4th of July Fun!

The holiday is fast approaching and you want to wow your guests or your hostess with something fun, good to eat and of course RED, WHITE,  and BLUE.    Well, here are some quick and actually very easy ideas to make fun desserts that will wow the masses and celebrate the fun of the holiday with colors galore.  The best thing about them, is they are mostly easy to make from all ready made items if you are to tired to make them yourself, just some minor assembly and they will think you are a miracle worker.  
The first one is one of my favorites and it is a TRIFLE........ which by definition is a A dessert typically consisting of plain or sponge cake soaked in sherry, rum, or brandy and topped with layers of jam or jelly, custard, and whipped cream.  We are going to make ours more family friendly and summery.  


You will need, 
1 angel food cake or pound cake ( I think angel food cake would be good since it is whiter)
3 cups of strawberries, sliced and sugared
3 cups of blueberries, sugared (you may have to smash them just a small bit to help get the juices and sugar to combine, you need them to form some juice)
2 small or one large container of Cool Whip or whipped topping of your choice


1. Cut angel cake into approximately 1 inch cubes.  Set aside.

2. Gather Trifle Dish or high sided, flat bottom glass bowl.  Should be see through to make sure you can see the color of the layers. 
3. Separate the cake into 4 piles.  Place the first pile of cake pieces on the bottom of the bowl evenly spaces.  
4. Place half of either the strawberries or blueberries on top of the cake pieces., also using half the juice to moisten the cake pieces.  Make sure you are layering it so that each distinct layer can be seen.  
5. Take 1/4 of the amount of whipped topping and spread evenly over the berries.
6. Place another layer of cake on top of whipped topping.
7. Place 1/2 of the opposite berry (if you used strawberries first, now use blueberries or vice versa).
8. Place another 1/4 of the amount of whipped topping and spread evenly on top of berries.
Repeat steps 4 through 8 again, ending with whipped topping.  
Garnish the top of the trifle with either whole blueberries and strawberries or make a stripes alternating red and blue using the berries.  You could also stick sparklers in the tops or put red and/or blue sugar sprinkles or jimmies on top.  Be creative, cut out stars using a piece of paper and shake jimmies over stencil.  Carefully remove stencil to reveal just stars on top of whipped topping.    
The picture above is an empty trifle bowl, the picture below is just for reference to see how the layers should seperate.  Remember yours will not look exactly the same.  You can make this with any type of fresh berries, or even peaches and nectarines  

i

Jello Cake


YOU WILL NEED
1 boxed cake mix 
   (ingredients to bake the cake)
1 3 oz pkg of Jello gelatin mix (berry blue or some sort of red)
1 cup boiling water
1/2 cup cold water
1 8 oz tub whipped topping like Cool Whip
1 can Cherry pie filling ,Strawberry pie Filling or Fresh Strawberries, or Blueberry pie filling, of course use the  opposite color pie filling or topping compared to the color gelatin you used


1. Bake a yellow or white cake in a 9 x 13 cake pan according to package directions just omitting the oil.  This will allow your cake to rise better.  (You do not have to add anything to the mix and you can do this anything you are baking a cake, makes it a tiny bit more healthy too).  
, 2.When it is done baking, remove from oven, let cool for 15 minutes.
3.With the handle end of a wooden spoon or large tined fork poke holes throughout the entire top of the cake about 1/4 to 1/2 inch apart. 


2. Stir gelatin mix into the boiling water until all the gelatin is completely dissolved (about two minutes). Stir in cold water.  Carefully and slowly pour the gelatin over the entire surface of the cake.  Place in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours, until gelatin has time to set.   


3. "Icing" the top of the cake with the whipped topping.  Spoon the pie filling over the top of the cool whip or serve it on the side of the cake.  


4.  Keep in the refrigerator until ready to serve.  Immediately refrigerate leftovers.


When cut your cake will look like the one in the picture  to the right.  The stripes may be a different color depending on the jello flavor used.


This is an amazing dessert that is incredibly versatile.  You can use almost any flavor of cake mix, mix and match with jello and make your own creation.  Try a french vanilla cake, with orange jello and french vanilla cool whip for an orange creamsicle  type cake.  Like black forest cake, use a chocolate cake, black cherry or cherry jello, cool whip and chocolate shavings on top, you can even add cherry pie filling.  Don't forget you can try things like lemon jello, or lime jello, and add a bit of tartness to the cake, very refreshing.    


RED, WHITE AND BLUEBERRY MUFFINS
So do you have company this weekend, here is a great breakfast or anytime treat that is in the spirit and thanks to Betty Crocker it is quick and easy to make!!!!


Here is what you need:
1   box Betty Crocker wild blueberry muffin mix
3/4 c milk
1/4 c vegetable oil
2 eggs
3/4 cup dried cranberries


1. Heat oven to 425 degrees.
2. Line 12 muffin tins with papers or grease only the bottom of the muffin cups
3. Drain muffins from the muffin mix rinse and set aside. In medium bowl, stir in muffin mix, milk, oil, eggs, and cranberries just until blended. Gently stir in blueberries. Divide batter among muffin cups, each should be about 3/4 full.
4. Bake 17 to 22 minutes or until golden brown and tops spring back lightly when touched.  Cool 3-4 minutes and then remove from pan.


