4Th Recipes: What Are You Serving/bringing???

This is a dessert recipe. I usually double it and serve it on a platter. Honest to goodness, I have never met someone who didn't like it. It's a VERY EASY ice cream cake recipe. Enjoy.

http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/oreo-fudge-ice-cream-...

my favorite thing for 4th of july, is set up water stuff for my kids in the backyard, like slip and slide, small pool, water guns, bounce house. i grab a chair, sit down and allow my husband to take over cooking
:)

Cuban Mac -n-Cheese..... mmmmmm....

Make homemade mac-n-cheese with white sauce and cheddar cheese, stir in cuben ham, diced onion and dill pickle, and about 1/4 c. of yellow mustard, it is a classic recipe with a little jazz up, very zesty and flavorful.

Flag cakes are great too.... yellow cake with whipped cream icing, strawberries for the red stripes, and blueberries for the star section...

Another thing I make for parties that everyone loves are strawberry skewers...
Cut the strawberry and husk them, plop 4 on each skewer, serve on a tray with the following dip...

1/2 a container of fluffernutter, 1/2 a container of cool whip, 1 small container of whipped cream cheese, and 1/4c. of strawberry quik mix (powdered).
Melt cream cheese and fluff until smooth and thin, fold in cool whip and quik mix.

i make cocktails weinies wrapped in bacon sprinkled with brown sugar-held together with toothpicks. bake for 45 minutes at 350. one pound of bacon is cut into thirds for each pack of weienies!!

also a fresh fruit boat-cut the watermelon into a basket and ball the melon out and put back in the basket and add other fresh fruits~

brownies and a taco dip are always a hit at a party!!

We have a large bbq every summer. Last year a guest brought these baked beans that looked not so good but oh my were they yummy! Everyone raved. Here is the recipe:

Libby’s Baked Bean Casserole

1 can (15.5 oz) cut green beans
1 can butter beans
1 can red kidney beans
1 can pork & beans
1/2 lb bacon
3/4 large onion, diced
1/2 cup vinegar
1 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1 teaspoon granulated garlic used ¼ t garlic powder
Garlic salt to taste

1. Drain and rinse all beans except pork & beans; put in large casserole dish
2. Fry bacon to crispy, chop and add to casserole
3. Chop onion and sauté in a portion of the bacon grease,
4. When onion is tender, add vinegar, brown sugar, dry mustard, and garlic salt. Cook until "bubbly".
5. Add onion mixture to casserole, mix gently, and cook at 350F for 1 hour.

That's the official recipe, Libby makes some minor changes as follows:
- Used apple cider vinegar
- Not as much onion or brown sugar

My other go to is Emeril Lagasse's Potato Salad with Ranch dressing instead of Mayo. It is so good. This year I am offering grilled veggies and a baked pasta dish for something different. My dessert that I always make is Southern Livings Baked Banana Pudding - very easy and soooooo good. That's another one where there is nothing left.

Have a great party!

These are great side salads:

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Black-Bean-C...

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Summer-Fruit...

Favorite at our party every year:
Taffy Apple Salad
6 snicker bars
4-6 granny smith apples
12 oz cool whip
8oz sour cream

Cut up snickers and apples into bite size pieces. Mix together cool whip & sour cream, add apples and snickers. Serve chilled.

I usually make a double batch because EVERYONE loves this!

Well this us super easy but always a hit. My hubby's family is very big and there is always so much food.....it makes it hard to bring something that isn't already there. So I am making chocolate, candy pretzels. You buy the bite size pretzels and place them on a baking sheet. Put a chocolate kiss ontop and Put them in the oven for just a minute or two to get the chocolate soft. Take out of the oven and top with any candy you like. I like peanut m&ms or peanut butter m&ms best. Then once the chocoate cools it seeps in all the pretzel holes and keeps the candy in place. People just live these and so easy to eat out side.

Recently found a great cake recipe, using fresh berries that are available now...It turns out to be Red, White and Blue!
Upside Down Berry Cake

1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
1 cup fresh blueberries
1 cup fresh raspberries or blackberries, halved
1 cup sliced strawberries
3/4 cup sugar
1 pkg raspberry or cherry gelatin
1 1/2 cups miniature marshmallows
1 pkg yellow or white cake mix
2 eggs
1 1/4 cup water
2 Tbsp Canola (or other) oil

In greased 13 x 9 baking dish, layer the nuts and berries. Sprinkle with the sugar, then the gelatin, then the marshmallows. (Believe me, you will never see the marshmallows again!) In a large bowl, combined cake mix, eggs, water and oil. (Disregard cake mix instructions on the box) Beat on low for 30 sec then medium for 2 minutes. Pour over the mixture in the baking dish.

Bake at 350 for 45 to 60 minutes until cake is set in middle. Cool for 10 minutes then invert (or not!!!) I usually just invert the piece of cake when I take it from the dish. Serve plain or with ice cream or whipped cream. It's very yummy! Refrigerate

Ingredients
1/2 cup almonds (toasted in butter)
1/2 cup of sunflower seeds (the inside)
1/2 cup olive oil
1/2 cup vinegar
1/2 cup sugar

2 (3 ounce) packages ramen noodles (I use chicken or oriental flavor)

1 (16 ounce) package broccoli coleslaw mix
1 bunch green onion

Directions
1Mix olive oil, vinegar, sugar and packets of seasonings from Ramen noodles.
2Let sit for 15 minutes.
3Chop green onions
4Mix onions with crushed Ramen noodles.
5Add broccoli slaw to noodles
6Stir in sauce mix and almonds.
7Marinate with sauce for about 1 hour.
8The longer it sits the more limp the noodles get.
9If you want the noodles to be more crunchy eat it sooner.

enjoy!

Cucumber and onion salad,
1 c. white vinegar
2 c. water
1tbs salt
1 1/2 tbs sugar
dash pepper
2-3 cucumbers sliced
1-2 onions sliced
make it the day before and throw it in the fridge to allow the juices to soak into the cucumber and onions.

Grilled corn

Grilled vegetables on skewers- red onions, cherry tomatoes, red & yellow peppers, egg plant, etc.

Arugula salad- just drizzle olive oil and add shaved parmesan- coarse salt & ground pepper to taste is you like but the parmesan is usually salty enough

Potato or tabouli salad

Hummus served with pita chips & any cut up veggie like carrots, etc.

We like to serve the sparkling punch with orange sorbet in it. I know it sounds weird but it tastes sooo good. My boyfriends aunt makes these tempura fried bacon wrapped shrimp. Ohhh they are so yummy. Sometimes I make chocolate dipped pretzels (mostly for the kids to grab and run off with).

Black Eyed Pea Dip (I know, I know....I don't like them either, but this is YUMM-O!!!! I promise!!!!)

2 cans black eyed peas (drained)
1 can white shoepeg corn (drained)
1 can original Rotel (drained)
1 green bell pepper (diced)
1 bunch green onions (diced)
1 small bottle Italian dressing

Combine all ingredients in large bowl and refrigerate for at least 6hrs before serving. I usually make it the night before to allow enough time for the flavors to marinate together. Serve with tortilla chips.

For large groups, I usually double the recipe above. Also...there are MANY different variations you could do. If you like more kick, use the hot version of the Rotel. You could also add black beans or even jalapenos. You really can't mess this one up. Enjoy!!! It's also a big secret that this is a healthy dip, too!! =0) It's cool and refreshing and extremely addictive. Have the recipe handy because I swear to you.......EVERYONE will want it!