Red, White, and Blue Delight

Packed with kid appeal, this culinary nod to Old Glory, from cookbook author and FamilyFun contributor Ken Haedrich, is made by layering strawberry sorbet and vanilla and blueberry-flavored ice cream in a loaf pan, chilling each layer until it's firm. Served with homemade blueberry sauce and fresh fruit, it's a sweet, summery ending to any Independence Day meal.

Ingredients

• FOR THE BLUEBERRY SAUCE:
• 1 pint fresh blueberries, rinsed
• 1 tablespoon water
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice

• 1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
• FOR THE DESSERT:
• 1 pint strawberry sorbet
• 1 container (1 1/2 quarts) vanilla ice cream
• Fresh blueberries and strawberries for garnish

Instructions

1. Combine the blueberries and the water in a medium-size saucepan. Partially cover the pan, then bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat. Continue simmering the berries until they begin to break down, about 2 minutes. Stir in the sugar and cook the berries until they become soft, about 1 to 2 minutes more.

2. Stir together the lemon juice and cornstarch in a small bowl until evenly blended. Stir the mixture into the berries, then cook them at a low boil, stirring constantly, for 1 1/2 minutes. Remove the sauce from the heat and transfer it to a medium-size bowl. When the sauce is cooled, cover it and place it in the refrigerator to chill.

3. Line a 9- by 5-inch metal loaf pan with two sheets of crisscrossed plastic wrap, leaving a 3-inch overhang on all sides, then chill the pan in the freezer for 10 minutes.

4. Place the container of sorbet in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to soften, then spoon the sorbet into the pan and mold it, using a sheet of plastic wrap to smooth the top as needed. Cover it with foil and freeze it for 2 hours. The last 30 minutes, soften the vanilla ice cream in the refrigerator. Remove the pan from the freezer, add half the vanilla ice cream, mold it, cover it with foil, and freeze it and the remaining ice cream for 30 minutes. For the third layer, mix the remaining ice cream with 3/4 cup of the blueberry sauce, and add it to the pan. Freeze the dessert for one more hour.

5. Chill a platter in the refrigerator for 15 minutes. Right before serving, thin the remaining blueberry sauce with a spoonful of water or orange juice. Invert the dessert onto the platter, unwrap it, and garnish it with fresh berries. Use a sharp knife to slice the dessert, and serve it with the sauce. Serves 10. Nutritional Information
   Per serving (1 slice, 10 servings per recipe, with 2 tablespoons of blueberry sauce):
   Calories 277
   Total Fat 10 g (15% DV)
   Saturated Fat 5 g (27% DV)
   Cholesterol 54 mg (18% DV)
   Sodium 58 mg (2% DV)
   Total Carbohydrate 46 g (15% DV)
   Fiber 0.9 g (4% DV)
   Sugars 43 g
   Protein 4 g (8% DV) (Percent daily values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.)

Fruit Flag!!!

What a way to ring in the 4th with this fruit flag cake!!!!

1. Hull and halve 29 large strawberries and set them aside.

2. Arrange 30 large blackberries, as shown, in the upper left corner of a serving tray or cutting board (it should be at least 8 by 13 inches).

3. Cut 58 banana slices, 3/4-inch-thick, into a bowl. Sprinkle on lemon juice and toss the slices gently with a rubber spatula to keep them from browning.

4. Assemble the banana slices in rows as shown and top each slice with a strawberry half

Antipasti Salad

Prep Time:

20 min

Inactive Prep Time:

--

Cook Time:

--

Level:

Easy

Serves:

4 to 6 servings

Ingredients

Salad:

• 1/4 medium red onion, minced
• 1/2 medium fennel bulb, trimmed and cored
• 1 (15-ounce) can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
• 4 jarred roasted sweet red peppers, chopped (about 3&4 cup)
• 1 (6-ounce) jar marinated artichoke hearts, rinsed, drained, and quartered, if whole
• 2 cups baby arugula
• 1 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves
• 1/4 cup kalamata olives, pitted (about 2 ounces)
• 1/2 to 1 cup freshly shaved Parmigiano-Reggiano

Dressing:

• 1 small garlic clove, peeled
• 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon freshly grated orange zest
• 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Directions

For the salad: To mellow the minced onion, soak it in cold water for 10 minutes, then drain well, pat dry, and put in a serving bowl.

