Festive Fourth

So I normally really like the Fourth of July. I'm a big fan of flashy, well orchestrated fireworks. However, I'm also a bit spoiled, as back home, we can witness the fireworks from my mom's house. So this holiday historically does not include sitting out in 100 degree weather waiting for dark.

I was severely bummed when work rejected my request off for the remainder of the week (but what's new). Especially since Sam and my mom ended up having the rest of the week off. It would have been an awesome opportunity to go home for a long weekend. However, that was not to be (aww, the joys of a mid-week holiday). So Sam and I decided to be SUPER boring and stay inside where there was abundant air conditioning all day.

Sam wan't into grilling out, so we ordered a couple of pizzas (buy one, get one) and rented a movie. Party time, right?

Pizza was delish (thin crust Hawaiian for me) and the movie was good. But we certainly weren't very patriotic. So I took care of that with the help of an easy, breezy recipe from Pinterest.

This recipe is seriously so easy. I made the brownies per the box recipe, but baked them in a 13" pizza pan to make it extra thin. The cream cheese icing is of course a breeze. Then it's just a matter of slicing fruit. I of course went for a red, white, and blue theme to add a little festivity to our day. But you could certainly substitute other fruits.

My one recommendation, if you aren't making this for a party, where it will be consumed immediately, I would do one of two things. Option 1, it certainly won't be as pretty, but only but fruit on half, or a quarter, or however much you think you will consume that day. Option 2, make small brownies, either by cutting out circles from the larger pie with cookie cutters, or baking them in smaller dishes to start. Essentially, the fruit breaks down once sliced rather quickly, and within 24 hours, it starts to liquify your icing and everything becomes pretty mushy. Not so appetizing.

So that's how the Greavu's celebrate the Fourth when it's 100+ outside. Hope you had a great holiday! Yours is probably still going on, so enjoy the rest of your long weekend everyone!