Thursday Treat: Patriotic Drinks

This fun idea comes from the people at Disney Family Fun. People will be asking how you did it and this drink is a fun way to keep cool at all those 4th of July BBQs.

With a steady hand and some colorful drinks, you can create a tasty, multilayered concoction. The secret is in selecting liquids with varying amounts of sugar, since those that contain more (such as soda) are denser than those with less (such as diet drinks). And that makes it possible to actually stack one on top of another (for a little while, anyway -- then they'll start to blend). Here's how to serve up a thirst quencher with two, three, or even more layers. Our recipe is for a red, white, and blue version for your Fourth of July celebrations. See how your favorite beverages literally stack up!
More: 4th of July Party Food

Ingredients

• Ice cubes
• Cranberry juice

• Wild Berry flavor Gatorade Fierce
• Diet 7-Up

Instructions

1. Fill a clear glass with ice cubes. Pour the drink with the most sugar (check the nutrition label) into the glass. For our red, white, and blue recipe, start with the cranberry juice.

2. Very slowly add a beverage that contains less sugar -- in this case, Wild Berry flavor Gatorade Fierce. Be careful to pour it onto an ice cube -- not directly into the other drink -- to keep them from mixing.

3. Use the same technique to add a layer of Diet 7-Up.

Thursday Treat:4th of July Sparklers

Like most sparklers, these are extinguished after a short while -- with several large bites. I wish I could take credit for this idea, but it came from the fine folks at marthastewart.com. If you're looking for more great 4th of July ideas, i would definitely recommend checking it out!

To make two dozen, place 4 ounces chopped semisweet chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water.

Stir occasionally until melted; remove from heat.

Using a pastry brush, coat the upper third of each pretzel rod in chocolate. Cover with sprinkles; stand pretzels upright in a glass.

Place in the refrigerator until firm, about 5 minutes.

Thursday Treat: Fresh Lime

Here's a super easy and tasty drink recipe for those hot summer days. You can make it as sweet or tart as you like. I learned the secrets when I worked for a popular local caterer and I love to make it whenever i can.

Fresh Lime

Ingredients:

2 Liters 7-Up - not Sprite!

1 can frozen Limeade concentrate

6 limes

Ice

Start by emptying the limeade into a large pitcher. Then add as much 7-Up to the pitcher as you would water as listed on the limeade mixing instructions. Squeeze the juice from 5 of the limes and add to pitcher. Also add the squeezed limes themselves. Stir all together and take a small taste. It will probably be too tart, so slowly add more 7-Up until it is the right balance of sweet and sour for your palate. Pour over ice in glasses and add lime wedges as a garnish.

It's best if you mix this drink right before you're ready to serve so the soda doesn't loose all it's fizziness.

Thursday Treat : Baked Beans for Summer BBQs

Here's one of my favorite things to bring to neighborhood and family get-togethers. It's a dish that's easy to make and you'll never have to worry about left overs!

This recipe makes enough for a 9x13 pan. You may want to make a batch to take and one to keep at home :)

Ingredients:
3 Cans pork and beans - discard the "pork" chunk
1 C Ketchup
2 T Mustard
1/2 C Brown Sugar
1/2 Yellow Onion - chopped
1 Green Bell Pepper - chopped
1 Can Pineapple chunks- drained
4 - 5 strips bacon - cooked and crumbled

Mix everything together and bake at 350 for a minimum of 2 hours, stirring occasionally. I like mine super thick, so I usually let them bake for 3 1/2 to 4 hours if I have the time. Mmmmm tastes like summer already!

Treat Thursday: Old Glory Cookies

This fun recipe comes from the fine folks at Good Housekeeping and they look great as decorations as well as being a tasty treat. You need two star shaped cookie cutters, one large and one small.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 C flour

1/8 t baking soda

1/8 t salt

1 stick butter, softened

1/3 C granulated sugar

1 lg egg yolk

1/2 t vanilla

1 1/4 oz hard red candies, crushed

1 1/4 oz hard blue candies, crushed

In one bowl mix together all dry ingredients except candies. In second bowl cream butter and sugar, then add egg and vanilla. Mix dry ingredients into wet a little at a time until the dough comes together. Press dough into disk, wrap in plastic and refrigerate 30 mins.

Preheat oven to 350. Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment. Roll out dough between two sheets of parchment paper until 1/4 inch thick. Use large cookie cutter to cut out and then use small cutter to take out the centers.

Fill cookie sheet with large stars and bake 7 mins. Remove cookies from oven and fill centers with crushed candies. Replace in oven and bake 5 - 8 more minutes until edges are brown. Remove to wire rack to cool.

Fill cookie sheet with small stars and cook 10 - 12 mins or until golden brown. Remove and cool on racks.