Fun Family Recipes for Summer

Peanut Butter Bars
Dip 'n' Roll Strawberry Treats
Yankee Doodle Dandy Treats™
 

(Family Features) Sometimes it's the simple things in life that matter most. Spending time in the kitchen making something yummy together is one of the simple things families can do to make life a little sweeter and create lifelong memories.

These recipes are not only easy, but they are also lots of fun. They're terrific for a "just-because" snack or as a sweet way to finish off a family picnic. And kids of all ages can help - from pouring and stirring to dipping and decorating, there's something everyone can do. And somehow food tastes a little bit better to kids when they help make it themselves.

Kid-friendly Kitchen Tips

• Children of all ages should have an adult assistant with them at all times when cooking.
• The youngest chefs, 3 to 6 years old, will be very good at inserting the ice cream skewers into the strawberries.
• Older chefs, ages 7 to 9, will enjoy "dipping" the strawberries into the melted chocolate, too.
• Kids older than 9 years may help prepare the melted chocolate and may also help read directions to the younger kids.

You can find more fun family recipes like these, as well as a gluten-free recipe made with new Kellogg's® Rice Krispies® Gluten Free cereal, at www.ricekrispies.com.

Peanut Butter Bars

Ingredients
 

• 1 cup reduced fat creamy peanut butter
• 3 tablespoons butter or margarine, softened
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 3 tablespoons fat free milk
• 3 cups Kellogg's Rice Krispies cereal or 3 cups Kellogg's Cocoa Krispies cereal
• 1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate morsels, melted

Preparation
 

1. In large mixing bowl beat peanut butter and butter on medium speed until combined. Add powdered sugar and milk. Beat until fluffy. Stir in cereal, mixing until thoroughly combined. Press mixture evenly into 8 x 8 x 2-inch pan coated with cooking spray. Refrigerate until firm.
2. Drizzle chocolate over cereal mixture. Refrigerate about 30 minutes or until chocolate is set and cereal mixture is firm. Cut into bars. Store in airtight container in refrigerator.

Serves
Servings 12

Preparation Time:
20 minutes

Total Time:
1 hour

Dip 'n' Roll Strawberry Treats

Ingredients
 

• 24 large fresh strawberries
• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate morsels
• 1 tablespoon vegetable shortening
• 1 1/2cups Kellogg's Rice Krispies cereal Skewers

Preparation
 

1. Wash strawberries and pat dry with paper towels.
2. In small microwave-safe bowl combine chocolate morsels and shortening. Microwave at high for 1 to 1 1/2 minutes or until melted, stirring every 30 seconds.
3. Place cereal in shallow dish. Push skewers into strawberries through stem end. Dip in chocolate, allowing excess chocolate to drip off. Roll in cereal. Place on wax paper. Let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes or until chocolate is firm.

Serves
Servings 12

Preparation Time:
15 minutes

Total Time:
35 minutes

Yankee Doodle Dandy Treats™

Ingredients
 

• 3 tablespoons butter or margarine
• 1 package (10 ounces, about 40) regular marshmallows OR 4 cups miniature marshmallows
• 6 cups Kellogg's® Rice Krispies® cereal OR 6 cups Kellogg's® Cocoa Krispies® cereal
• 1 1/2 cups white chocolate morsels
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 3/4 cup powdered sugar
• 2 tablespoons water
• Red-, white- and blue-colored sprinkles

Preparation
 

1. In large saucepan melt butter over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat.
2. Add cereal. Stir until well coated.
3. Using buttered spatula or wax paper, evenly press mixture into 13 x 9 x 2-inch pan coated with cooking spray. Cool. Crosswise cut in half, forming two 9 x 6 1/2-inch rectangles.
4. Meanwhile, in small saucepan melt white chocolate morsels over low heat, stirring frequently. Stir in oil. Add powdered sugar, stirring until combined. Add water. Stir until smooth.
5. Spread chocolate mixture over one cereal rectangle. Top with second rectangle. Sprinkle with red, white and blue sprinkles, pressing lightly into cereal mixture. Refrigerate about 30 minutes or until set. Cut into 3 1/4 x 1-inch strips. Best if served the same day.

