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‘Tis the season for dazzling displays of fireworks and at-home sparkler shows. The highlight of my summer growing up was our family Fourth of July trip to my aunt and uncle’s horse farm in Virginia. On the way, we would stop at Clark Brothers, a mecca for all things explosive. We would fill up a basket with the biggest and best looking fireworks, and each year look for that special roman candle or cherry bombs that would outshine last year’s finale.
My brother and dad would be the mastermind behind our Independence day spectacular. Our sweet aunt never mentioned it, but all the loud bangs and pops of those homegrown pyrotechnic shows must have scared the bejesus out of her horses and dogs. On our annual trip to the farm last year (it now happens whenever the family can all get together and go), we revived this firework tradition to the great delight of all the little kids and grownups in the family.
It remains illegal to set off anything more than novelty fireworks in many states, including my home state of Pennsylvania. And now that I have become a safety fanatic, I cannot advise anything that involves playing with fire. But you can use some ingenuity to make some eye popping experiments your kids can enjoy this 4th of July, without that element of danger.
This year, instead of spending lots of money on glow sticks at the drugstore or dollar store, you can “cook up” some of your own glow jars at home. With a few common household items, 15-20 matchstick heads, one capful of bleach and three capfuls of hydrogen peroxide, shaken up in a sealed jar, you can create a glowing effect that will last for a couple hours. Though with those ingredients, this is a kitchen project for adults to do and kids to watch.
An alternate way to do this project is by removing an ink cartridge from a highlighter and placing it in a jar of water for a day. Or if you can find it, mix glow in the dark poster paint with water for a glowing effect.
Another fun, adult-supervised project comes from one of my favorite elementary school teachers. Grab some popcorn kernels and an air popper. Lay a blanket across the room, or head outdoors, and place the popper in the center. Add your popcorn, but leave the lid off. Stand back and watch the popcorn explode across the room!
A trick that it is great fun for preschoolers is dancing raisins. Simply pour club soda into a glass and add some raisins that have been cut in half. After about 30 seconds, the raisins will “dance.” My son loves this one!
Next, you can create a soda geyser with a roll of Mentos candy mints and a two liter bottle of diet soda. Start outside in a big field or yard. Unwrap the mints and drop them all into the soda bottle at once. Stand back and watch the soda explode into the air, just like fireworks. This is great fun if you don’t mind sacrificing the ingredients.
Of course, the party could happen in your mouth with these firecrackers, an addictive savory and spicy seasoned saltine or oyster cracker mix, perfect for taking along to a parade or fireworks show.
So this year, you won’t need to call the fire marshal. Try some fun and educational experiments and leave the fireworks spectacular to the pros. Happy Fourth of July!
©2026 CDKitchen, Inc. No reproduction or distribution of any portion of this article is allowed without express permission from CDKitchen, Inc.
To share this article with others, you may link to this page:
https://www.cdkitchen.com/cooking-experts/pamela-chester/1169-foods-that-pop/
Pop, Bang, Fizz, Happy Fourth of July!
‘Tis the season for dazzling displays of fireworks and at-home sparkler shows. The highlight of my summer growing up was our family Fourth of July trip to my aunt and uncle’s horse farm in Virginia. On the way, we would stop at Clark Brothers, a mecca for all things explosive. We would fill up a basket with the biggest and best looking fireworks, and each year look for that special roman candle or cherry bombs that would outshine last year’s finale.
My brother and dad would be the mastermind behind our Independence day spectacular. Our sweet aunt never mentioned it, but all the loud bangs and pops of those homegrown pyrotechnic shows must have scared the bejesus out of her horses and dogs. On our annual trip to the farm last year (it now happens whenever the family can all get together and go), we revived this firework tradition to the great delight of all the little kids and grownups in the family.
It remains illegal to set off anything more than novelty fireworks in many states, including my home state of Pennsylvania. And now that I have become a safety fanatic, I cannot advise anything that involves playing with fire. But you can use some ingenuity to make some eye popping experiments your kids can enjoy this 4th of July, without that element of danger.
This year, instead of spending lots of money on glow sticks at the drugstore or dollar store, you can “cook up” some of your own glow jars at home. With a few common household items, 15-20 matchstick heads, one capful of bleach and three capfuls of hydrogen peroxide, shaken up in a sealed jar, you can create a glowing effect that will last for a couple hours. Though with those ingredients, this is a kitchen project for adults to do and kids to watch.
An alternate way to do this project is by removing an ink cartridge from a highlighter and placing it in a jar of water for a day. Or if you can find it, mix glow in the dark poster paint with water for a glowing effect.
Another fun, adult-supervised project comes from one of my favorite elementary school teachers. Grab some popcorn kernels and an air popper. Lay a blanket across the room, or head outdoors, and place the popper in the center. Add your popcorn, but leave the lid off. Stand back and watch the popcorn explode across the room!
A trick that it is great fun for preschoolers is dancing raisins. Simply pour club soda into a glass and add some raisins that have been cut in half. After about 30 seconds, the raisins will “dance.” My son loves this one!
Next, you can create a soda geyser with a roll of Mentos candy mints and a two liter bottle of diet soda. Start outside in a big field or yard. Unwrap the mints and drop them all into the soda bottle at once. Stand back and watch the soda explode into the air, just like fireworks. This is great fun if you don’t mind sacrificing the ingredients.
Of course, the party could happen in your mouth with these firecrackers, an addictive savory and spicy seasoned saltine or oyster cracker mix, perfect for taking along to a parade or fireworks show.
So this year, you won’t need to call the fire marshal. Try some fun and educational experiments and leave the fireworks spectacular to the pros. Happy Fourth of July!
Firecracker Snacks
Made with saltine or oyster crackers, canola oil, red pepper flakes, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, paprika, Ranch salad dressing mix
Made with saltine or oyster crackers, canola oil, red pepper flakes, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, paprika, Ranch salad dressing mix
Serves/Makes: 16
- 1 package (16 ounce size) saltine or oyster crackers
- 1 cup canola oil
- 1 tablespoon red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1 envelope (1 ounce size) Ranch salad dressing mix
Unwrap crackers and place in a one-gallon glass jar with a lid, or stand crackers on their ends in a large bowl or Dutch Oven.
In a small bowl, mix all remaining ingredients. Pour mixture over the crackers.
If using a jar, close lid and roll the jar every five minutes for one hour, until crackers are coated with spice mixture.
If using a bowl, let mixture sit on crackers for 15 minutes, then carefully transfer the crackers to a second bowl by hand. Pour mixture from first bowl over crackers and let sit 15 more minutes. Repeat this cycle two more times.
Remove crackers from any remaining liquid and store in an airtight container.
Serve with ranch dressing for dipping, if desired.
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©2026 CDKitchen, Inc. No reproduction or distribution of any portion of this article is allowed without express permission from CDKitchen, Inc.
To share this article with others, you may link to this page:
https://www.cdkitchen.com/cooking-experts/pamela-chester/1169-foods-that-pop/