1 (3 oz.) pkg. vanilla instant pudding and pie filling
2 C of cold milk
1 (16 oz.) pkg. frozen banana breakfast quick bread loaf, thawed and cubed
2 (20 oz.) cans of cherry pie filling
1 (8 oz.) container of whipped topping, thawed

Prepare the vanilla pudding as directed on the box using the cold milk.

Place half of the bread cubes into a large glass bowl. Cover with a layer of cherry pie filling, a layer of pudding, then whipped topping. Add a second layer in the same order.
Cover and refrigerate for no longer than 24 hours. Makes 8 servings.

Note: Sliced bananas may also be added in each layer.

When it comes right down to it, some of the best gifts given at Christmas are given from the heart. What says that you took time and care more than a homemade food gift?

Now, if you want to make food gifts, there are a few tips you need to remember. For safety reasons and liability issues, food gifts not accepted at schools. You can give a gift to your child’s teacher but not to the students. Read more »

Dazzle your guests with holiday etiquette tips 101

(ARA) – You’ve spent the entire day cooking the perfect holiday feast. But it’s an hour before your guests arrive, and you find yourself standing in front of the table, listening to a little nagging voice in your head.

Does the knife go on the left, fork on the right, or is it the other way around? Is that centerpiece too tall? Should I go ahead and put food on table before guests arrive, or do I wait until everyone gets here?

If you can’t answer those questions, don’t feel alone. In today’s eat-on-the-run world, you’re not the only one to flunk holiday etiquette. Read more »

Quick, easy and divine desserts to impress holiday guests

(ARA) – The holidays are a time for gathering together with family and friends and enjoying delicious food. But when you are deciding what to serve or bring to your next celebration, don’t feel that you have to toil away in the kitchen for hours or even break the budget to provide tasty treats for your guests. Read more »

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Ingredients:
1 lb lean ground beef
2 tsp peppercorns
1 tbsp vegetable oil
1 tbsp green onions, finely chopped
1 tbsp red wine vinegar
1/4 cup yogurt or sour cream
1 tbsp parsley, minced

Method:
Heat up your BBQ.

Shape your ground beef into 4 hamburger patties and set aside.

Place the peppercorns on a large piece of foil or waxed paper. With a heavy object (bottom of pan) crush and crack peppercorns coarsely. Spread the cracked peppercorns evenly on the paper and place the four patties on top of them. Press down so that the peppercorns stick to the meat and turn around. Repeat until all peppercorns are used up. Put the peppercorn patties onto the BBQ.

In the meantime, heat vegetable oil in a pan and add the green onions and wine vinegar. Cook over medium heat until green onions are just done. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the yogurt/sour cream and parsley.

Spoon the sauce over the burger. Perfect for a Father’s Day BBQ!

Looking for some great food ideas for the Fourth of July? You’ve come to the right spot! Below are some ideas you can use to make your Fourth of July celebration fun and festive with food!

Flag Cake

1. Make a 13×9 cake using your favorite cake recipe (can be from a box mix too, any flavor)
2. Frost with white frosting (cream cheese or vanilla)
3. Use blueberries to make the stars of the flag in the upper left corner
4. Use strawberries to make the red stripes on the flag
5. For added spark (pun intended) add a few sparklers!

Red, White and Blue Cupcakes

1. Make your favorite flavor cupcakes
2. Divide white frosting into thirds. Color 1/3 with red food coloring and 1/3 with blue food coloring.
3. Frost each cupcake, alternating colors.
4. You can make little flags on each cupcake using the red, white and blue frosting.
5. Get little flags or sparklers to stick in the center of each cupcake

Need some ideas for lunch or dinner? Try these easy to make, yet fun food ideas!

Red, White and Blue Potato Salad – Use new red potatoes, white baby potatoes and blue or purple potatoes in your favorite potato salad recipe. (Leave the skins on the red and blue potatoes.)

Grilled Hamburgers with Bacon – Mix hamburger with chopped onion and Worcetershire sauce, form 1 inch thick patties and wrap each patty with a slice of bacon, securing it with a toothpick. Grill on each side about 5 to 7 minutes. Top with your favorite burger toppings.

