4th Of July Goodies

Happy 4th of July! ...

I was planning to make something funny and interesting for kids for this yest July 4th. I was thinking something in Red, White and Blue and ended up making a Red, White & Blue Popcorn and Candy Barks.

For any colorful yummy treats candy melts are a big lifesavers. Numerous creative desserts can be made from candy melts. I will post my creations one by one in future posts. For Candy popcorn I use fresh popped white popcorn(without salt) and drizzle red and blue candy melts on top. For Candy barks just melt bright white candy melts and top it with dollops of candy melts and swirl it with toothpick and top it with sprinkles. Both of these are very easy recipes and can be made for big crowd in minutes

Red, White and Blue Popcorn:

Ingredients :

White Popped corn - 3 cups

Red Candy Melts - 1/4 cup

Blue Candy Melts - 1/4 cup

Procedure : 

Place popped popcorn on a cookie sheet in a thin layer.

Melt candy melts in microwave or in double boiler.

Drizzle red and blue candy melts on top randomly.

Allow it to cool until the candy is firm on the popcorn.

Red, White and Blue Candy Bark:

Ingredients :

White Chocolate Chips - 1/2 cup

Bright White Candy Melts - 1/2 cup

Red Candy Melts - 1/4 cup

Blue Candy Melts - 1/4 cup

Red, White & Blue Sprinkles - 1 tablespoon

Procedure : 

Melt chocolate chips and candy melts in microwave and stir until silk and smooth.

Line a pan with parchment paper and pour the chocolate mixture and even out the candy in 1/4 inch thickness.

Dollop the red and blue candy melts on top of the white chocolate mixture and with toothpick make swirl around the candy melts.

Top it off with Red, white and Blue sprinkles and allow it to set until its firm. Once firm peel off the parchment paper and break the big bar into small pieces

Step by Step recipe Video:

Strawberry Ice cream Roll

Ice cream roll is a frozen dessert also known as stir fried ice cream. This is a simple dessert made with very few ingredients. The main concept of this dessert is to incorporate air into the cream mixture by stir frying. The whole process can be done in a mixer but doing it with hand makes it more fun and special. At store they have a special equipment which will keep the tray frozen while the ice cream is stir fried and the whole dessert is made in few mins. At home I used a regular sheet pan and froze the pan a couple of hour before staring and Once the stir fry is completed mixture is returned to freezer to freeze and set the ice cream.

I wanted to try this with different flavors. To start with I made with strawberry one of my daughters favorite flavor.

Rolled ice creams are in trend now and it’s my turn to try this out. What else could be more fun for kids than making their own ice cream. Kids and myself fully enjoyed the whole process. One of the best activity to enjoy with kids during this quarantine summer.  

Ingredients :

Heavy whipping cream- 1 cup

Condensed milk - 1/2 cup 

Fresh strawberries - 1/2 cup chopped 

Procedure : 

Freeze a sheet pan for few hours

Mix Cream, Condensed Milk and Strawberries and start mashing and chopping the strawberries and mix it with cream mixture.

Once the strawberries are well mixed with cream mixture return the tray to freezer for 2 to 3 hours.

Remove the sheet pan from freezer and cut the ice cream into stripes and start rolling. Then transfer the ice cream rolls to a cup and top it with some fresh strawberries.

Note : Once the Ice cream is rolled if you fell its melting return the rolls to freezer for few mins and then serve.

Step by Step recipe Video:

Indoor S’mores

The most existing part of camping is lighting up a campfire in the dusk and no campfire will be complete without toasting S'mores. This is a all time kid's favorite campfire treat.

S'mores are traditionally cooked using a campfire. A marshmallow, usually held by a metal or wooden skewer, is heated over the fire until it is golden brown. Traditionally, the marshmallow is gooey but not burnt, but, depending on individual preference and cooking time, marshmallows can range from barely warm to charred. The roasted marshmallow is then sandwiched between two halves of a graham cracker and a piece of chocolate, between the graham crackers.

During this pandemic period going out for camping is not easy. Staying at home without any vacation and fun time for kids, this Indoor S'mores is a best way to recreate outdoor camping. This whole recipe is made in oven  instead of direct fire. 

