4th of July Recipe

Many people take time during the 4th of July holiday to spend time with family and friends. It is a wonderful time for picnics, camping, fireworks, bar-b-que, and more!

I have fond memories of visiting my grandparents at their lake house for many 4th of July weekends. My grandmother, Mimmie, made delicious homemade Peppermint Ice Cream. The night before she planned to make the ice cream, she would fill a jar (about the size of a mayonnaise jar) with Old Fashioned Peppermint Sticks (the soft ones), then pour milk over the peppermint sticks and put the lid on the jar. She placed the jar in the refrigerator and let the peppermint sticks dissolve overnight. The next day she made ice cream in a traditional ice cream maker. The color of the ice cream was light pink, and the taste was perfect… not too minty but enough to be delicious. She would then serve it with chocolate sauce, of course. It was delicious! I miss meeting her in the kitchen for one last “taste” before bedtime.

While looking for fun 4th of July ideas for my own two children (ages 2 and 4), I found a recipe that looks tasty and fun. The colors are a sure-fire way to add red, white, and blue to your weekend. And if your children are anything like mine, they love to color. Below you will also find a link to printable coloring pages of the American Flag.

Patriotic Milk Shakes*
Serves 4 – simple, refreshing

Ingredients:

• 1 quart strawberry ice cream
• 1 cup milk
• ½ cup strawberry preserves
• ¼ cup frozen whipped topping, thawed
• ¼ cup fresh blueberries, washed

Directions:
In a blender, combine the ice cream, milk, and strawberry preserves. Blend for 1 to 2 minutes, or until well combined. Pour into glasses and top each with a dollop of whipped topping. Top with blueberries and serve immediately.
*Recipe provided by www.cdkitchen.com

Children’s Activity:
While having fun with family and friends, be sure to color and post pictures of the American Flag. Click this link for printable coloring pages of the American flag:
http://www.united-states-flag.com/american-flag-coloring-book.html

Until next time, enjoy a fun and safe 4th of July weekend with family and friends! I invite you to share your own favorite 4th of July memories, recipes, and activities with the readers of this blog and me. Thank you.