No fireworks on your holiday horizon? Get creative. Paper-crafted pom-poms or a “whirling” dessert can light up any Independence Day event, day or night.
Skip the pyrotechnics and wow your guests with this fantastic finale instead. It’s made by topping your favorite cherry-pie filling (sour cherries are especially delicious) with twisted strips of rolled-out pie dough arranged in a pinwheel fashion. Use a pastry cutter and straightedge to cut dough ½-inch wide; when arranging on pie, work from center out, pinching ends of strips together to adhere. Brush the dough with an egg wash so it turns wonderfully golden brown as the pie bakes—and the juices from the filling bubble up.
Easier-than-ever pom-poms make pretty and patriotic napkin rings for blue-and-white striped linens. For each one, wrap colored matte raffia ribbon around a pom-pom maker (see page 165; a large Clover maker was used on these) or a credit card; cinch the raffia at center on one side with floral wire, slide it off, and cut raffia loop in half with craft scissors. Fluff the ends to open up pom-pom. Form the wire into a circle and twist it closed; slide ring around napkin.