Input needed by American residents

[Gwendolyn]

On May 29th our scout group will organise an International Festival, and DH and I will represent USA. That means we need all kind of props that got something to do with the USA and bake some foodies that is typically American. But since I am dutch and living in the Netherlands I really need your input on this.

So we were brainstorming a little and this is what we came up with so far:
Atmospherical stuff:
* A big American flag maybe 2
* A framed picture of President Obama with 2 small flags next to it.
* Playing typical american music like the American National Anthem.
Is "Land of Hope and Glory" something typical american too?
Which songs downloadable though iTunes will work best?
* Maybe some pictures of Mickey Mouse, McDonals, Statue of Liberty. Or travel books to the USA on the table for people to look in to.
* Maybe trying to get some stars and stripes shirts for us to wear.

Food wise; It has to be small pieces of food. Not sure what to make. I was thinking of brownies, roasting marshmallows on fire, Oreo's, muffins. Anyone got some simple recepies or other ideas of easy to bake foods?

Anyone who wants to help me brainstorm and come up with other ideas?

 

[Dismagic1]

On May 29th our scout group will organise an International Festival, and DH and I will represent USA. That means we need all kind of props that got something to do with the USA and bake some foodies that is typically American. But since I am dutch and living in the Netherlands I really need your input on this.

So we were brainstorming a little and this is what we came up with so far:
Atmospherical stuff:
* A big American flag maybe 2
* A framed picture of President Obama with 2 small flags next to it.
* Playing typical american music like the American National Anthem.
Is "Land of Hope and Glory" something typical american too?
Which songs downloadable though iTunes will work best?
* Maybe some pictures of Mickey Mouse, McDonals, Statue of Liberty. Or travel books to the USA on the table for people to look in to.
* Maybe trying to get some stars and stripes shirts for us to wear.

Food wise; It has to be small pieces of food. Not sure what to make. I was thinking of brownies, roasting marshmallows on fire, Oreo's, muffins. Anyone got some simple recepies or other ideas of easy to bake foods?

Anyone who wants to help me brainstorm and come up with other ideas?

How about a football? baseball? basketball? An item representing Mount Rushmore? Smithsonian?

For food, how about a lemonade stand for refreshments? Chocolate Chip Cookies? Apple Pie?

 

[mjkacmom]

Hot dogs, baseball, George Washington, Abe Lincoln, "America the Beautiful," "You're a Grand Old Flag," "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" are a few songs. Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, Elvis?

 

[Bren's Mom]

God Bless The USA by Lee Greenwood would be a good song.

Apple pie would be the quintessential American dessert. How many people will you have there? If it's not a ridiculous amount, you can make mini apple pies. Or just serve the pie in small paper bowls with spoons.

Bald eagle picture or statue

 

[Motherofboys]

Did you check itunes or Amazon for a montage of Patriotic songs? Like "Proud to be an American", "Born in the USA", "America the Beautiful"

I would do either smores bars (since it is scouting, recipe below) or apple pie squares ( I can post a recipe for those if you would like)

Smores Bars

Ingredients
8 to 10 whole graham crackers
1 package fudge brownie mix (13-inch x 9-inch pan size)
2 cups miniature marshmallows
1 cup (6 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips

Directions
Arrange graham crackers in a single layer in a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking pan. Prepare the brownie batter according to package directions. Spread over crackers.
Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Sprinkle with marshmallows and chocolate chips. Bake 5 minutes longer or until marshmallows are slightly puffed and golden brown. Cool on a wire rack before cutting. Yield: 2 dozen.

 

[FireDancer]

Some song suggestions:
Yankee Doodle
The Battle Hymn of the Republic
Dixie
America the Beautiful

Many more are available, and for free, here.

As for food, hotdogs and Apple Pie come to mind but the food I think of first is smores (graham crackers, marshmallows, chocolate)

For imagery I would also suggest a bald eagle, a photo of the Statue of Liberty, or Mount Rushmore.

