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Be Waterlogged on the 4th of July

July 9, 2009 By The Recipe Mom Leave a Comment
boat-water

boat-waterIf you are lucky enough to have a boat to celebrate the 4th of July then you need to do so. You can swim, water-ski, water board and just lay and tan on your own personal place of freedom! Preparing food to take care of your family can cause some problems without some tried but true storage methods.

Coolers and food storage bags are a must for any on board meals. Coolers can keep your beverages cold as well as certain food items. Two coolers is, of course, the optimum thing to do. Put your cold beverages in one and then load the ice…in the second cooler load your ice then your food products.

Try buying white, red and blue plates, napkins and silverware to keep in the spirit of the 4th of July. It’s not necessary but can be quite festive. Also, plan on where you can go to buy more ice if you need to. Remember, cold is better than hot!

The best thing to do is fix things at home before going on the boat. Try fixing cheese cubes which are easy to eat and nutritious as well. Veggies are another great choice, just cut them up before leaving home and put in individual bags. Cold sandwiches are another great choice. Make the sandwiches then wrap them in individual foil packages and then place in a Ziploc bag. Add some chips or pretzels and you have a great meal!

During the off time, you still have to entertain the kids. How about making a 4th of July windsock? For the younger children, some help will be required but for the older ones, they can do it themselves.

Remove the bottom from a Quaker oatmeal container. Place and tape blue paper all over the cylinder. Cut out white stars from construction paper and tape to the blue paper. Using white and red crepe paper cut long strips to tape on one end of your cylinder. On the other end, punch 4 holes so you can tie two string pieces to them to make you windsock work. To finish it off, cut one long piece of string and tie to the two shorter ones to hang it by.

This will burn off the 30 minutes you are supposed to not swim after eating and make everyone happy. This is a great idea for the evening meal, because you know that fireworks are coming up and the kids will calm down and watch the great show above them. Drink, eat and be merry and have a happy and safe Independence Day!

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Celebrate July Fourth at a Park

July 7, 2009 By The Recipe Mom Leave a Comment
parktablewater

parktablewaterOn the 4th of July, in small town, USA, there really isn’t much to do! But some of the neighboring towns have some great firework shows and some all day activities that are great for the family to partake in.

Our nearby town has an art show, and face painting for the kids, and they usually have local bands or barbershop quartets at the bandstand that everyone wants to hear. So planning snacks can be a challenge. There are usually food vendors available but snacks and drinks and one meal can be packed from home. All you need to do is pre-plan.

Make sure to pack foods and drinks that are easy to use and get to. Snack foods and munchies can be packed in individual bags for handing out at any time. Drinks can be stored in a cooler along with some of the snacks that don’t require a lot of refrigeration but might be better kept at a cooler temperature.

The trick to packing a cooler is to remember to place your drinks on the bottom then pour ice on top then add your snacks on top. One cooler is usually enough since there are drinks and snacks also available at the park.

Packing snacks can be easy and healthy at the same time! Fruits like apples, grapes and even dried fruit are great choices! Add some nuts, maybe some dried cereal and you have created your own special trail mix. This is a treat that young and old will enjoy. Add some pudding snacks on top of the ice or some cheese cubes or slices and some crackers and another healthy snack is available at any time.

For drinking, try packing small bottles of water and the flavored packets they make now that you can add to it. Gatorade in small bottles is another great choice or even juice boxes in various flavors. This should satisfy even the most discriminating tastes.
Don’t forget the lawn chairs and the blankets! Even in July, sometimes the nights get a bit chilly and a light blanket is always appreciated. Besides, if you don’t use it to cover up with, you can always lay down on it to watch the fireworks overhead!

To clean up with, use the new hand sanitizers or baby wipes that are available in travel sizes. They don’t take up much space but can remove the sticky from anyone’s hands.

These are just some simple ideas for a great day at the park…do what seems to work for your family. Remember be safe and have a great Independence Day celebration.

