Vanilla Icing Recipe

Fourth of July Eats

The kids are out of school, you’re cashing in your vacation days, and it’s time to kick back and have some real summertime fun. The Fourth of July holiday weekend is here. Whether you’re spending time at the beach, at a park, or in your own backyard, the Independence Day festivities are on. Traditionally, we hang our red, white and blue, invite family and friends over, and have a barbecue or picnic. Patch asked around town, and we dish out some great menu ideas the kids and adults will enjoy.

Patriotic Punch

The kids will get a kick out of this one. Fill an ice cube tray with blue Gatorade, and another with red Gatorade or fruit punch, and place in freezer for several hours or until frozen solid. When ready to serve, place four or five clear ice cubes in a tall glass. Add two blue and two red ice cubes to the glass. Fill the glass with a clear carbonated soda, like Sprite, 7-Up or Club Soda. As the ice cubes melt, colored bubbles will swirl through the soda creating a sparkling “frosty fireworks” effect.

Grilled Chicken Kabobs

In a large Ziploc bag, place 2 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1 ½-inch pieces, into your favorite marinade. Refrigerate for at least two hours. Chop one green bell pepper, one red bell pepper, and one yellow bell pepper into 1-inch chunks. Cut a large red onion into bite-sized pieces. On bamboo sticks or skewers, alternate ingredients. Grill over medium heat for about 15 minutes. For more color and taste, alternate in cherry tomatoes as well.

Shrimp Macaroni and Cheese

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Prepare 1 pound of elbow or shell macaroni as directed on package until al dente. Melt 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add 1/4 cup of all-purpose flour and cook for a minute, stirring constantly. Add 3 cups of skim milk, and whisk gently until smooth. Bring mixture to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes, or until sauce has thickened. Season with salt and pepper. Place strained and cooled macaroni into a baking dish, pour sauce over and mix well. Stir in 2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese, 1 cup of Parmesan cheese and 1 pound of frozen shrimp, chopped and cooked. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, ½ cup of bread crumbs and 2 tablespoons of fresh parsley. Bake for 15 minutes.

Vegan Vanilla Icing (Recipe)

Here is an easy and delicious vanilla icing that is also vegan.  The best thing about it is that you can add a few drops of regular food coloring rather than the paste and it still turns out wonderfully creamy.

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