My girlfriend is from Mexico. She came here just over 10 years ago on a work visa. She applied for US citizenship when she was allowed to and we helped her study for her US Citizenship test.
Now she's a US citizen!! YAHOO!! We're having her and her son over for the 4th. This year we feel is special since she's finally a US citizen and worked so hard for it! She studied and has been great!
Now I'd like to have a cake for the 4th for her - I don't want to be cheesy - I know she's proud of this and we are too...what would you put on the cake? Just "congratulations" or something else?
Thanks!
How about serving some homemade strawberry shortcakes? They're such an American tradition, and they're colorful and delicious. Include some blueberries on top for a red white and blue theme. You could go to a craft store or party store and find little American flags to stick in the top of each shortcake.
Congratulations to your friend!!! I think "Congratulations" written on the cake is perfect!!!
BTW...I don't think there is an anti immigration climate in this country at all. I think most people are all for legal immigration...just the way your friend did it!!!
Something with whipped cream (or cool whip), strawberries and blueberries in a flag like shape would be classic.
http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/flag-cake-53409.aspx
This looks way cool! but I think this is beyond my baking skills.
It would still be a cool thing to try!
http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/red-white-and-blue-la...
This is fantastic!! I LOVE reading and hearing about these stories. Thank you for helping this wonderful lady. She had a choice and decided to become an American the legal way. Good for her! Not easy and NOT cheap!!!
Go on facebook and then go to "tasty". There are so many recipes on there. Yum!! I LOVE strawberry short cake. Apple pie is very American as well.
The US is NOT anti-immigration. We are anti-illegal immigration. BIG BIG BIG difference.
What a great idea. How wonderful that you would be so helpful to her, especially in this anti-immigrant climate we have!
If it's a standard cake, you could write something in English and Spanish, or you could write "Welcome". If you want help, let me know - don't rely on the cake decorator to get it right (Google "cake fails" to see the crazy stuff people wrote on cakes by mistake!) You could also skip the writing and do something like this American flag cake with strawberries & icing for the stripes and blueberries for the blue field of stars. http://allrecipes.com/recipe/22987/red-white-and-blue-str...
It fits in for July 4th anyway, and berries are in season, plus it will have special meaning for her.
It might be nice to show that you all honor her heritage and want to celebrate that as well. She doesn't lose that, of course, by becoming an American citizen. You could do a Mexican flag appetizer display - I had a caterer do it for my school's cultural arts festival. We had a whole year of Latino/Hispanic activities and lessons, and this was the culminating meal with performances by classes. As Spanish teacher, I was a part of the school-wide planning and found a variety of activities, recipes and crafts, and I dug around in a lot of cookbooks and so forth. There are a few versions you can Google, but I didn't see the one I got from an older cookbook. Using a rectangular tray/platter, make 3 sections in green, white and red. The green is sliced green peppers, the white is jicama slices, and the red is red pepper strips. In the middle of the white, put a circle of either black beans or black sliced olives for the emblem. I've also seen them with just dips - guacamole, sour cream and tomato salsa, with beans or olives in the center, and then with veggies or some sort of cracker or "Scoop" chip on the side. This will make it more than a July 4th party and celebrate her dual loyalties.
It might be fun to make a poster or use an easel with some of the questions from her citizenship exam. It's pretty enlightening when native-born Americans can't answer the things required of new citizens! And it will let her be the expert - another way to celebrate her achievement!
Have fun!
I think you're a wonderful friend for doing something special for her!! I think the flag cake would be ideal-- and instead of a pound cake you can make a tres leches cake and do the Flag theme above it!! You can make it easily with box cake (Yellow cake).. leave the cake cooling and in a bowl mix one can of condensed milk, evaporated milk and heavy cream (and I put a capful of rum).. You pour it over the cooled cake.. let it sit for an hour or so.. then throw some Cool Whip on that bad boy and add the fruits.. Put it in the fridge for a few hours and enjoy the deliciousness ;)
PS: I def think there's an anti-immigration climate .. and people assume that if you're Hispanic (especially Mexican) you came here illegally. I commend your friend, I know that it is a long, hard and sometimes expensive process :)
To the mom who says otherwise, America does not have an anti-immigration climate. America is anti illegal immigration because a crime is a crime no matter the reason behind doing it.
What you did to help this family became legal citizens is what immigration in America is all about.
You are so kind!!
I've seen lots of patriotic cakes, cookie, pops, at my grocer. If probably get an assortment. My grocer is a really nice one with good quality foods.
I've seen so many recipes online as well if you want to do it yourself.
I'm not sure what I'm going to do for the 4th.
What a great story!! And so nice for your friend to have someone like you in her corner to be supportive of all her efforts and to recognize everything she did to make her dream a reality.
I like B's idea about the strawberry and blueberry flag cake and also Elena B's suggestion about the shortcakes with strawberries and blueberries. Either of these would be great.
Hope all of you have a really fun and special celebration. It's one she'll always remember!
How about Welcome To Your New Home.......or Homeland?
What an inspiring story. :-) S.
and ditto to what southernyankee said about the US.
I'm sure your friend will be thrilled with whatever you do. I love the strawberry shortcake idea or B's suggestions. Congratulations to your friend! I'm so happy for her! :)
How wonderful!!!Congratulations on a red white and blue cake would be great. However, she is Mecican so I would try to incorporate something from her heritage.
This is how it should be done for anyone who wants to come into our country!!
ooh how fun! Congratulations to your friend! I bet this is an exciting time for her!
I would do a cake. I love the ideas below too!! strawberry and blueberry shortcake with whipped cream for the Red White and Blue!
I'm all for immigration. LEGAL immigration. If you're illegal? Leave. Not sure how that twist got started here. Oh well. CONGRATULATIONS to your friend!