Festive Steak Fajitas – Using grilled skirt steak, red and yellow bell peppers, onions and your favorite toppings like shredded cheese, lettuce and tomatoes, fold together in a warmed tortilla. A colorful main course that can be served with guacamole, refried beans and Spanish rice!

Faux Fried Chicken –  It looks like fried chicken, but it’s baked-healthy and delicious! Dip pat-dried chicken drumsticks in a mixture of buttermilk and your favorite seasonings and roll each of them in a crushed Cornflakes cereal mixed with parmesan cheese. Bake in the oven at 425 degrees for 40 minutes, or until the chicken is done. Serve with your favorite side dishes like corn on the cob and mashed potatoes! Great summertime meal, perfect for a Fourth of July celebration!

Here are a couple of festive, cool desserts or treats you can serve on the fourth. These are sure to please family and guests of all ages!

Frosted Fireworks –  Using red and blue flavored beverages, such as Kool-aid or Gatorade, pour into ice cube trays and freeze. Place some red, blue and clear cubes in a festive dessert glass and pour seltzer (flavored if you prefer) over the colored ice cubes. Toss in a little flag for added festiveness.

Red, White and Blue Fruit Salad – Toss diced apples, strawberries and blueberries into a mixture of honey, lime juice and fresh, chopped mint. Serve as a side dish with any entrée or use as a topping over vanilla ice cream.

These ideas will make for a festive, fun and colorful addition to any Fourth of July Celebration.

Red, White and Blue Food Ideas

Are you planning a smashing Fourth of July party, but don’t want to serve the traditional burgers or chicken? Here are some simple, yet very festive food ideas using red, white and blue. Use a combination of the following food ideas to create a red, white and blue Fourth of July Feast.

Red Foods

Main Course
New Mexico Style Red Enchiladas – Brown some ground beef, drain. In a large skillet, combine a large can of red enchilada sauce and 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil. In a separate skillet warm tortillas until just flexible. Then dip each tortilla in the enchilada sauce. Next, make layers starting with a dipped tortilla then add a couple of spoonfuls of meat, a couple of spoonfuls of the enchilada sauce. Top with shredded cheese. Repeat, making as many layers as you‘d like, but a good amount is usually 3. Top it all off with a fried egg and serve with a dinner roll. (Trust me!)

Salad
Summer Tomato Salad – Using not-too-ripe, coarsely chopped tomatoes and cherry tomatoes combine with chopped basil and parsley leaves. Drizzle EVOO and toss.

Appetizer
Fourth of July Apples – Combine an 8 oz. pkg. of cream cheese, 3 tbs. butter-softened, ½ cup of crumbled blue cheese, ½ cup chopped walnuts. Refrigerate for 3 hours. Core and cut apples into eighths and sprinkle with lemon juice. Use a butter knife to apply spread to apples.

Blue Foods

Main Course
Blue Catfish Fillets – Dip catfish fillets (patted almost dry) in ¾ cup blue cornmeal with finely chopped jalapeno pepper, 2 cloves of garlic and ½ tsp. salt. Heat one inch of oil in large skillet and fry the fillets until brown on each side and the fish begins to flake inside. Serve salsa, or lemon or lime wedges.

Salad
Blue Potato Salad – Using ½ lb. Peruvian fingerlings (blue potatoes), boil until soft, but not mushy. Gently mix in 2 tbsp. grainy mustard, ¼ cup white wine vinegar, 3 thinly sliced celery stalks, 2 tbsp. minced flat leaf parsley and 2 sliced green onions. Makes 8 servings.

Appetizer
Blue Cheese Ball – Using 3 (3-oz each) pkgs. cream cheese, 1 (4-oz) pkg. blue cheese, crumbled,1  jar Kraft Old English cheese spread, 1 small onion, grated finely, 2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce, Mix all together. Form into two balls, medium size then wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate overnight. Roll in chopped nuts. Serve with Blue Corn Tortilla Chips

Dessert
Blue Ice Cream – Scoop vanilla ice cream into a parfait bowl or other clear dessert cup. Add some blueberry syrup, fresh blueberries, another scoop of ice cream, some more blueberry syrup and top with whipped cream.