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Celebrate the USA at the Beach

July 4, 2009 By The Recipe Mom Leave a Comment
beachfood

beachfoodGoing to the beach on the 4th of July can be a blast for the family. Planning the meals can be one of the biggest hassles. One of the best things to have on hand for the beach, 4th of July or not, is zippered baggies. Make sure you stock up on all different sizes for the different things you might want to prepare to eat!

Coolers and ice are a must for a great day on the beach! Keeping your food fresh and safe can be a hard task but can be done. 2 separate coolers are a good idea; keep one for drinks and one for food. Place the drinks in the cooler and cover with ice to keep them cold. Food, on the other hand, can prove to be a bit trickier. Some great ways to keep food safe are listed below.

Try to keep opening the food cooler to a minimum. This prevents all that cool air from escaping. Take along a portable grill and you can have steaks, burgers and even potatoes cooked on the grill if they are prepared correctly before going to the beach.

Prepare your hamburger patties before going on your beach trip and put a piece of foil or saran wrap between them so they don’t meld together. Place in a zip bag and remove right before grilling. Place the extra fixin’s, like onions, pickles, and tomatoes in a baggie before transporting them. Buy a separate set of condiments so clean up is easy and if you need to throw them away it doesn’t mean you have to replace them at home.

Steaks can be fixed the same way. Pre-season your steaks at home before leaving and place in a Ziploc bag and grill to your heart’s content. You can even put your steaks in a marinade and they will travel great in a baggie.

Place your potatoes in a foil pouch with some onions and mushrooms and place above the ice to store. Remove right before you put them on the grill. But remember they take about an extra 10 minutes to cook longer than your steak.

Chips at the beach can become stale very quickly! So instead of chips why not try to take peanut butter stuffed celery with raisins on top. Or how about a relish tray stored in zip bags, like carrots, broccoli, and celery. Nuts are also a great beach treat. Peanuts, walnuts and almonds can be a great snack for the kids and adults. Go nuts and have a great 4th of July and be safe!

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Fruited Picnic Salad

July 3, 2009 By The Recipe Mom Leave a Comment
fruited-salad

fruited-saladWhat You Need:

1 (11 oz.) can mandarin oranges with juice
1 (8 oz.) can crushed pineapple with juice
1/3 C of sugar
1 tbsp flour
1/8 tsp salt
1 egg, lightly beaten
2 C elbow macaroni, cooked
1 C whipped topping
1/4 C pecans, chopped

How to Make It:

Drain the juice from the two cans of fruit and pour into a 1 C measuring cup.
Add enough water to the juice to make 1 C.
Place the fruit into a bowl, cover and refrigerate.
Place the sugar into a large saucepan.
Add the flour and salt to the saucepan and toss to combine.
Stir the juice water mixture into the pan and stir until smooth
Cook the mixture over medium high heat, stirring continuously, 5 minutes or until thick.
Reduce the heat to low, cook 1 minute stirring continuously.
Remove the pan from the heat and remove 1 T of the mixture.
Stir the 1 T of mixture into the egg until well blended.
Pour the egg mixture into the saucepan and stir until combined.
Place the pan back on medium heat and bring it to a gentle boil.
Cook 2 minutes stirring constantly then remove from the pan from the heat.
Place the cooked and cooled macaroni into a bowl.
Pour the sauce over the macaroni and stir until coated well.
Cover the bowl and place in the refrigerator at least 8 hours or overnight.
Before serving, fold in the chilled fruit, whipped topping and sprinkle with the pecans.

Makes 8 servings

Although this salad sounds sweet it really isn’t. There is also no macaroni taste to this salad. It’s just a nice refreshing salad to serve on a hot July day. Add maraschino cherries

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Independence Day and Healthy Snacks

July 2, 2009 By The Recipe Mom Leave a Comment
flagpinwheel

flagpinwheelWhat do you think of when someone mentions the 4th of July? Lots of food, maybe the beach, and then fireworks at the park! With all that traveling and kids on the loose, snacks are a must-have for the day.

