A SALUTE TO THE 4TH Written by Arleen M. Kaptur
Fourth of July celebrations - bands playing, flags waving, firework displays and a lot of parades and fun! There are games, and outdoor sports, military displays, music, pageants and contests. Family picnics and barbecues are choice of day. Homes and backyards are decorated with flags, streamers, and all sorts of fun items that are red/white/blue. However you decide to celebrate - have fun with family and friends. Enjoy great outdoors and let Mother Nature help in your entertaining plans. Here are some ideas for Fourth of July entertaining: Firecracker Punch - 2-1/2 cups cranberry juice cocktail, icy cold 1 6-oz. can frozen lemonade concentrate that is thawed but not diluted 1/2 cup sweet vermouth, chilled 3/4 cup ice water Combine all ingredients. Serve with red or blue straws and lemon slices. ******************** FRUITY FAVORITE COOKIES Need a fast dessert - but one that will impress your guests - try this - Using sugar cookies, cut them in half. Using vanilla frosting divide frosting into two bowls. Color one with red food coloring for a “pretty watermelon pink/red” and other with green food coloring. Cut each cookie in half and frost with pink frosting. Pipe green food coloring around edges for “rind”. Then using chocolate chips, give your watermelon cookies some “seeds”. Place on a pretty plate and dazzle your guests! Your watermelon cookies will be hit of barbecue! ************************ Or try cutting your favorite cookie dough with star-shaped cutters. Then sprinkle cookies with colored sugars - some red, some blue, and some white. Place in a basket with a colorful napkin and your “stars” will shine! ************************ Use fresh fruit to bring out colors of fourth. - On a large platter, lined with lettuce leaves, place a bowl of creamy fruit dip in center - 1 pkg. (8 ozs.) cream cheese, softened, 1 jar (7 ozs.) marshmallow cream, 1 tbs. milk In a bowl, combine all ingredients until smooth. Around bowl of dip, place strawberries, uncut, washed, with stems intact for easier handling, and tiny skewers with tiny white marshmallows and juicy blueberries. All colors and delights of day!
| | THE PLEASURE OF PEACHESWritten by Arleen M. Kaptur
A peach is a all-in-one marvel. The scent is light and sweet, skin is fuzzy and smooth, and taste - oh, juice with each bite just drizzles down and natural flavor penetrates each slice. It is a favorite just plain, warm and succulent - but have a napkin nearby to catch essence of peach that drips down your chin. The color is hue of a sunlit morning and sound of your teeth cutting through flesh just gets your taste buds ready for an authentic taste of summer. If you want something a bit more fanciful than a plain peach - try some of these: FRESH PEACH TORTE - In a mixer, combine 6 egg whites, 1/4 tsp. salt and 1/2 tsp. cream of tartar. Beat until eggs have doubled in volume. Add 1-1/2 cups sugar, very slowly, being sure that sugar is dissolved. Beat in 1-1/2 tsp. vanilla. Spoon this mixture into a buttered 8” springform pan. Make a depression in center, about 5” wide and 1” deep. Place in a preheated 400 degree oven. Place cake in oven, close door and shut off heat. Let this meringue stay in oven for 12 hrs. or preferably overnight. Do not open oven door. The following morning, remove from oven and run a spatula around edges. Release spring and very gently remove sides. Loosen meringue from bottom and place on a serving plate. Peel and slice 2 lbs. of fresh peaches, sprinkle them with 2 tbs. of fresh lemon juice. Add 1/4 cup sugar and gently toss. Soften 1 envelope unflavored gelatin in 2 tbs. water. Place in a pan of hot water; stir until completely dissolved. Stir gelatin mixture into peaches, and chill in refrigerator until mixture has thickened. Whip 3/4 cup heavy cream until very thick, adding 1 tbs. sugar slowly while whipping. Stir in 1/4 tsp. vanilla into whipped cream.
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