Serves
Servings 18

Preparation Time:
30 minutes

Total Time:
1 hour

SOURCE:
Kellogg
 

Healthy Summer Eating Made Easy

Don't take a vacation from eating right

Strawberry Banana Parfait
Black Bean Nachos
Strawberry, Spinach and Cottage Cheese Salad
 

(Family Features) Warm weather is synonymous with trips to the beach, baseball games and summer vacations. While enjoying these outings, you may find yourself tempted by hot dogs, ice cream and other summer indulgences. A busy schedule, combined with tempting summer treats, could throw off your healthy eating routine. Registered Dietitian Robin Kline, MS, RD, CCP, offers three simple tips for how to stay healthy throughout the season.

"Planning ahead is your best strategy to stay on track for great summertime eating," said Kline. "Whether it's visiting the farmers market for fresh, seasonal produce or packing healthy snacks for on-the-go, being prepared results in smart eating."

Think Simple. No one wants to spend time in a hot kitchen preparing meals on a nice summer day. Finding quick, healthy meal options that can be prepared in 20 minutes or less will provide you with more time to spend outdoors enjoying the warm weather. A healthy salad that contains a rainbow of nutrients is easy to prepare and helps you avoid turning on the oven.

Think Fresh. Many delicious fruits are in season during the summer, including peaches, berries and melons. Fresh fruits are naturally sweet, a good source of vitamins and are easy for on-the-go eating. Eat them alone as a snack, blend into a smoothie or create a breakfast parfait with berries, granola and cottage cheese.

Think Healthy. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) states that the amount of protein needed in the average American diet depends on gender, age and level of physical activity, but recommends selecting a variety of lean sources of protein. Fish high in omega-3 fatty acids are a good lean protein source, while cottage cheese and legumes are great options for adding variety. Cottage cheese is a versatile option that can be incorporated into a number of different recipes. Daisy Brand Low Fat Cottage Cheese is 100 percent natural with only four ingredients, a good source of calcium, lower in sodium than many other brands and an excellent source of protein with 14 grams per half-cup serving.

By following these few easy tips, you can enjoy summer with the peace of mind that you are maintaining a healthy lifestyle. The following recipes are great starters for summertime foods. Visit www.DaisyBrand.com/CottageCheese for more information and recipe ideas.

Strawberry Banana Parfait

Ingredients
 

• 1 banana, cut in chunks
• 1 tablespoon lime juice
• 1 cup strawberries, quartered
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1/4 cup toasted walnuts, chopped
• 2 cups Daisy Brand Cottage Cheese

Preparation
 

1. Toss banana with lime juice in a small bowl. Mix bananas with strawberries, honey and walnuts. Spoon mixture into parfait glasses. Top each glass with 1/2 cup of cottage cheese.

Serves
Serves 4

Preparation Time:
5 minutes

Total Time:
5 minutes

Black Bean Nachos

Ingredients
 

• 1 cup Daisy Brand Cottage Cheese
• 1/4 cup Daisy Brand Sour Cream
• 3 dashes hot sauce to taste
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin
• 4 cups pita chips
• 1 15.5-ounce can black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 cup reduced fat Mexican cheese blend, shredded
• 1/2 cup green onions, chopped
• 1 medium tomato, chopped

Preparation
 

1. Mix cottage cheese, sour cream, hot sauce and cumin in small bowl; set aside.
2. Layer pita chips evenly on 2 large microwave-safe plates. Top each plate with half of the beans and shredded cheese.
3. Microwave 1 plate on high for 1 minute or until cheese is melted. Drop half of cottage cheese mixture by spoonfuls over melted cheese on nachos. Top with half of chopped green onions and tomato. Repeat with second plate.