I have never heard of Land of Hope and glory before now but if you need something written that represents the USA the first things that come to mind are the Preamble to the Constitution, the Gettysburg Address, especially the passage below:

that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

or the first sentence of the second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

I'm sure others will have different opinions but these are mine.

Good luck with the project.

 

[MonkeyDishwasher]

I have three words for you:

Deep.

Fried.

Anything.

 

[Kirby]

Baseball, hotdogs, apple pie and Chevrolet!

Sorry, that's the first thing that shot into my head. I think that apple pie is a little ambitious depending on how many people you would be feeding. Smores or brownies are a lot better.

I also like the idea of pictures of a bald eagle, Mount Rushmore and the Statue of Liberty.

I think that as far as a picture of the president, I wouldn't put one up. America is so much more than one person even though he is supposed to represent it.

An American flag would be good, as would travel brochures for people to stop and look at.

 

[Gwendolyn]

Ohhh really great ideas

About the snacks. There will be 40 other countries repesented. And visitors can get the food for free, so bitesized or slightly bigger is a better idea.

S'mores sound really great. Hotdogs too, although they are too big. Applepie is baked over here too, so not that typical american.

Firedancer, great idea about those texts. Ill look them up. I am not sure what they mean to Americans, but I'm sure I'll figure it out when I read it.

 

[cheermom1]

I agree hot dogs, apple pie and god bless america by lee greenwood.

 

[NHdisneylover]

As an American living in Germany I have found chocolate chip cookies (if you can get good brown sugar which is what makes them taste different than the normal things here) or RICE KRISPIE TREATS are very popular with locals and also very typically American. Rice Krispie treats only need 3 ingredients, can be made quickly and easily and you can cut them into very small squares if you want:

1 large box rice krispie cereal (I am assuming you can get this as I have seen it available in Germany, Spain, France and Denmark without even trying hard).

300 grams butter

1 package mini marshmellows (or big ones cut or torn into smaller pieces)

Place marshmellows and butter in a pot and heat together (stirring often) until melted.

Remove from heat and stir in the cereal until fully coated.

Press this mixture into a baking dish (about 18 by 30 cm) which has been coated with butter and allow to coolcompletly.

Slice into cubes or squares with a sharp knife to serve.


I think you have gotten some great suggestions for songs and memorabilia.

 

[MonkeyDishwasher]

If Hot dogs are too big, Pigs in a blanket could be a smaller but similar alternative.

 

[SAHDad]

Just some quick ideas here:

Imagery - pics of the Statue of Liberty, the White House, bald eagle, Grand Canyon, Mount Rushmore, space shuttle/moon landing, the flag (if you use one, make sure you display it the correct way - FWIW, a lot of Americans get it wrong too), images of Superman, Davy Crocket, Abe Lincoln, George Washington.

Food - chocolate chip cookies, hot dogs & fries, coca-cola, burgers, smores. (The problem is that America draws food from many places, and in some ways, does not have an emblematic food of its own. )

Songs - America the Beautiful, the Star-Spangled Banner, God Bless the USA, Over There, Yankee Doodle, some of the old schoolhouse rock stuff (a short cartoon series that taught, among other things, basic US civics - look for We The People, No More Kings, Elbow Room, Shot Heard Round the World - you can find them pretty easily on youtube, and they should be online somewhere), Stars and Stripes Forever, You're a Grand Old Flag. . . . should be plenty in that line.

Speeches and quotes - aside from the Declaration, the Constitution, and the Gettysburg address, there would be MLKs "I have a dream" speech, JFKs "ask not what your country can do for you" and FDRs "a day that will live forever in infamy" speeches would be possibilities.

 

[erincon23]

Did you check itunes or Amazon for a montage of Patriotic songs? Like "Proud to be an American", "Born in the USA", "America the Beautiful".

"Born In the USA" is not a patriotic song, despite its title -- it's an anti-war song (that not anti-war protestors can't be patriotic) -- and Springsteen meant it to be a critique, not an American hymn. When Challenger exploded in the mid-80s, the radio station I listened to in Virginia kept playing this song -- obviously the djs had never listened to the words.

