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3 Fresh and Fruity Dessert Recipes for Your Labor Day Weekend Picnic

August 29, 2017 by

In just a few days, we’ll be celebrating the unofficial end of summer, also known as Labor Day weekend. One of the most popular ways to say goodbye to the summer months—and celebrate the American Labor Movement–is to host a Labor Day picnic or family BBQ!

No gathering with family and friends is complete without dessert, so today, we’re suggesting some of our favorite fresh and fruity dessert recipes that are sure to please anybody’s taste buds.

Give them a try and let us know what you think!

Strawberry Pie Recipe

Pie is a classic and beloved American dessert and for good reason. It can be made ahead of time, is easy to throw together, and can be transported from your kitchen to any event. While there are many different types of pies you can make, we thought this recipe, featuring juicy summer strawberries is perfect for a summer picnic.

Ingredients:

  • 1 (9 inch) pie crust, baked
  • 1 quart fresh strawberries
  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 3 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 3/4 cup water
  • 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

Directions:

1.Arrange half of strawberries in baked pastry shell.

2. Mash remaining berries and combine with sugar in a medium saucepan. Place saucepan over medium heat and bring to a boil, stirring frequently.

3. In a small bowl, whisk together cornstarch and water. Gradually stir cornstarch mixture into boiling strawberry mixture. Reduce heat and simmer mixture until thickened, about 10 minutes, stirring constantly.

4. Pour mixture over berries in pastry shell. Chill for several hours before serving.

5. In a small bowl, whip cream until soft peaks form. Serve each slice of pie with a dollop of whipped cream.

Recipe source: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/15836/strawberry-pie-ii/

Blueberry Cobbler Recipe

We hope the only end of the summer blues you have this year are the blueberries in this delicious blueberry cobbler recipe. This 5-ingredient cobbler is easy to whip up in a pinch and travels well in a baking dish. Top it off with a little vanilla ice cream when you get to your picnic, and you’ll be in cobbler heaven!

Ingredients:

  • 6 tbs. butter, melted
  • 1 ¼ cups Original Bisquick mix
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 2/3 cup milk
  • 3 cups fresh blueberries

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Pour melted butter into 8 or 9-inch square baking dish.

2. In medium bowl, whisk together Bisquick mix, sugar, and milk; pour over melted butter.

3. Sprinkle blueberries evenly over Bisquick batter. Bake 42 to 47 minutes, or until golden brown. Serve warm.

Recipe Source: https://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/blueberry-cobbler/081e1713-454d-4d2d-a54d-7ea9579d29b2

Fruit Pizza Recipe

You just can’t go wrong with pizza…especially dessert pizza. This tasty treat is light, fresh, and completely customizable. Follow the recipe to a “t” or pick and choose your own dessert pizza toppings. With a sweet cookie crust and a mix of fresh summer fruits and berries, we can guarantee that this fruity dessert will be a crowd pleaser.

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 3/4 cup white sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp. cream of tartar
  • 1/2 tsp. baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp. salt
  • 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
  • 1/2 cup white sugar
  • 2 tsps. vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and 3/4 cup sugar until smooth. Mix in egg. combine the flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt; stir into the creamed mixture until just blended. Press dough into an ungreased pizza pan.

3. Bake in preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes, or until lightly browned. Cool.

4. In a large bowl, beat cream cheese with 1/2 cup sugar and vanilla until light. Spread on cooled crust.

5. Arrange desired fruit on top of filling, and chill.

Recipe Source: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/12604/fruit-pizza-i/

Do you have a favorite fruity dessert recipe? Share it with us in the comments below!

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3 Delicious Picnic Recipes for a Great Memorial Day Picnic

May 23, 2017 by

Every Memorial Day, we celebrate the courageous men and women who have died serving our country. If you’re a retired or active member of any of our armed forces, we thank you for your service!

On this special holiday, many people get their friends and families together and host a delicious picnic or BBQ. And while traditional burgers, potato salad, and watermelon slices are always good picnic staples, we thought you might like a few new ideas for your picnic menu this year.

If you’re hosting—or attending—a Memorial Day picnic, we recommend adding the following recipes to your menu to mix things up. We hope you love them!

Crisp Cucumber Salad

If you’re attending a picnic feast, chances are someone is already bringing your standard potato or green leaf salad. In an effort to not double up on the same menu item, we recommend giving this recipe for a crisp cucumber salad a try.

Not only is this a unique salad option, but it’s a cool and refreshing menu option for a hot day.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cucumbers, thinly sliced
  • 4 scallions, thinly sliced
  • 1/2 small red bell pepper, chopped
  • 1/4 cup sour cream
  • 3 tablespoons white vinegar
  • 3 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 1/4 teaspoons salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Directions:

1. In a medium bowl, combine cucumbers, scallions, and red pepper.

2. In a small bowl, combine remaining ingredients; pour over cucumber mixture.

3. Cover and chill at least 2 hours before tossing and serving.

Recipe Source: https://www.mrfood.com/Deli-Salad/Crisp-Cucumber-Salad

Shrimp Burgers

A burger is a classic summertime picnic staple. Yet, as tasty as they are, you’re bound to get bored of the traditional ground beef burger—especially if you cook out a lot or are attending more than one picnic over the weekend.

This year, impress your seafood-loving friends with a new twist on a classic menu item and make them a shrimp burger.

