Celebrate with Food

Fourth of July is a time of celebrating everything that is good about our country and I can think of no better way to celebrate than with food.  Here are a few recipes to help the celebrations sparkle!

 Red, White and Blue Summer Salad

Taste of Home

Total Time: Prep/Total Time: 25 min

Yield” 12 Servings

Caprese and fresh fruit always remind me of summer. In this salad, traditional Caprese flavors are combined with summer blueberries and peaches. Prosciutto is added for saltiness, creating a balanced, flavor-packed sidedish. —Emily Falke, Santa Barbara, California

 Ingredients

2/3 cup extra virgin olive oil

1/2 cup julienned fresh basil

1/3 cup white balsamic vinegar

1/4 cup julienned fresh mint leaves

2 garlic cloves, minced

2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

1 teaspoon sea salt

1 teaspoon sugar

1 teaspoon pepper

2 cups cherry tomatoes

8 cups fresh arugula

1 carton (8 ounces) fresh mozzarella cheese pearls, drained

2 medium peaches, sliced

2 cups fresh blueberries

6 ounces thinly sliced prosciutto, julienned

Directions

  1. In a small bowl, whisk the first 9 ingredients. Add tomatoes; let stand while preparing salad.
  2. In a large bowl, combine arugula, mozzarella, peach slices, blueberries and prosciutto.
  3. Pour tomato mixture over top; toss to coat. Garnish with additional mint leaves. Serve immediately.

Nutrition Facts

1 cup: 233 calories, 18g fat (5g saturated fat), 27mg cholesterol, 486mg sodium, 10gcarbohydrate (8g sugars, 2g fiber), 8g protein.

© 2021 RDA Enthusiast Brands, LLC

 

Crispy Star Pops

Taste of Home

TOTAL TIME: Prep: 30 min. Cook: 15 min. + cooling

YIELD: 15 pops.

 These patriotic pops are a hit at our annual Fourth of July get-together. Serve them as an after-picnic dessert. Or slip them into cellophane bags, tie on ribbons and give them as favors. —Colleen Sturma, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Ingredients

8 cups miniature marshmallows

6 tablespoons butter, cubed

12 cups Rice Krispies

12 Popsicle sticks

1 cup white baking chips

1/2 teaspoon shortening

Red, white and blue sprinkles

Directions

  1. In a Dutch oven, heat marshmallows and butter until melted. Remove from the heat; stir in cereal and mix well. Press into a greased 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Cut with a 3-in. star-shaped cookie cutter. Insert a wooden pop stick into the side of each star; place on waxed paper.
  2. In a microwave, melt white chips and shortening; stir until smooth. Spread over stars. Decorate with sprinkles.

© 2021 RDA Enthusiast Brands, LLC

 

Patriotic Taco Salad

Taste of Home

 TOTAL TIME: Prep: 10 min. Cook: 20 min.

YIELD: 8 servings.

One year, my daughter decided to celebrate her July

birthday with a patriotic theme. This colorful and

refreshing salad was the main dish on the menu. The

kids gobbled it up! —Glenda Jarboe, Oroville, California

 Ingredients

1 pound ground beef

1 medium onion, chopped

1-1/2 cups water

1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste

1 envelope taco seasoning

6 cups tortilla or corn chips

4 to 5 cups shredded lettuce

9 to 10 pitted large olives, sliced lengthwise

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved

 Directions

  1. In a large skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain.  Stir in the water, tomato paste and taco seasoning. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 20 minutes.
  2. Place chips in an ungreased 13×9-in. dish. Spread beef mixture evenly over the top. Cover with lettuce. For each star, arrange five olive slices together in the upper left corner. To form stripes, add cheese and tomatoes in alternating rows. Serve immediately.

Additional Notes:

  • Use white cheddar instead of orange cheddar to add to the theme.
  • Use sour cream in upper left corner & sliced olives as the stars to help them stand out more.
  • Add a can of refried beans over the beef
  • Use blue taco chips to add to the theme

 Nutrition Facts

1 cup: 357 calories, 20g fat (9g saturated fat), 63mg cholesterol, 747mg sodium, 24g

carbohydrate (4g sugars, 2g fiber), 20g protein.

© 2021 RDA Enthusiast Brands, LLC

 

Thank you for reading my post.  If you have found it encouraging please consider liking, commenting or sharing it.  Feel free to even re-blog – may these words take flight!

I have additional insights I’d love to share with you found in the pages of my debut book: Surviving Medical Mayhem – Laughing When It Hurts.  To order a copy or learn more go to my website at www.lorettaschoen.com

 

Blessings for Health & Wellness.

 

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