 

[Sparx]

Songs:
America The Beautiful
Star Spangled Banner
Yankee Doodle
This Land Is Your Land

Images:
American Flag
Statue of Liberty
Mount Rushmore
The White House

Quotes:
"This is preeminently the time to speak the truth, the whole truth, frankly and boldly. Nor need we shrink from honestly facing conditions in our country today. This great Nation will endure as it has endured, will revive and will prosper. So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself - nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance. In every dark hour of our national life, a leadership of frankness and vigor has met with that understanding and support of the people themselves which is essential to victory. I am convinced that you will again give that support to leadership in these critical days."-FDR
"Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"-The Statue of Liberty

Food:
hot dogs
hamburgers
apple pie
brownies
rice crispies
smores

 

[mamacatnv]

DD's school just did this - it was a great event and amazing to see how many cultures were represented at out little charter school.

The USA Table had:

Toll House Cookies!
Native American Art, pictures, baskets etc.
Revolutionary & Civil war relics
Stage Coaches & Covered Wagons
Albums - The Rolling Stones and Bruce Springstein
Several different displays representing inventors or inventions;
The Wright Bros, Thomas Edison, George Washington Carver, a Polaroid camera, Levi Jeans, Apple computer products, Ben Franklin invented Swim fins & BiFocals (I learned something that night)
The Golden Gate Bridge
Travel books - New York, San Francisco, Washinton DC and Boston were represented.
There was a lanyard of Disney pins! That caught our attention although most of them were from DL due to our West Coast proximity
There was a poster of the Alamo in San Antonio TX along with a Davy Crockett coonskin cap
Statue of Liberty

 

[Liberty Belle]

You got a lot of good ideas from people. I've never heard of The Land of Hope and Glory.

Another easy food would be peanut butter and jelly sandwiches cut into bite sized pieces.

 

[SAHDad]

"Born In the USA" is not a patriotic song, despite its title -- it's an anti-war song (that not anti-war protestors can't be patriotic) -- and Springsteen meant it to be a critique, not an American hymn. When Challenger exploded in the mid-80s, the radio station I listened to in Virginia kept playing this song -- obviously the djs had never listened to the words.

While it is not patriotic in the usual sense, you could make the arguement that protest songs and the like could be included, so maybe also "We Shall Overcome," "Give Peace a Chance", "Imagine" or "The Times, They Are A-Changin'"

Oh yeah - "This Land is Your Land, This Land is My Land" and "Amazing Grace" as well.

ETA - good movie quote, from "With Honors":

Simon Wilder: You asked the question, sir, now let me answer it. The beauty of the Constitution is that it can always be changed. The beauty of the Constitution is that it makes no set law other than faith in the wisdom of ordinary people to govern themselves.
Proffesor Pitkannan: Faith in the wisdom of the people is exactly what makes the Constitution incomplete and crude.
Simon Wilder: Crude? No, sir. Our "founding parents" were pompous, white, middle-aged farmers, but they were also great men. Because they knew one thing that all great men should know: that they didn't know everything. Sure, they'd make mistakes, but they made sure to leave a way to correct them. The president is not an "elected king," no matter how many bombs he can drop. Because the "crude" Constitution doesn't trust him. He's just a bum, okay Mr. Pitkannan? He's just a bum.

(The movie was from 1994 - the "bum" comment is a reference that Wilder (a bum) is making to himself, since the prof has said Wilder is only a bum.)

 

[FireDancer]

One more suggestion would be Dwight D. Eisenhower's D-Day message to the Allied Expeditionary Force. Not only is it an important part of American history that almost any American would recognize immediately but it would also be a good way to tie your history in with ours.

 

[SAHDad]

One more suggestion would be Dwight D. Eisenhower's D-Day message to the Allied Expeditionary Force. Not only is it an important part of American history that almost any American would recognize immediately but it would also be a good way to tie your history in with ours.

That really should be "any American should recognize . . ." - I know too many fellow Americans who are, IMO, appallingly ignorant of American history and civics.