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Quidependence Day: USQ Plans the Perfect Fourth of July Party
To celebrate our namesake nation on its birthday, USQ has planned the perfect Fourth of July BBQ. From the healthiest grillables to backyard quidditch options, we want to make sure you spend this holiday weekend like Miley Cyrus: Partyin’ in the USA.
One glance at our logo, and you can tell USQ is pretty obsessed with the red, white and blue…after all, we are US Quidditch. To help you party like it's 1776, we've signed off on this Declaration of Quidependence: rules to some backyard quidditch, plus food and drink recipes!
Ultimate Quaffle: America’s Other Favorite Pastime
Not every home is equipped with quidditch hoops and snitches, but that doesn’t mean you have to can't practice this holiday weekend. Ultimate Quaffle is a simple, equipment free game that helps players work on passing, field awareness and communication all from the comfort of your own backyard!
You need…
- A Quaffle (or, as muggles know it, a deflated volleyball)
- At least six friends, split up into even teams
- A good chuck of grass, with two end-zones on either side
And then you follow the rules…
- Flip a coin to decide who starts with possession
- Teammates pass to one another in attempts to score points; points are scored by passing the quaffle to a teammate in the opposing end zone
- When in possession of the quaffle, a player cannot move; the only way to advance the quaffle is through completed passes to his or her teammates
- If a pass is intercepted or incomplete, the quaffle is turned over to the other team
- Turnovers also occur if the player with possession takes longer than 10 seconds to make a pass
- First to 10 wins!
Red, White and Burger
There’s nothing more ‘All-American’ than a burger on the grill! Try these meatless burgers for a healthy holiday alternative that incorporate red peppers, white beans and a whole lot of yum!
You Need…
- 1 (15 ounce) can white beans, drained and rinsed
- ½ cup cooked quinoa
- ½ cup chopped roasted red peppers (sold pre-roasted at grocery stories)
- 3 minced garlic cloves
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup bread crumbs
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ crushed red pepper
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon flour
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
And a Little Extra…
- Whole wheat buns
- Sliced red pepper
- Mozzarella cheese
And Then You…
- Mix together breadcrumbs, paprika, crushed red pepper, salt and pepper in a small bowl
- Stir in quinoa, garlic and roasted pepper in a separate, larger bowl. Add egg and breadcrumb mixture; mix until moistened then add flour
- Once mixed well, form into four equally sized balls
- Heat large skillet over medium-high heat and add olive oil. Press balls into patties on the skillet, and cook around five minutes, or until golden brown on bottom. Flip, and cook other side for five minutes or so
We suggest you serve on a toasted bun with sliced fresh mozzarella and your leftover red pepper!
Shots and Stripes
These Gatorade Jell-O shots hype up your hydration for some fun in the sun!
You Need…
- 2 cups Gatorade (any flavor)
- 2 (3 oz) packages Jello (any flavor)
- Dixie Cups, shot glasses or any other 1 oz container
Add a Little Extra…
- Whipped cream
- Blueberries
- Strawberries
And Then You…
- Heat Gatorade until boiling in a medium pot
- Once boiling, remove pot from heat
- Add Jello packages
- Stir for 3 minutes.
- Pour mixture to fill the Dixie cups half-way.
- Chill for at least 3 hours.
- Top with whipped cream and fruit for that patriotic pizzazz
Recipe will make 32 1 oz shots!
Eat, Drink and Be 'Merica!