Serves
Serves 8

Preparation Time:
10 minutes

Total Time:
15 minutes

Strawberry, Spinach and Cottage Cheese Salad

Ingredients
 

• 6 ounces baby spinach
• 1/4 cup green onions, sliced
• 1/2 cup light raspberry vinaigrette
• 1 cup fresh strawberries, sliced
• 1/4 cup walnuts, chopped
• 2 cups Daisy Brand
• Cottage Cheese

Preparation
 

1. Toss spinach and green onions with vinaigrette; divide evenly onto 4 salad plates.
2. Top each salad with strawberries and walnuts. Spoon cottage cheese over spinach mixture and serve.

Serves
Serves 4

Preparation Time:
15 minutes

Total Time:
15 minutes

SOURCE:
Daisy
 

Sip a Summer Smoothie

Fruit Blast Smoothies
 

(Family Features) Now that summer smoothie season has arrived, give your blender a permanent spot on the kitchen counter, and stock up on smoothie ingredients. Smoothies are so versatile it's no wonder they've made the transition from novelty to mainstream. They can fuel you up, cool you down, quench a thirst and give you a nutrition boost at the same time.

Taste is just the beginning of why kids and adults alike enjoy sipping a smoothie. Great for when you're on-the-go, they're perfect for breakfast, snacks or even dessert, depending on the ingredients used to make them. Another reason smoothies are so popular is that they are super easy to make at home. You can use a recipe or just create your own with on-hand ingredients.

This Fruit Blast Smoothie is just one example of an easy, delicious and nutritious option that can be ready to drink in just minutes. Six different fruits provide not only a yummy, summery fruit flavor blast, but also all of the vitamins, antioxidants and fiber that you get from fresh fruit. And eggs add a protein punch.

Now it's safe to add fresh-cracked eggs to smoothies without the risk of foodborne illness from salmonella or other bacteria. It's possible to enjoy all kinds of recipes that call for raw eggs with Safest Choice Pasteurized Shell Eggs. They are pasteurized in the shell with a warm water bath. It's a natural process using precise time and temperature to make them safe to consume raw. A red circle "P" stamped on each egg verifies that the eggs have been pasteurized by the Safest Choice all-natural water bath and are safe to use in raw or lightly cooked egg dishes.

For other delicious, convenient protein-packed recipes, and to learn more about pasteurized shell eggs and where to buy them, visit www.SafeEggs.com.

Fruit Blast Smoothies

Ingredients
 

• 1 cup green or red seedless grapes
• 1/2 cup frozen cherries
• 1/2 cup frozen strawberries
• 1/2 cup peeled and sliced orange
• 1/2 cup peeled and sliced ripe banana
• 1/2 cup frozen blueberries
• 2 Safest Choice Pasteurized Eggs

Preparation
 

1. Place all ingredients in blender container; blend until smooth. Serve immediately.

Serves
Makes 2 servings

Preparation Time:
15 minutes

SOURCE:
Safest Choice Pasteurized Eggs
 

Host a Sizzling Summer Fiesta

Sweet Pepper Tequila Shrimp Cocktail
Tempting Taco Grilled Pizzas
Giddyup Guacamole with Blue Aztec Chips
Twist of Lime Margaritas
Hoppin' Jalapeño Veggie Shooters
 

(Family Features) Spice up your next backyard party or add a splash of fresh flavors and colors to a family meal. It's easy to host a fiesta that will make everyone say "Ole!"

Here are some quick tips to get you started:

• Chill your platters to help keep veggies and shrimp cocktails cold.
  
   
• Look around the house for items to create a colorful tablescape - brightly colored candles, beads or scarves, south-of-the-border travel or cookbooks, and pretty flowers from the garden help set the tone for fun.
  
   
• Keep a basket of colorful hand-held mini fans nearby so guests can cool off whenever they need to.

For the big event, make these delicious, fiesta-themed dishes ahead of time so that you have plenty of time to enjoy the fun along with your guests. And the best part - most of these recipes don't require cooking, which lets you keep your cool in the kitchen.

For more information about Tastefully Simple products or to find a consultant in your area, please visit www.tastefullysimple.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/tastefullysimple.