Glaze   
1/3 cup powdered sugar
1 to 1 1/2 teaspoons milk.
1/8 teaspoon vanilla or orange extract.


Mix together 3 ingredients to form glaze, drizzle over muffins while they are still warm.  Let cool and serve.


This should get you started.  I will hopefully find a few more tomorrow.  Getting tired thank goodness.  Has been a long week with lots of medicine changes.  Just hoping to make it through the big weekend with a large family gathering at my house of 20 plus people.  I am excited to see some of them who I have not seen in almost 6 months, just a bad time for the doctor to decide to change my meds around.  Well, here is hoping it all goes well.  I hope you all have an amazing holiday weekend.  Take care of yourselves.  If you tire rest, if you hurt, don't push it.  Remember it is the time to relax, others can help and you also deserve a break.  Happy 4th of July.

Ten on Tuesday!!!! 6-21-2011

.Today is the First day of Summer!!!!!!


So today is the first day of Summer, and what reminds us of summer more than the heat, the sun, and the idea of having to cook in the heat, let alone eat something hot.  Here are 10 of the Coolest Summer Foods and a recipe for each of them.


1. Snow Cones or Hawaiian Ice ----shaved ice with a syrup on it.  Fun to eat, satisfying crunch and great for any age.  You can make them at home by picking up a snow cone maker or take out your frustrations and put the ice in a bag and smash it with a hammer.   
                           Snow Cone Syrup Recipe
                          2 cups sugar

                   1 cup water

                   1 .22 ounce unsweetened powder drink mix

                    Mix all ingredients in a saucepan. Bring to a boil and then immediately remove from heat. 

                    Allow to cool. Used a funnel to put syrup into a recycled bottle, refrigerate until use.

2. Gazpacho--- a chilled summer soup, a great pairing for a sandwich.  

                   Homemade Cucumber Gazpacho   recipe found on Bay Area Bites Blog

                   2-3 English Cucumbers or 10 small Persian cucumbers (about 3 cups)

                   1/4 cup Olive oil
                   1/4 cup Ice cold water
                   1/2 small clove Garlic
                   1 Tbsp White wine vinegar
                   2 tsp Fresh lemon juice
                   dash of Salt
                   dash of Black pepper

                   a minute sprinkle of Cayenne  

                    Instructions

                     1. Peel cucumbers and rough chop. Place all the ingredients in a large bow.

                     2. In small batches puree mixture in a blender.
                     3. Garnish with cucumber and a smattering of Extra Virgin Olive Oil.

                     4. Serve with a fresh baguette.      

3. Ice Cream---- to be honest you can do just about anything to ice cream and it would be awesome, or nothing and it would still be fine.  My favorite summer treat with ice cream is as follows.         

                       1 Cantaloupe 
                       1 Carton Vanilla Ice Cream
                        ---cut the cantaloupe in half and scoop out the seeds.  If the lope is really large you can cut it into                                                  4 but I try and purchase smaller ones for this purpose.  Place each peace of cantaloupe in a bowl.  Place a scoop or two of vanilla ice cream in the hollowed out area of the fruit and eat.  


4. Grilled Burgers, Brats or Ribs---- nothing is better than something cooked on the grill and it won't heat up the kitchen, which is a huge plus.  
                         Chicken Burgers                
                      1 pound ground chicken breast
                      1/4 cup finely grated sharp cheddar cheese
                      1 teaspoon smoked paprika
                      1/2 teaspoon onion powder
                      1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
                      1/4 teaspoon black pepper
                      1/4 teaspoon salt  
                      1/4 cup your favorite BBQ sauce
                       
                      1.In a large bowl, combine chicken, BBQ sauce, paprika, onion and garlic powder, salt, pepper and   
                        cheddar cheese.
                      2.Mix until just combined, then form 4 patties.
                      3. Place on grill and cook until cooked through, approx 8 mins on each side.  (can be cooked in a   
                         skillet too.)
                      4.Top burgers with grilled onions, cheese of your choice and additional BBQ sauce.  
                      5. Serve.   For added treat, brush roll with a light coating of olive oil or butter and toast.


5.  Green Salad---  you simply can not go wrong with a regular green salad.  Fresh vegetables are great for those suffering from chronic pain.  It is said that a natural diet with raw foods, or unprocessed items are good for us.  So add this to any meal, as a side dish, or make it your main course.
                        Market Salad  by the Editors of Publications International, Ltd.
                       3 hard boiled eggs roughly chopped
                       4 thick slices of bacon, cooked and crumbled
                       2 cups green beans, cut into 1 1/2 in pieces, cooked and drained
                       1 Tablespoon fresh basil, italian parsley or chives 
                       4 cups baby mixed salad greens, washed
                       3 Tablespoons olive oil
                       1 Tablespoon red wine vinegar
                       1 teaspoon dijon mustard
                       1/4 teaspoon salt
                       1/4 teaspoon pepper
                       
                       1. Combine bacon, green beans, basil and salad greens in large salad bowl.
                               2. Stir chopped egg into salad carefully not break up the yolk.
                               3. Combine oil, vinegar, mustard, salt and pepper in small bowl; drizzle over salad.
                               4. Stir gently again to coat salad and serve immediately.