White Foods

Main course
Pork Steak in Mushroom Sauce – You can make this in the oven or in a crock pot. I prefer the crock pot because the pork comes out so tender! Place 6 to 8 boneless pork steak in crock pot; let cook for 2 hours on high. Add 2 cans of cream of mushroom soup, 2 cans of cream of celery soup and cook for 2 more hours on high. To bake in the oven, place the pork steak in a 13×9 glass baking dish, top with the cans of soup and cover with aluminum foil. Bake on 350F for an hour to an hour ½. Top with shredded cheese, if desired.

Salad
White Pineapple Salad – Drain 1 large can pineapple and reserve juice; add enough water to the juice to make 2 cups. Heat to a boil and add Jello, mix until dissolved. Chill until thick as syrup. Mash 2-8 oz. pkgs. cream cheese and add to Jello mixture. Mix well with mixer. Add ½ pt. whipped cream and 1 cup crushed nuts, mix well. Pour into a 9x 12 dish and chill well.

Appetizer
White Pizza Bagel Bites – Using 1 pkg. frozen bagel bites, place on cookie sheet, cut side up. Sprinkle with garlic powder and bake until lightly toasted. Top with shredded mozzarella cheese, sliced olives and chopped green pepper. Bake for 5 more minutes, until cheese is melted.

Dessert
All American Cup Cakes – Make cupcakes using your favorite recipe, top with white frosting. Make a flag on each one using blueberries for the stars and red licorice pieces for the stripes.

In our small town, the Fourth of July is a huge, all day party in the park, starting with a parade in the morning and ending with the fireworks after dusk. When my children were small, we would go to the park early and make our “base camp” for the day. Because we live in a small town, as my children got older, they could then go around with their friends to the various activities and check in periodically back at the base camp.

We would pack enough food to last the whole day including snacks and beverages. We usually plan to eat one meal “out” because, well, it’s fun and a nice treat. We also plan on buying other special treats and beverages throughout the day, which lessens the weight of the cooler.

The best way to pack for a day long park party is to make it light and easily accessible. The way to accomplish this is by planning ahead. We usually take lots of finger food that is nutritious, yummy and doesn’t require refrigeration. We try to tote only one cooler to the park and this is usually easily done since we do get some drinks and other goodies in the park.

First, put what beverages you do plan on taking (like bottled water) in the bottom. Cover them with ice. Then put all your snacks and other food items that need to be kept cold on the top of the ice. Be sure to seal them all in zippered baggies to seal out moisture.

Some great snack ideas that are healthy and easy to pack for a long day in the park are:

• Chopped, raw veggies
• Nuts
• Dry cereal
• Cheese slices or cubes
• Beef Jerky
• Peanut butter and crackers
• Goldfish
• Pickles
• Firecracker Pretzel rods (recipe below)

How to make Firecracker Pretzel Rods:

Dip pretzel rods in melted white chocolate chips or almond bark. Decorate with red white and blue sprinkles. Allow to harden before packing to tote.

Want to add a bit of flavor to your water? Throw in some individual packs of powdered drink mix (flavored water, kool-aid, etc.) to add to bottled water.

Another thing to think about when planning your Fourth of July in the park is comfort. You will want to take lawn chairs or beach chairs, blankets and even pillows. In our neck of the woods, it can get really chilly at night, yes even on the Fourth of July! Be sure to take an extra blanket in case moisture builds up from the dew.

You will also want to have baby or hand wipes on hand for spills, stickiness and other such uses. You never know how accessible clear running water will be, or if the restroom will be clean. I know our public restroom at our park gets quite nasty. We try to use one of the nearby restaurants when we get food. Obviously, you have to do what works in your park or town.

As always, use caution when lighting your own firecrackers and sparklers. Please don’t leave lighters or other matches lying around for small fingers to get a hold of and be sure you only use legal firecrackers. They are illegal for a reason!

Celebrating the Fourth of July with friends and family is always fun and can be a great time for family reunions. I know I’m always trying to come up with easy ways to feed everyone, without it costing a fortune or taking hours to prepare. So here are 10, easy to make, inexpensive, finger foods that you can serve at your Fourth of July celebration!

