Friday, July 3, 2009

Eat Cake! It's the Fourth of July, Celebrate!
~Be Safe~



In the State of New Jersey, all Fireworks are prohibited. In other states where they are permitted, check out this web site for Safety precautions and handling;

They urge SAFETY!
Check out the site! www.americanpyro.com



If you follow some simple tips,
you can avoid rushing to the Emergency Room this Fourth of July.

July 4th Safety Tips: Be Uber Careful with Fireworks!


Fireworks are not toys. Sadly there are many irresponsible folks who play with these explosive devices.

Many people even allow their children these fireworks to play with before the 4th of July extravaganza. This is the #1 reason why many children are rushed to the hospital each 4th of July.

Consider everyones safety when buying fireworks. Supervise your older children very closely if you're going to allow them to help you. Children under the age of 13 should not even be allowed to light their own fireworks. (thats NOT my personal recommendation though.) Use your judgement if you allow your children to help, only you know your child best to make the decision.

On a vacation someodd years ago we drove to Myrtle Beach, SC from our home state of NJ. It is tough to miss the shops dedicated to selling Fire Works, they are legal to 'set off' there. Being native New Yorkers, having spent many childhood years watching the grown ups set off a beautiful display of fire works made us want to have some fun with our kids on the beach. We didnt allow our kids to ignite any, our son was too young and our daughter who is older had no desire. It was a wonderful, SAFE and memorable night on the beach.




Featured Today will also be Fourth of July Fun Foods and Recipes, so Please Stay Tuned!

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RECIPES

This 4th of July, invite your kids to turn ice cream cones into edible, festive Uncle Sam top hats.
(© http://jas.familyfun.go.com/recipefinder/display?id=50261)




More: 4th of July Desserts RECIPE INGREDIENTS:
1 Wafer ice cream cone
White frosting
Blue fruit leather
Red and blue decorating gels
Red and blue M&M's
Canister of ready-made whipped cream
1. Place a scoop of vanilla ice cream on a plate and return it to the freezer to harden. Meanwhile, construct an Uncle Sam hat out of a wafer ice cream cone.

2. Use frosting to attach a blue band of fruit leather around the bottom of the cone. Squirt vertical stripes of red decorating gel down the sides and blue gel on the top.

3. Using a star tip, squirt on white frosting stars around the blue fruit leather, if desired. TIP: To avoid smudging the Uncle Sam hat design, have your child hold the cone from the inside while decorating it with fruit leather and icing.

4. Remove the ice cream-scoop "head" from the freezer and top with the Uncle Sam hat. Working quickly so the ice cream doesn't melt, add blue M&M's eyes and a red M&M's nose. Finally, add a whipped cream beard. To do this, have your child hold the canister upside down while squirting on a long white beard.

5. Serve up your Uncle Sam ice cream cone immediately.
Makes 1.


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FLAG CAKE






Make this festive Flag Cake this Memorial Day or Fourth of July and be the talk of the party!!


    Ingredients

Margarine
Flour
1 package (2-layer size) white cake mix (plus ingredients to make cake-listed on box)
1 package (4-serving size) JELL-O brand gelatin, any red flavor
1 cup boiling water
1/2 cup cold water
3 1/2 cups (8-ounce container) Cool Whip brand whipped topping, thawed
1 pint strawberries, washed and sliced
1 cup blueberries, washed
1 cup Kraft miniature marshmallows

Tools
13 x 9 baking pan
Large fork (two-pronged type)
Medium mixing bowls
Mixer
Measuring cup
Rubber scraper or large spoon
Large tray or cutting board (must be larger than 13 x 9 pan)
Table knife
Aluminum foil

Directions
Grease 13 x 9 pan with margarine and dust lightly with flour. Prepare, mix and bake cake mix according to package directions. Cool cake for 15 minutes.
With large fork, make holes in cake about every 1/2 inch.

Pour gelatin into mixing bowl. Add cup of boiling water and use scraper to mix thoroughly until gelatin is completely dissolved. Use measuring cup to pour gelatin over cake. (It will run down into holes, making sliced cake have red stripes.)

Chill cake in refrigerator 3 to 4 hours.

Cover tray with aluminum foil.

Put about one inch of warm water in kitchen sink. Take pan out of refrigerator and dip bottom (don't let water come up over sides) into water for about 10 seconds. Put large tray on top of cake, and invert.

Frost sides and top with whipped topping. Arrange strawberries and marshmallows in alternating rows for stripes, leaving upper left for field of blueberries. Chill again until time to serve.
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Emeril Lagasses Deviled Eggs


Copyright 2009 Television Food Network G.P.,All Rights Reserved

Prep Time: 30 min Inactive Prep Time: 0 min Cook Time: 0 min Level:
Easy Serves:
12 deviled egg halves
Ingredients
6 eggs, hard boiled, cooled, and peeled
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon white wine vinegar
1 teaspoon finely chopped chives
Hot pepper sauce
Paprika
Salt and pepper
Variation: add 1 teaspoon chopped canned jalapeno peppers
4 radicchio leaves, for garnish
3 parsley sprigs, for garnish
Directions
Place the cooked egg yolks in a bowl. Using a fork,
work the mayonnaise, mustard, vinegar, chives, and salt and pepper into the yolks to form a smooth paste.
Taste. Place 1/2 of this mixture in a small pastry bag with a large star tip. To the remaining mixture, add
the jalapenos and season with Hot pepper sauce. Fill 6 of the egg halves with the basic filling. Fill the pastry bag with the jalapeno filling. Fill the remaining egg white halves. Top with paprika. Place on a
platter on the radicchio leaves, and parsley sprigs.