There are some great snack foods that can be packed at a moment’s notice for all ages of kids. Preschoolers and teens alike are always “starving” so get the zippered baggies out and fill them with a favorite assortment of goodies! Make sure that they are easy to tote, most of the following ideas are easily portable and healthy too.

Fruit is a great idea for the day. Raisins, grapes, apple slices or any dried fruit like bananas or pineapple can be put in individual bags and sealed for use at any time during the day or night. Nuts like peanuts, almonds, or walnuts or a mixture is also a great treat for the kiddies. Or be really creative and mix the fruits and nuts together to make your own trail mix!

Crackers are also a great choice and there is such a variety to choose from. Try the crackers shaped like goldfish or animal crackers for the little ones and there are wheat crackers, peanut butter filled crackers and graham crackers for everyone. The next time you are at the store, grab some fruit snacks, granola and/or cereal bars and pudding packs. Not only are these healthy but they are already pre-packaged for travel and convenience. Simply stick in a bag and go. Health food on the run and for fun!

The next thing to think about is something to drink! Kids are always “dying of thirst” and you want to make this as simple as possible. These days it is easier to pack healthy drinks for the family and much more convenient than it used to be. There are now all sorts of juice boxes at the local market. There is apple juice, grape juice, and tropical punch flavors to choose from. Mix and match and the kids will love you forever.

Gatorade now comes in smaller travel size bottles for easy packing and toting. Again, the flavors are not to be believed! If you prefer, you can always buy small bottles of water and for those who don’t like just water, there are now flavor packets like kool-aid that can be added to flavor it!

As you can see, snacks and drinks are now built for travel and convenience. What a great country we live in! So celebrate America’s birthday in style and have a safe 4th!

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Kidney Bean and Celery Salad

July 2, 2009 By The Recipe Mom Leave a Comment
kidney-bean

kidney-beanWhat You Need:

3 (16 oz.) cans dark red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 C of celery, sliced
4 hard cooked eggs, chopped
1 C of mayonnaise
1/2 C dill pickle relish
1 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp salt

How to Make It:

Gently fold together the beans, celery and eggs.
In a separate bowl combine the mayonnaise and pickle relish until blended together well.
Mix the sauce into the kidney bean mixture until completely covered.
Sprinkle with the salt and pepper and blend in well.

Makes 8 servings

If you would like your bean salad a little sweeter use sweet pickle relish instead of dill. Spoon the salad over a bed of lettuce before serving to spruce it up a little and remember because of the mayonnaise you must keep this salad cold by placing the serving dish over ice.

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Barbecued Hot Potatoes

July 1, 2009 By The Recipe Mom Leave a Comment
red-potatoes

red-potatoesWhat You Need:

2 lbs. russet potatoes, peeled and cut into large chunks
1 yellow onion, peeled and cut into chunks
1 tbsp bacon drippings
1/2 C of ketchup
1 tbsp red pepper sauce
1 tbsp sugar
1 tsp of salt
1/2 tsp pepper

How to Make It:

Cover the potatoes and onion chunks with water in a large pot.
Place the bacon drippings, ketchup and red pepper sauce into the pot and stir until well blended.
Add the sugar, salt and pepper and blend all the ingredients together well.
Position the pan over high heat and allow the water to come to a brisk boil.
Turn the heat to medium low and cook the potatoes in the sauce for 25 minutes.
Turn off the heat under the pan and allow the potatoes to rest in the sauce for 30 minutes.
Most of the liquid should be absorbed into the potatoes.
Turn the heat to low under the pan and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally or until the mixture bubbles.

Makes 8 servings

The red pepper sauce can be adjusted to suit your taste or can be left out completely if you prefer. Be sure to let the potatoes stand in the sauce to give them flavor and their red tint.

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Budgeting on the 4th of July

June 30, 2009 By The Recipe Mom Leave a Comment
eagleinsky

eagleinskyIt’s your turn to host your family’s 4th of July Extravaganza! Even so, your budget doesn’t have to be extravagant to create a festive place for everyone to gather, neither does the meal. Family, friends and fun is what the day should be about, not how much money you can spend. So with some simple planning and a little creativity, 4th of July can be done on a very limited budget.

