid ingredients ( the strawberry/egg white mixture ), add the butter/sugar mixture until the batter is relatively smooth.
+ Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan & smooth it out until it reaches the sides. Transfer to the oven to bake for 25 to 32 minutes, until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
+ Allow the cake to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes & then invert onto a cooling rack & cool to room temperature. This takes about an hour.
Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting:
♡ 5 oz of cream cheese, at room temperature
♡ 5 tbsp unsalted butter, at room temperature
♡ 2 cups powdered sugar
♡ ½ tsp pure vanilla extract
♡ pinch of salt
♡ 1 tbsp heavy cream ( optional )
♡ ¼ cup freeze-dried strawberries
DIRECTIONS:
+ Using a food processor or a spice grinder, add the 1/4 cup freeze-dried strawberries. Pulse for about 1 minute until it resembles a powder. Measure out 1 tablespoon.
+ In the bowl of a stand-up mixer with the paddle attachment ( or a medium bowl using an electric hand mixer ), add the cream cheese & beat it until smooth. I like to do this or else the cream cheese frosting will have little clumps of cream cheese. Next, add the butter & beat it until smooth, about 15 seconds.
+ Add the powdered sugar, salt, vanilla extract & heavy cream. Beat for a full 2 minutes to ensure fluffy, delicious frosting.
✩ WATERMELON JERKY
The credit entirely goes to Sakara Life. These girls sent me this snack & immediately I was HOOKED. Like hooked where I needed to snack on it every night. They don’t produce it anymore but you can make your own like I do. Sure, it’s not quite as good as the jerky Sakara used to make, but it’s still perfectly chewy and satisfying.
Ingredients:
+ a big-ass watermelon, organic
+ organic cayenne powder
+ as much lime as you want
directions:
Add to a dehydrator. cut watermelon into 1 inch slices. Discard ends & remove rinds. After removing the rind cut slices down to about 1/4 inch thick. Lightly add cayenne powder ( I like A LOT but it’s spicy so you need just a tad ) & then place watermelon slices on dehydrator. Once it’s in dehydrator squeeze a little lime on top. Dry at 135 degrees F for 18 ( YES, 18 ) hours.
{ recipe via }
✩ KOMBUCHA VODKA
Cocktails with probiotics.
If that’s not cool, I don’t know what is?
Ingredients:
+1-2 ounces of vodka ( I like gluten-free Tito’s )
+ A couple splashes of sparkling water
+ A couple of splashes of Kombucha
+ Fresh mint ( I like A LOT )
+ Shaved ginger
+ Grapefruit bitters ( if you don’t have this, use a squeeze of lemon )
+ Handful of ice
Directions:
Add ice to a chilled glass. Add vodka & top with a little sparkling water. Then add 1/2 cup of your favorite Kombucha on top. Grab mint & clap it between your hands ( << this brings out the flavor ). Use mint as a garnish & mix it into the cocktail. Top with a couple dashes of grapefruit bitters ( or lemon ) & shave some ginger on top ( use a cheese grater to shave ginger! ). Option: add raspberries for a festive flair. CHEERS!
✩ JENNIFER ANISTON CAULIFLOWER PIZZA
According to her stylist, this is Jennifer Aniston’s favorite pizza order ( we’re just making it on a cauli crust ):
Ingredients:
+ 1 pizza crust
+ 3/4 c Rao’s sauce
+ 1 diced bell pepper
+ 1/4 c black olives
+ 1/4 c sliced onion
+ mozzarella cheese
+ 1 handful arugula
+ chili flakes, to taste
+ garlic gloves, to taste
+ squeeze of lemon
+ optional: add artichokes for extra fiber.
Directions:
Preheat oven to 400F, place the crust on a non-stick baking pan and bake for 10-12 mins. Let it cool for about 10 mins before adding toppings. Spoon sauce over pizza crust. Top with bell peppers, onions, olives, and mozzarella cheese. Enjoy as is, or bake for another few mins. Take out of oven and top with fresh arugula, LOTS of lemon and chili flakes. Enjoy!
+TSC HOT TIP: Rao’s Arrabbiata sauce is my FAVE. The ingredients are on point and it goes perfectly with the jalapeño crust. If you can’t find Rao’s sauce, Luciano’s is perfect too.
✩ LISTEN
TSC playlists are perfect (especially the VIBEZZZ one) whether you’re at a pool party or keeping it chill in your backyard. Be sure to check out the latest podcast episodes too, we have Chervin from Cymbiotika back on, Dan Bilzerian, & the founder of Craigs, LA.
✩ JUICY READS
& if you’re keeping it extra chill this weekend & looking for some must-reads, I highly recommend:
+ The Secret Conversations by Peter Evans
+ PARIS: The Memoir by Paris Hilton
+ The Shift by Tinx
+ Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins
+ The Setup by Dan Bilzerian
+ Love, Pamela by Pamela Anderson
+ Discipline is Destiny by Ryan Holiday
x, lauryn
+ to host a vegan bbq check out this post.
++ for some outfit inspo, stalk my latest France looks.
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