Ingredients:

  • 1 pound peeled and deveined medium shrimp
  • 1/3 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 scallions, white and green parts, thinly sliced
  • 1 large egg, lightly beaten
  • 1/4 cup canola oil

Old Bay Mayo Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 tablespoon Old Bay seasoning

Directions:

1. Coarsely chop half of the shrimp.

2. Put the remaining shrimp in a food processor and pulse until smooth. Then, combine both shrimp in a large bowl with the breadcrumbs, lemon juice, salt, garlic powder, pepper, scallions, and egg, and mix.

3. Refrigerate for 10 minutes, and then form into 4 patties. Refrigerate 10 more minutes.

4. Heat the oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the burgers, about 3 minutes per side.

5. Make the mayo by combining the mayonnaise and Old Bay to taste in a small bowl.

Recipe Source: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/katie-lee/shrimp-burgers-with-old-bay-mayo

Lime Margarita Bars

No picnic is complete without a tasty dessert.

These lime margarita bars are sweet, tangy, and salty and will be sure to please any palate. And don’t worry, despite the name, there is absolutely no alcohol in this dessert so they are 100% kid friendly!

Ingredients:

  • 1 1/2 cups finely crushed pretzels
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 3/4 cup (1-1/2 sticks) butter, melted
  • 2 (14-ounce) cans sweetened condensed milk
  • 3 eggs, lightly beaten
  • 1/2 cup fresh lime juice
  • 4 teaspoons grated lime peel

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a 9 x 13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.

2. In a medium bowl, combine pretzels, sugar, and butter. Press firmly into bottom of prepared baking dish.

3. Bake 8 to 10 minutes, or until crust is firm; remove from oven and cool slightly, leaving oven on.

4. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine remaining ingredients. Pour into cooled crust.

5. Bake 25 to 30 additional minutes, or until center is firm. Cool completely on a wire rack. Cut into bars and serve, or refrigerate until ready to serve.

Recipe source: https://www.mrfood.com/Bar-Cookies/Lime-Margarita-Bars-1550

What’s your favorite picnic recipe? Share it in the comments below!

Filed Under: Health and Wellness Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Fun Valentine’s Day Activity Ideas

February 7, 2017 by

Thanks to Valentine’s Day, February is commonly known as the month of love. On the 14th day of this month, many people show love to their friends, family, and significant others, while participating in Valentine’s Day activities.

While we believe that you should express your love for others throughout the entire year, we also know how fun it is to plan special surprises and events on Valentine’s Day.

To help you celebrate, we’ve put together a few of our favorite Valentine’s Day activities so you can plan the best day ever for your partner, friends, or family.

The best part—you can set aside some of these ideas to use throughout the rest of the year to show people how much you care.

Keep reading to discover some of our family Valentine’s Day activities.

Make a Homemade Meal

For many people, food is the key to their hearts. After all, who doesn’t love a home-cooked meal comprised of their favorite foods?

Taking the time out of your busy schedule to cook a meal on Valentine’s Day is a great way to show how much you care. And it’s easy, too!

All you need to do is find out your special Valentine’s favorite meal, and then cook!

Call up your girlfriends for a dinner party at your house, invite your parents or siblings over, or plan a special dinner in for you and your significant other this year. We promise you can’t go wrong with this idea!

 Make a Delicious Dessert

If you’re not much of a cook, but you love to bake, making a Valentine’s Day dessert may be good choice for you.

Here are a few different ways you can use dessert to say “I love you!”

#1 Make your partner’s favorite dessert and serve it as an after-dinner surprise.

#2 Bake a batch of desserts (like brownies or cookies) and hand them out at the office or to your neighbors.

#3 If you have children, make a dessert like cupcakes, and then get the whole family to decorate them and celebrate together.

Go Out for Coffee

Taking a friend, family member, or significant other out for coffee (or tea!) is a great opportunity to spend time with those you love.

This Valentine’s date idea is budget friendly, but most importantly, buys you precious time to chat and spend quality time with the ones you care about. Time together is certainly the best gift of all.

If you’re able, give your “Valentine” a gift card for future coffee dates throughout the year.

Have an In-Home Movie Night

Avoid the Valentine’s Day crowds and have a movie night in the comfort of your own home.

This type of activity works well when you want to celebrate with a bunch of friends, but want to keep the activity cost budget friendly.  Simply put together a list of people you want to celebrate with, pick a movie, and ask your friends to bring a sweet treat to share.

A movie night in is also a great option for a more intimate date night.

Pick out your significant other’s favorite movie, make a yummy movie treat, grab a cozy blanket, and enjoy a quiet evening  together.

Get Out the Crafts

If you have children, a Valentine’s Day crafting night can be a lot of fun.

We recommend using colored paper, stencils, and stickers to write Valentine’s Day cards for each other. This is a great way to remind your children how much they are loved.

While the cards are fun, it’s also a wonderful way to spend quality time with your kids…something they will cherish forever.

Volunteer

Not many people think about doing volunteer work on Valentine’s Day, but it’s a good way to show your community how much you care. It’s amazing how much one act of service can impact a person who needs a little extra love this season.

This Valentine’s Day, get your family or friends together and pick your favorite place to lend a hand like a soup kitchen, homeless shelter, or animal shelter.

Not only will your community feel loved, but you’ll also feel good about making a difference.

Do you have a favorite Valentine’s Day activity? Share it in the comments below!

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