INSIGHT Magazine July 2018 | Page 23

B arbeques and pool parties fill our days during the month of July, especially as we pause to celebrate our nation’s independence. As friends and families come together, food is the often the centerpiece of get-togethers. So, you know we’ve got a few recipes for you to try this Fourth of July. Decorate your table with these adorable treats! All you need for Firework Skewers is fruit, skewers, and a star cookie cutter. Slide your blueberries onto the skewer leaving room for a watermelon star to top it off. Be sure to pierce your fruit in the center so that it doesn’t fall off. Perhaps the only red, white, and blue themed food that could top Firework Skewers are cheesecake stuffed strawberries from dessertnowdinnerlater.com. They’re so easy to make!! Ingredients: • 24 + large fresh strawberries (1½ to 2 lbs) • 1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, room temperature or softened slightly • ½ cup powdered sugar • 1 tsp vanilla extract • ½ cup fresh blueberries Instructions: 1. Cut the stems from the strawberries, so the strawberries can sit cut-side down. 2. Cut a deep "X" from the tip down, being careful not to cut all the way through. 3. Beat the cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla in a bowl with a hand mixer until nice and fluffy. 4. Gently open up each strawberry and pipe the filling inside using a pastry bag or zip- INSIGHT top bag with a star piping tip. Don't have a pastry bag or piping tip? Just cut off the corner of a zip-top bag and squeeze the cheesecake filling inside the strawberries that way. 5. Top each filled strawberry with a blueberry. These are best served after the strawberries have been chilled for at least an hour. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 3 days depending on how firm/soft the strawberries are. For the baker who is up to the challenge, we introduce the American Flag Cake. SO COOL! You can be sure this cake will surprise the guests at your Fourth of July party. Source: lifehacker.com What You Need: • Two vanilla cake mixes plus any ingredients those mixes call for. • Two containers of vanilla frosting. July 2018 23