Meanwhile, make the dressing: Smash the garlic clove, sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon of the salt, and, with the side of a large knife, mash and smear the mixture to a coarse paste. Put the paste in a bowl and add the orange zest, vinegar, remaining 1 teaspoon salt, and black pepper, to taste. Gradually whisk in the olive oil, starting with a few drops and then adding the rest in a steady stream to make a smooth, slightly thick dressing.

Using a handheld mandoline or a knife, cut the fennel lengthwise into long, thin slices. Add to the onion and toss with the chickpeas, peppers, artichoke hearts, arugula, parsley, and dressing. Scatter the olives and shave the Parmigiano-Reggiano over the top.

Shopsmart: Baby arugula has smaller, more tender leaves and a slightly less peppery and assertive flavor than "grown-up" arugula.

Know-How: Parmigiano-Reggiano shavings are a simple way to add texture, taste, and eye appeal to salads. To make them, hold the cheese firmly in 1 hand and run a vegetable peeler firmly across the longest edge of the cheese to peel off long, thin strips.

Thanks to Food Network for the recipe and picture!!!

Brown Rice, Tomatoes and Basil

Sah's pick 2 of the day! Brown rice with tomatoes...mmmm

Prep Time:

5 min

Inactive Prep Time:

--

Cook Time:

40 min

Level:

Easy

Serves:

6 servings

Ingredients

• 1 cup Texmati brown rice
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
• 1/4 cup Champagne or rice wine vinegar
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 1 tablespoon good olive oil
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 1 pound ripe tomatoes, large-diced
• 1 cup packed basil leaves (1 large bunch), chopped

Directions

Bring 2 1/4 cups water to a boil and add the rice and 1 teaspoon of the salt. Return to a boil, cover, and simmer for 30 to 40 minutes, until the rice is tender and all the water is absorbed. Transfer the rice to a bowl.

Whisk together the vinegar, sugar, olive oil, remaining teaspoon of salt, and a pinch of pepper. Pour over the rice. Add the tomatoes and basil. Mix well and check the seasonings. Serve at room temperature.

Thanks to Food Network for recipe and picture!!!

Grilled Mixed Fruit

Sah's pick 1 of the day!!! Grilled fruit! Yummm

Prep Time:

20 min

Inactive Prep Time:

--

Cook Time:

15 min

Level:

Easy

Serves:

4 to 6 servings

Ingredients

• 1 pint strawberries, hulled and halved
• 4 bananas, halved lengthwise
• 1 cup fresh blueberries
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh mint leaves
• 1 lemon, juiced
• 3 tablespoons simple syrup, recipe follows

Directions

Place a grill pan over medium-high heat.

In a medium bowl, toss the fruit in the sugar to coat. Grill over medium heat, until a golden crust begins to form on the fruit, about 3 to 4 minutes per side.

In another medium bowl, mix together the mint, lemon juice, and simple syrup. Arrange the fruit on a serving platter, drizzle the mint syrup over top, and serve.

Simple syrup:

• 1/4 cup water
• 1/2 cup sugar

In a saucepan, combine water and sugar over medium heat. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes, or until the sugar has dissolved. Take pan off heat and cool the syrup before using. Any extra cooled syrup can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

Yield: 1/2 cup

Thanks to Food Network for the recipe and picture!!

Strawberry Spinach Salad

Strawberry Spinach Salad

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Ready In: 1 Hour, 10 Minutes


Ingredients:

* 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
* 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
* 1/2 cup white sugar
* 1/2 cup olive oil
* 1/4 cup distilled white vinegar
* 1/4 teaspoon paprika
* 1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
* 1 tablespoon minced onion
* 10 ounces fresh spinach - rinsed, dried and torn into bite-size pieces
* 1 quart strawberries - cleaned, hulled and sliced
* 1/4 cup almonds, blanched and slivered

Directions:

1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the sesame seeds, poppy seeds, sugar, olive oil, vinegar, paprika, Worcestershire sauce and onion. Cover, and chill for one hour.
2. In a large bowl, combine the spinach, strawberries and almonds. Pour dressing over salad, and toss. Refrigerate 10 to 15 minutes before serving.

Nutritional Information open nutritional information:

Amount Per Serving Calories: 491 | Total Fat: 35.2g | Cholesterol: 0mg

**This isn't one of my recipes, this is the site of where I got it so I'm giving credit for using it:http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Strawberry-Spinach-Salad-I/Detail.aspx

Enjoy!