Ingredients :

Graham Cracker 

Marshmallows 

Candy bars

 

Procedure : 

Turn on the oven in broil setting (low broil)

1. Place the graham crackers on a sheet pan

2. Top the graham crackers with 1 marshmallow 

3. Toast it oven for 5 mins or until the marshmallows are light brown and melts a bit 

4. Remove from oven and place a chocolate bar on top of the hot marshmallow. Chocolate bar will start to melt slightly. 

5. Add another graham cracker on top of melted chocolate like a sandwich 

Enjoy !!

Step by Step recipe Video:

Banana Walnut Bread

This is a moist and loaded slice of bread. It’s a best breakfast for any fast and busy weekdays. Banana Walnut bread is sweet and crunchy with nuts. The richness of this bread keeps me satisfied for a couple of hour at least. 

I got this recipe from Paula Deen's cookbook, one of my all time  favorite chef. I have made a few changes to the original recipe according to my preferences. So this what i added..... 

Ingredients :

All Purpose Flour - 2 cups

Melted Butter - 1/4 cup

Sugar - 1 cup

Eggs - 2

Sour Cream - 1/3 cup

Banana - 1 cup mashed (around 3 bananas)

Baking Powder - 2 Teaspoon

Baking Soda - 1 teaspoon

Vanilla Extract - 2 Teaspoon

Salt - 1/4 Teaspoon

Walnuts - 1 Cup + More for sprinkling on top 

Procedure :  

Preheat oven to 350°. 

In a large bowl, whisk together flour, salt, baking soda and Baking Powder. 

In a medium bowl, whisk together mashed banana, sugar, melted butter, sour cream, eggs, and vanilla. 

Fold banana mixture into flour mixture until just combined. 

Spray a 9×5-inch loaf pan with baking spray.

Spread batter into prepared pan and cover with aluminium foil (this is to avoid over browning the top of bread... this is Paula Deen's tip )

Bake it for about 50 mins or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean

Let it cool for a while and remove from the pan and cool it completely on a wire rack.

Notes:  

I have used cane sugar in my recipe but it can substituted with regular white sugar.

Original recipe called for 1/2 cup raisins, i skipped it as we doing like raisins with banana bread.

Sour cream can be substituted with thick plain yogurt  

Step by Step recipe Video:

https://youtu.be/6Mw6KQGeM8k

You Tube link

Mini Pizzas

These are perfect appetizer for any occasion. They are cute little one  which will b enjoyed by  every one. This can be done with store bought Pizza dough, frozen croissant roll dough or with store bought pie crust. Hear i have made the pizza dough from scratch.

The topping for these pizzas are endless. Its up to once imagination. I have used Grilled Chicken, Olives, Jalapenos, bell peppers

I have used a store bought pizza sauce here as i had it sitting in the refrigerator. Butt making pizza sauce is very simple and easy. I will post it soon

I have used shredded Mozzarella cheese, its a perfect cheese for Pizza

Ingredients :

All-purpose flour - 3 3/4 cups 

Active dry yeast - 1 Packet (2 1/4 teaspoons) 

Eggs - 2 

Extra-virgin olive - 3 tablespoons 

Sugar - 1 tablespoon 

Salt - 1 1/2 teaspoons

Procedure : 

1. Whisk 1 cups warm water and the sugar in a bowl. Sprinkle the yeast on top. Set aside until foamy, about 10 minutes.

2. Stir in the olive oil and eggs in a large bowl. After 10 mins add the yest mixture to this bowl 

3. Mix all the dry ingredient in a different bowl - flour, sugar, salt 

4. Add the dry ingredient to wet ingredient bowl and mix it roughly until no dry flour is seen 

5. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead until smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes, dusting with more flour if necessary. Place the dough in the bowl and cover with a towel and allow it to raise for 1 hr in warm place. 

6. Dust flour on the work space and knead and roll the dough for about 1/4 inch thick and then cut about 3 1/2 inch rounds using a cookie cutter. 

7. Place it on a baking tray and brush with olive oil and bake for 8 to 10 mins in 350 degree oven. Remove the mini rounds and top it with pizza sauce and then with desired topping and then the cheese. Return tray into the oven for 5 mins or until the cheese melts