6. Chicken---- this meat is great because cooked any way, it tastes great cold.  


                                  BLT Chicken Salad with Ranch recipe found at Food.com

                                  2 boneless skinless chicken breasts (grilled or baked and chopped)

                                  8 ounces tri-color spiral pasta, cooked and drained

                                  6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled

                                  1 medium tomato, chopped

                                  2 scallions, sliced

                                 1/4 cup shredded carrot

                                 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

                                 1 cup ranch dressing

                                 2 tablespoons ranch dressing mix

                                 1 romaine lettuce hearts, chopped

      

                                1. Mix all the ingredients together.

                                2 Refrigerate until ready to serve.

7. Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato Sandwiches,  BLT!---  seriously what can be better.  Farm fresh tomatos and crisp bacon and lettuce make this amazing sandwich a staple over the summer.  If you are not a bread eater, try the following recipe!

                                  BLT Cukes from TLC recipes

                                  3 slice bacon, chopped and cooked crisped/drained

                                  1/2 cup finely chopped iceburg lettuce

                                  1/2 cup finely chopped spinach or romaine lettuce

                                  1/4 cup diced tomato

                                  1 1/2 Tablespoons low fat or regular mayonnaise

                                  pinch of salt

                                  1/4 teaspoon pepper

                                  1 large cucumber

                                  minced parsley or green onion (optional)

                                             1. Combine bacon, lettuce, spinach, tomato and mayonnaise. Season with salt and pepper; set 

                                   aside.

                                  2.Peel cucumber. Trim off ends and slice in half lengthwise. Use spoon to scoop out seeds; .

                                    discard seeds.

                                  3.Divide BLT mixture between cucumber halves, mounding in hollowed areas. Garnish with            

                                   parsley. Cut into 2-inch pieces
                                              4. Can be made up to 12 hours in advance and refrigerated until ready to serve


8. Fresh Fruit--- This one is simple and no recipe needed.  Eat it up, fresh fruit is abundant in the summer.  Amazing fruit that we don't  always have access to, at least fresh from the tree or the vine.   Melons, peaches, plums nectarines, berries of all kinds.   Eat them plain, on ice cream, on cereal, add them to pancakes, you name it there is a fruit that will fit the bill.

9. Fair Food, or Beach Food.----yes, I am aware that fried food and greasy food is not the best for any of us.  Especially those of us that have chronic pain and IBS or bowel issues, but you have to admit, a funnel cake or french fries from the fair or board walk are worth almost everything.  So remember when you are going out that we all deserve a treat once in a while.  Cotton Candy, a candy apple, Chocolate covered strawberries, just don't over do it and be careful.  Oh did I mention the carmel corn.  LOL!


10.  LASTLY.....------CORN ON THE COB--- you have to love it.  It says summer right there with  you.  If you are one of the lucky ones that don't get added pain from tomatoes (night shade plants), let  me tell you, sliced tomatoes and corn on the cob are dinners that take me back to my childhood.  


We used to go to a local road side stand called the Corn Wagon, along with almost the rest of Lancaster County where I grew up.  You always got a baker's dozen for their price, and when I was a kid it was about $0.75.  Last year I remember getting it for about $2.00 for 13 ears of corn, brought right to the location in huge wagons straight from the fields.  We would buy 10 or more dozen, go home and with my grandma and mom, husk all the corn, and cook it up.  What we did not eat, we would cut off the cob and freeze.  This happened at least once a week the whole time corn was available.  The corn wagon also sold tomatoes, melons and all sorts of other vegetables.  We would have a ball, get all our good for you stuff, make dinner out of the straight from the farm stuff.  Those were the great days.


Well, a little late in finishing up my Ten on Tuesday, that held over into Wednesday, but it is here in all of it's glory.  10 Coolest Summer foods.    What are your favorites?  Please share them here.  Recipes for quick easy summer meals would be great.  In the mean time, try and stay cool, remember what is best for us, unprocessed food.  So bring it, straight from the farm to your table.  Of course clean it up, but the purer the better.  Summer is the best time for it.  Have fun, stay cool, and do what you can.  Me, I think I am going to grab some blueberry cake I made from fresh blueberries.   


YES I DO LOVE SUMMER FOODS




Thanks to TLC Cooking.com for the top ten ideas, I just added my own recipess and anecdotes, plus It was an awesome idea for the first day of summer.  Besides, I have to agree completely with the list.  All my favorite stuff.