Sweet Pepper Tequila Shrimp Cocktail

Ingredients
 

• 1 jar Tastefully Simple Sweet Pepper Jalapeño Jam
• 2 - 3 teaspoons Sauza Tequila
• 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• Cleaned, cooked, deveined shrimp

Preparation
 

1. Combine first 4 ingredients in medium bowl; mix well. Chill; serve with shrimp.

Serves
Makes 1 1/4 cups

Tempting Taco Grilled Pizzas

Ingredients
 

• Tastefully Simple Tempting Taco Cheese Ball Mix
• 8 ounces softened cream cheese
• 1 pound ground beef
• 2 - 3 teaspoons Tastefully Simple Simply Southwest Seasoning & Rub, or to taste
• 8 6-inch pita breads
• Olive oil
• 1 cup finely diced tomato
• 1 cup finely shredded cheddar cheese

Preparation
 

1. Combine first 2 ingredients; chill for 2 hours. Heat grill to medium.
2. Meanwhile, brown ground beef with seasoning and rub; drain and set aside. Let cheese ball mixture soften at room temperature until spreadable.
3. Lightly brush 1 side of each pita with oil. Grill, oiled side down, until bottom is just crisp, about 2 minutes. Transfer to work surface, grilled side up. Spread each pita with cheese ball mixture; top with ground beef mixture, tomato and cheese. Return pita pizzas to grill. Grill, covered, until heated through, about 2 minutes.

Serves
Makes 8 servings

Giddyup Guacamole with Blue Aztec Chips

Ingredients
 

• 1 cup prepared Tastefully Simple Giddyup Guacamole Mix
• 3 tablespoons water
• 2 - 3 ripe avocados
• 1/2 cup diced tomatoes
• 1 bag Blue Aztec Chips

Preparation
 

1. Combine first four ingredients, stir to blend. Serve with chips.

Serves
Makes about 1 1/2 cups guacamole

Twist of Lime Margaritas

Ingredients
 

• 1 container Tastefully Simple Twist of Lime Margarita Mix
• 2 ounces (1/4 cup) Sauza Tequila
• 2 12-ounce cans beer

Preparation
 

1. Add ingredients, stir to blend and chill. When cooled, pour over ice and garnish with fresh lime wedges.

Serves
Makes about 4 (8 ounce) servings

Hoppin' Jalapeño Veggie Shooters

Ingredients
 

• 1 packet Tastefully Simple Hoppin' Jalapeño & Bacon Dip Mix
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise (real mayonnaise only)
• 3/4 cup sour cream
• 3 - 4 tablespoons milk
• Carrots, celery, green and red bell peppers - sliced julienne/matchstick-style

Preparation
 

1. Combine first 4 ingredients; stir to blend. Chill 2 hours and spoon mixture into an empty squirt bottle. Using squirt bottle (or a small plastic bag with a small hole in one corner), fill 12 shooter or shot glasses with about 1 inch of dip mixture. Place a variety of julienne vegetables, upright, into each glass. Refill dip and vegetables as needed.

Serves
Makes 12 servings

SOURCE:
Tastefully Simple
 

Summer Grilling That's Off the Charts

Smoky Bourbon Ribs
 

(Family Features) - Gearing up for the summer concert season? Don't forget the most important piece of equipment - the grill. Add a little music, some family and friends, and you're ready to go.

"Good tunes, a hot grill, and your favorite people are all you need to throw a great barbecue this summer," said Chris Lilly, the official pitmaster for the Keith Urban Summer Lovin' 2010 Tour, sponsored by KC Masterpiece Barbecue Sauces, which stops at state fairs and festivals nationwide this summer.

Like the authentic flavor of the Kansas City sauce slathered on food hot off the grill, Urban has a unique and authentic connection to his fans. Music lovers come to experience his critically hailed live performances with family and friends, an experience that begins from the moment they enter the parking lot - with thousands tailgating before the performances. 

"Music, like barbecuing, has a unique communal quality that brings people together," said Urban. "It's that connection that we strive for every night at our shows - which can start with a relaxing tailgate party before we even hit the stage."

