4th of July Recipe Ideas

Patriot Parfaits

No-Bake Fruit Parfaits layered into mini canning jars that are easy to make ahead of time for party-ready treats.

1. In 1-quart saucepan, stir together sugar and water. Heat to boiling on high, stirring occasionally; stir in blueberries and lemon juice. Remove from heat. Let cool completely.
2. In large bowl, with mixer on medium speed, whip cream until soft peaks form. Gently fold in cooled blueberry mixture.
3. Place a single layer of angel food cake on bottom of 1 canning jar. Top with 2 tablespoons strawberries, then 2 tablespoons blueberry whipped cream. Repeat layering of cake, strawberries, and whipped cream. Repeat with remaining 7 jars. Serve immediately, or replace screw caps and refrigerate up to 1 day. Before serving, top each parfait with 1 tablespoon coconut.

Cucumber and Tomato Salad

So simple and so delicious!!

• 2 cucumbers-peeled and sliced or quartered
• 5 Roma tomatoes-quartered
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoons rice vinegar
• Dill seasoning and salt and pepper to taste

1. Combine all above ingredients and mix well.
2. Refrigerate for a few hours before serving. No carbs!! And it’s healthy and delicious!!

4th of July Fruit Kebob

Easy and Healthy Dessert Option

• A set of skewers (bamboo, 6-8 in.)
• A seedless watermelon (or half a large watermelon)
• Blueberries (7-10 per average sized skewer)
• Star cookie cutter

1. Wash blueberries, sticks, and slice watermelon to fit the width of the star cutter (mine is exactly 1inch thick).
2. Slide the blueberries onto the stick (start with whichever fruit you ultimately want on the bottom), with the pointed end of the skewer facing up.
3. Using the cutter, create a star shape out of the watermelon. Place the star at the top of the skewer, making sure the pointed stick is not exposed beyond the watermelon.

4TH OF JULY FIRECRACKER JELL-O CUPS

These kid friendly jello shooter desserts can be whipped up ahead of your celebration.

• 1 Blue Jell-O Gelatin (like 3 oz package Berry Blue)
• 1 Red Jell-O Gelatin (like 3 oz package Cherry)
• 1 envelope Unflavored Gelatin (like Knox)
• 1 1/3 cups boiling Water
• 1 cup Milk
• 1/4 cup Sugar
• Maraschino Cherries drained

1. If you can find tall shot glasses they will work best, but any clear glass will do.
2. Place blue gelatin in a bowl and add 2/3 cup boiling water.
3. Stir well until dissolved and allow to cool.
4. Fill each cup 1/3 full of blue and place in refrigerator.
5. Add 1/3 cup of milk to another bowl and sprinkle unflavored gelatin over top.
6. Heat remaining 2/3 cup of milk to a boil.
7. Remove from heat and stir in sugar to dissolve.
8. Add heated milk to gelatin/milk mixture and stir until blended.
9. Allow to cool.
10. Gently fill all cups the next 1/3 of the way with white mixture and return to refrigerator.
11. Place red gelatin in a bowl and add 2/3 cup boiling water.
12. Stir well until dissolved and allow to cool.
13. Place a cherry on top of each glass and add about 1/4″ of red gelatin to each.
14. Place in refrigerator for 5 minutes.
15. Pull from refrigerator and try to adjust to get stems to point upward.
16. Fill each cup the rest of the way with red and place in refrigerator.