4th of July Celebration Treats!

First of all, I do not want to take credit for these recipes. However, I will take credit for finding them! haha 

For those of you who do not know what Sean and I are doing this summer (2014), we are out in Lake Charles, Louisiana! Sean is selling security/alarm systems for a company called Vivint.  I'll admit, there are times where I just wish I were with family, or had friends out here, BUT I wouldn't trade this experience for anything. Not only is it an experience for both Sean and myself, it is an ADVENTURE that we get to go on together! :) 

There is a point to this.... I promise.

While out here by myself in the apartment between 10-13 hours 6 days a week, I find many things on Pinterest, the Elevate Wives "Life Elevated" blog, and many other online doohickeys.  

I was reading through the "Life Elevated" blog and came across these delicious recipes! Don't tell my husband, but I really want to try the 2nd recipe on here: American Flag Fruit Pizza!

- - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

THE 3 F's of the 4th of July!

Wow-wee! Can you believe it is already the middle of the summer, and we are celebrating the 4th of July this week? I definitely can't! The 4th of July has always been one of my favorite holidays because we get to celebrate our freedoms in many different ways! I feel truly blessed to live in such a wonderful place and to have the freedoms that I do! 

Some of my favorite things about the 4th include and are not limited to: 

1. FIREWORKS
2. FOOD
3. FAMILY

Red, White and Blue Strawberries! YUMMY!

What you will need:

• Strawberries
• White Chocolate (you can use chocolate chips, almond bark, etc).
• Blue Sprinkles
• Wax paper

Directions:

• Wash and dry your strawberries. Make sure the strawberries are completely dry or the chocolate won't stick.
• Melt the chocolate over the stovetop. Chocolate burns really easy, so make sure the temperature is on medium-low or low. 
• Once the chocolate is melted, dip each strawberry in the chocolate. Once you have the strawberry dipped, you can then dip a 1/4 of the strawberry into the blue sprinkles that you have poured in a bowl. Then set on the wax paper. If you'd rather you can just sprinkle the blue sprinkles onto the strawberry as it sits on the wax paper.
• Enjoy eating your yummy and festive red, white, and blue strawberries! 

American Flag Fruit Pizza

Not only is this great for an evening snack while watching and lighting off fireworks, it's also great for breakfast!

Ingredients

Crust (regular way) :

• 2 cups flour
• 1/2 cup cornstarch
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2/3 cup margarine
• 2 beaten eggs

Directions for the regular way:

• To make the crust you will need to sift the dry ingredients. Cut in margarine until crumbly. Add beaten eggs. Mix. Press into greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes and cool. 
• For cream cheese topping you will mix cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla. Spread over crust. 
• Then place your sliced fruit on the pizza forming the American Flag. 

OR ......

Sugar Cookie Crust

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg, at room temperature
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 and 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch

Directions for Sugar Cookie crust:  

In a large bowl using a hand-held mixer or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the softened butter for about 1 minute on medium speed. Get it nice and smooth, then add the sugar on medium speed until fluffy and light in color. Beat in egg and vanilla. Scrape down the sides as needed. 

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and cornstarch. 
With the mixer running on low speed, slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients in 3 different parts. 
Once completely combined, cover the dough tightly and chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes and up to 1 day. 
Without chilling, your cookie dough may spread over the sides of the pan.

• Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Spray a 12-inch pizza pan with cooking spray. 

Remove chilled cookie dough from the refrigerator and press onto the pizza pan in an even flat circle.

Bake for 18-20 minutes or until the crust is very lightly browned. Over-baking will lend a hard crust. 

Allow crust to cool completely before decorating. You may put the crust in the refrigerator after 10 minutes of cooling at room temperature - this speeds up the process.

• Use this time (as the crust cools) to chop the fruit.

Cream Cheese Topping (used for either crust recipe) :

• 4 - 8oz cream cheese
• 1/4 unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
• 2 cups confectioners' sugar
• 2 TBSP. milk
• 1 tsp. vanilla

Toppings to make the American Flag:

• Strawberries, Bananas, and Blueberries

ENJOY the 4th with your Family and delight in some yummy treats and watch the Fireworks to your heart's content!