1. Pigs in a Blanket: Using refrigerated crescent rolls and hotdogs, roll each hotdog in an unbaked crescent roll. Place in a 9X13 pan, bake according to crescent roll package directions. Serve with ketchup and mustard, or ranch dressing.

2. Easy Boneless Hot Wings: Bake up some plain, breaded chicken chunks according to package directions. Then dip them in a mixture of your favorite bbq sauce, hot sauce (like Frank’s or Tabasco), Mexican seasonings (i.e. Cayenne pepper, cumin, or Mrs. Dash Extra Spicy or Southwest Chipotle).  Serve with blue cheese dressing and celery sticks.

3. Cucumber Pita Sandwiches:  Mix softened pkg. of cream cheese and pkg. of dry Italian dressing powder mix until smooth. Refrigerate overnight. Spread on top of flat pita bread (not pockets). Place slices of unpeeled, patted dry cucumbers over spread, top with pita bread with cream cheese spread. Cut into triangles using pizza cutter and serve.

4. Taquitos: Warm some corn tortillas, just until flexible. Place some already prepared taco meat and shredded cheese in each of them and roll. Baste with vegetable oil and bake on 350F until crispy.

5. Fried Zucchini: Cut zucchini into ¼ inch slices. Heat ¼ inch frying oil in skillet; sprinkle each slice with garlic powder, lemon pepper and parmesan cheese. Fry until golden brown and flip; repeat steps. (Hint: wipe out oil with paper towel after each batch of zucchini to avoid blackening)

6. Cheese Puffs: Put 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese and ½ lb. butter in food processor and mix until smooth. Add a cup of flour and mix well. Roll out to ¼ inch thickness. Cut dough into 2 inch squares. Wrap a pimento olive with each square, sealing the seams. Place on cookie sheet and bake on 350F until golden brown and crispy.

7. Easy Nacho Cups: Using Tostitos Scoops, place a spoonful of already prepared warm taco meat in each scoop and top with shredded cheese. Top with your favorite nacho toppings such as: sour cream, salsa, sliced black olives, jalapeno slices, chopped onion and chopped tomatoes.

8. Pizza Roll-Ups: Unroll refrigerated crescent rolls into triangles. Sprinkle each crescent roll with garlic and Italian seasonings. Place 4 slices of pepperoni on each triangle. Place ½ a piece of string cheese on each triangle. Roll up, sprinkle with garlic and Italian seasonings again and bake according to the crescent roll package directions or until brown. Dip in warm pizza sauce.

9. Sweet Turkey Wraps: Soften ½ pkg. cream cheese and mix with 2 tbs. applesauce and 1 tsp. dried thyme until smooth. Spread evenly onto fajita size tortillas. Place thin sliced turkey on each tortilla and roll. Wrap each rollup in plastic and refrigerate for 2 hours until firm. Cut into one inch slices and serve.

10. Goldfish Crusted Chicken Fingers: Pour 1 bottle of buttermilk ranch dressing in a large bowl. Crush 1 pkg. of cheddar goldfish crackers in another bowl. Using chicken tenderloins, dip in dressing, allowing excess to run off, then dip in the crushed crackers. Place in foil lined pan, sprayed with non-stick cooking spray and bake for 10 to 15 minutes or until chicken is done inside at 350F. Dip in additional dressing if desired.

Fourth of July is the holiday to celebrate the history of the United States. Common elements of the holiday are red, white, and blue colors. Why not make patriotic red, white, and blue cupcakes for your Fourth of July picnic?

You’ve most likely made cupcakes before, so you know they aren’t difficult. You can create patriotic cupcakes in a number of ways. You can make colored cupcakes by using food coloring or you can decorate them with patriotic designs. Here are some ideas of ways to create red, white, and blue cupcakes your picnic guests will enjoy:

* Using a white cake mix of your choosing, follow the directions to make a cake. However, instead of merely frosting the cupcakes after they’ve cooled, take the time to decorate them differently. Ice each cupcake with Cool Whip and then place cherries and blueberries on the top. Be creative in how you decorate them to make them beautiful and yummy.

