A Jump Start for the Holiday

This link has some great recipes using red-white-blue as a theme
http://www.myrecipes.com/menus/red-white-blue-recipes-00420000005422/all.html


The following recipes are some other picnic type foods that work well for summer get togethers 

Truffle Brownies

Why make brownies from scratch when you can buy something that tastes as good as homemade.  Traders Joes sells a product called Truffle Baking Mix. (it's a brownie mix)

Follow directions on box but add 1 cup chopped walnuts and 1 TB. Kahlua and bake as directed

To frost make homemade chocolate frosting below and no one will ever know you used a box mix :) 

Chocolate Frosting

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup of margarine or butter
• 1 package of chocolate chips (6 oz.)
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. vanilla 
• 2-1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 2 TB. kahlua

Directions:

• In saucepan combine butter or margarine with chocolate chips, sugar milk,salt
• Bring to a boil stirring constantly
• Simmer 3 minutes
• Remove from heat beat in powdered sugar and vanilla
• Add milk by the tablespoons to get right consistency
• Add 2 TB. Kahlua and let frosting set for hour before frosting brownies

Serving Suggestion: Best part is the frosting  makes a generous amount so freeze half in an container for use at another time. Make sure it is cooled before putting in freezer.

Cucumber Melon Salad

adapted from Cuisine At Home August 2012
Ingredients:

• 2 cups cubed cantaloupe
• 2 cups cubed watermelon
• 1 cup seeded diced cucumber
• 1 pint raspberries

Directions:

• Mix in a large bowl
• Add dressing to coat fruit
• Refrigerate if making ahead
• Right before serving add 1/2 cup chopped basil or mint

Dressing:

In a blender add 

• 1/4 cup lime juice
• 2 TB. brown sugar
• 1 TB. lime zest

Serving Suggestion:

Be sure to drain fruit from dressing right before serving

Optional add a splash of Grand Marnier or tequila to fruit mixture right before serving

Broccoli Olive Slaw

adapted from Cuisine At Home August 2012

Cook's note:

A time saver would be skip vinaigrette dressing and use prepared Ken's Steak House Lite Asian Sesame dressing

Ingredients:

• 3 TB. extra virgin olive oil
• 2 TB. white wine vinegar
• 1 tsp. brown mustard or Dijon
• 2 TB. shallots
• 2 tsp. honey
• 1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes
• 1 bag broccoli slaw (10 oz.)
• 1/3 cup sliced green olives
• 1/4 cup fresh chives
• sunflower seeds or chopped peanuts
• salt to taste
• optional: craisins

Directions:

• Whisk oil, vinegar, mustard, honey, pepper flakes for vinaigrette in a small bowl
• In a large bowl combine slaw mixture, olives and sunflower seeds and then toss with vinaigrette
• Season with salt and chill till ready to serve
• Stir in chives right before serving