Chicken is a great entrée and is usually inexpensive. Watch for sales in your local paper and buy ahead of time and freeze. Simply remove from the freezer, cut them up and place on the grill. Add some barbeque sauce or some of your favorite herbs and spices and you have a great start to a meal fit for a king or queen.

A cheap side dish is corn in the husks. Where we live, corn in the husks is sold at the local farmers market for about $2 for a dozen. Not only can you get it cheap, but it can be thrown on the grill with the chicken in the husks and it’s easy to cook.

How about watermelon for dessert? It is definitely one of the least expensive foods for how many pieces you can get. Mix with other fruits for a fruit salad, or serve by itself and you have a great summer treat!

There is nothing wrong with asking others to contribute a side dish for the day. Ask your favorite aunt to bring her special deviled eggs and you will probably make her day that you thought of her.

Decorations can be easy on a budget as well. White, blue and red decorations are available any time from mid May on, so you should find colored plates, cups, and silverware and table cloths at the dollar store. Buy some small flags and place in vases on the tables as centerpieces and before everyone leaves, let them take one home. That way they will always have something to remember your 4th of July party!

When issuing your invitations, ask everyone to dress in white, blue and red. This will make your backyard look decorated and everyone helped! Think about playing patriotic songs on the stereo for background music to help everyone remember what the day is about. And don’t forget to hang up the American Flag if you have one.

The 4th of July doesn’t have to be expensive to be fun and festive. Relax and enjoy your family and friends and be thankful for the USA!

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Sparkler Fruit Salad

June 30, 2009 By The Recipe Mom Leave a Comment
sparkling-fruit

sparkling-fruitWhat You Need:

1 C of blueberries
1 C of plums, sliced
1 C pitted cherries, sliced
1 C cantaloupe, chopped
1 C strawberries, sliced
1 C peaches, sliced
1 C of small green grapes
1 C of raspberries
1/4 C of lime juice
2 tbsp of honey
1 tsp grated lime peel
1 C lemon lime flavored sparkling water, chilled
Mint sprigs

How to Make It:

Lay the blueberries into the bottom of a 2 quart glass bowl.
Layer the plums then cherries over the blueberries.
Add the cantaloupe then the sliced strawberries and peaches.
Sprinkle the grapes then the raspberries over the top.
Whisk the lime juice and honey together in a mixing bowl.
Fold in the lime peel.
Pour the sparkling water into the mixture and whisk until blended in well.
Pour the sauce over the top of the fruit and allow it run through all the layers of fruit.
Add the mint sprigs for garnish.

Makes 8 servings

Try any combination of fruit in this refreshing salad. Watermelon, honeydew, nectarines, lemons and limes will blend in well. A lemon based sauce can also be used in place of the lime sauce by substituting lemon juice and lemon peel.

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Booming Firecracker Slaw

June 29, 2009 By The Recipe Mom Leave a Comment
cabbage

cabbageWhat You Need:

1/2 C of cider vinegar
1/3 C of ketchup
1 tsp red pepper sauce
1/4 C of sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1/2 head of green cabbage, shredded

How to Make It:

Pour the vinegar, ketchup and red pepper sauce into a mixing bowl.
Add the sugar, salt and pepper and whisk until the sugar has dissolved and the dressing is smooth.
Place the cabbage into a serving bowl and fluff with your fingers.
Pour the dressing over the cabbage and blend until all the cabbage is coated.
Cover and chill until ready to serve at least 1 hour.
Uncover and stir well before serving.

Makes 8 servings

If the cabbage seems too dry it’s okay. When you chill this slaw the natural juices from the cabbage will help to moisten the cabbage. After removing the slaw from the refrigerator and stirring it well there seems to be too much liquid, drain off the excess so the cabbage doesn’t become too mushy

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