* Make and frost cupcakes as normal with cream cheese frosting. Use blueberries, red fruit leather, and the frosting to create a symbolic flag on top of the cupcakes. Of course, you’ll want to use small blueberries for the stars, the fruit leather for the red stripes, and the frosting as the white stripes.

If you’ve never made cream cheese frosting, it’s quite easy. Soften one package of cream cheese (8 ounces) and then blend it with 1/2 stick softened butter or margarine. Next, mix in one teaspoon of vanilla and gradually add one package (16 ounces) of powdered sugar until it is the correct spreading consistency.

* You can also create patriotic decorations on your cupcakes by using red and blue sprinkles on white frosting.  Carefully line the edge of the frosted cupcake with blue and then make a red star on top. Other colored candies can also be used for decoration.

* Using food coloring to make the cupcake batter red or blue is another option to consider. Layer the red batter on the bottom, followed by white, and then blue batter. The cupcake itself will be patriotic and it then can be decorated any way you please.

Let your children help you decorate the cupcakes. Not only will they have fun, they may surprise you with the patriotic designs they come up with. They’ll also feel proud about helping and can show off their artwork/cupcakes to those who may join you.

Patriotic red, white, and blue cupcakes will be a hit at your Fourth of July picnic or party. They’ll be easier to serve your family and guests. They’re sure to show your patriotic spirit on the day we celebrate freedom the birth and freedom of the United States of America.

You know how much your dad loves to barbecue. Why not use one of these five delicious recipes for a special Father’s Day barbecue and give him the day off? Of course, just because it’s “his” day, that doesn’t mean he’ll let you at his grill.

Grilled hamburgers are always a hit, but you may want to incorporate another of Dad’s favorites – blue cheese. While you’re preparing the two pounds of ground beef (preferably ground chuck), add ¾ teaspoon onion powder, 1/3 cup crumbled blue cheese, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 1 ½ tablespoons horseradish (optional), salt and pepper to taste. Mix this thoroughly and then form into patties. Grill the burgers over hot heat until they reach a minimum of 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Fix the burgers with your favorite fixings and enjoy!

Steaks are another grilling favorite and nothing could be better than a great grilled rib eye steak for Father’s Day. Mix together ¼ cup steak sauce and ¼ cup balsamic vinaigrette dressing. Add one clove or minced garlic and ½ teaspoon dried oregano. Combine this thoroughly and then pour into a zip top bag that holds the steaks. Let them marinate in the refrigerator for at least half an hour. Then grill for four to five minutes on each side.

Perhaps your dad prefers seafood. Why not grill up some spicy barbecue shrimp? The recipe is simple: ½ cup butter, 3/4 cup barbecue sauce, 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, 2 pounds of unshelled shrimp, ½ cup dry sherry, and cayenne pepper, black pepper, and garlic powder to taste. Toss the shrimp in the mixture and then prepare your grill. Be very careful when grilling the shrimp; you may need a fish tray or use skewers to keep the shrimp from falling through the grill. Cook for about four minutes on each side.

Barbecued ribs are another favorite. You’ll need six pounds of ribs, 1 1/3 cup ketchup, ¾ cup water, ¼ cup honey, 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce, 4 teaspoons lemon juice, 1 small onion, ½ teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon pepper. Mix all of the ingredients together except the ribs, and cook for ten minutes. Brush the ribs with sauce and cook the ribs over medium hot coals for about an hour.

Don’t forget about dessert! Why not prepare grilled pound cake with berries and ice cream. You’ll need one pound cake – already prepared or home-made, ice cream, and whatever kind of berries your dad likes most. Slice the pound cake and then heat each slice on a clean, hot grill for a couple of minutes or until you can see grill marks on each side of the cake. Remove the cake from the grill, then top each piece with a scoop of Dad’s favorite ice cream. Top it all off with ½ cup of fresh berries per slice.

Father’s Day comes but once a year. Try one or more of these five recipes for a special Father’s Day BBQ. With food like this, your dad may ask you to prepare the same feast next year.