Whether you're tailgating at the show or have the music set on high out in the backyard, official tour pitmaster Lilly makes it easy to celebrate the summer concert experience with these grilling tips:

• Perfect Your Opening Act. To ensure a more uniform doneness in your barbecue, let the meat come to room temperature for 30 minutes before cooking. This simple trick will help to add the perfect amount flavor.  
• Prepare the Set List. Plan ahead and marinate meat before guests arrive, or throw the meat in a marinade when you're at home so they are ready to go when you get to the parking lot before the show.
• Chose the Right Instruments. If you use a gas grill, you sacrifice the added flavor that comes from cooking over burning coals. Try barbecuing with charcoal for a more authentic and flavorful meal.

For more pre-concert tailgating tips, and recipes from Chris Lilly, connect at Facebook.com/KCMasterpiece. While there, check out exclusive Keith Urban concert footage and stay tuned for chances to win concert tickets throughout the tour.

Smoky Bourbon Ribs

Ingredients
 

• 2 slabs loin back ribs (baby back)
• 1 cup KC Masterpiece Smoky Bourbon Barbecue Sauce

• Dry Rub

• 1/4 cup dark brown sugar
• 4 teaspoons garlic salt
• 4 teaspoons chili powder
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon celery salt
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon white pepper

• Liquid Seasoning

• 1/2 cup apple cider
• 1/4 cup apple jelly
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon dry rub mix (above)

Preparation
 

1. Remove membrane from back of rib slabs. In small bowl, combine dry rub ingredients and mix well. Reserve one tablespoon rub for the liquid seasoning mixture. Generously apply dry rub onto front and back sides of ribs.
2. Build a charcoal fire for indirect cooking. Add a small aluminum pan to the void side of the grill and fill it halfway with water. When charcoal grill reaches 250°F, place ribs meat-side up on grill grate and cook over indirect heat for two hours and 15 minutes.
3. Remove ribs from grill. Place each slab meat-side down on its own doubled aluminum foil square. Mix liquid seasoning in a small bowl. Pour 1/2 cup liquid over each slab. Then, tightly wrap and seal each slab with aluminum foil. Place wrapped ribs back in cooker for one hour at 250°F.
4. Remove ribs from grill and discard foil. Brush Smoky Bourbon Barbecue Sauce on both sides of ribs. Place ribs back on grill for 15 minutes, or until sauce caramelizes.

Serves
Makes 4-6 servings

Notes, Tips & Suggestions
Recipe created by champion pitmaster, Chris Lilly, on behalf of KC Masterpiece Barbecue Sauce.

Preparation Time:
20 minutes

Cooking Time:
3 hours, 45 minutes

SOURCE:
KC Masterpiece
 

Heat Up the Flavor With Gourmet Grilling

Italian Burgers
Summertime Kabobs
White Wine Sausage Bath
 

(Family Features) While it's hard to resist the delicious aroma of food sizzling on the grill, few people associate the backyard barbecue with gourmet greatness. As the flames heat up this summer, you can single-handedly alter that perception by introducing a new element of flavor - Italian sausage.

A close cousin to the bratwurst, versatile Italian sausage offers a flavorful alternative with a unique blend of herbs and spices. Available in a variety of seasonings and flavors - such as Johnsonville's Mild, Sweet or Hot Italian Sausage Links - savory Italian sausage can serve as the foundation of wide array of dishes.

Served on a bun, as a main course or as an ingredient in a prepared entrée, Italian sausage can take you from basic grill to brilliant gourmet with no extra fuss.

A bath is an excellent - and simple - method for layering in unexpected flavors with Italian sausage that will make your guests wonder what other culinary secrets you have hidden away. For example, Johnsonville's White Wine Sausage Bath combines the sophisticated overtones of wine with fresh herbs and veggies for an unexpectedly gourmet grill entrée.

Or, if your tastes lean more toward the traditional flavors of the summertime grill, try Summertime Kabobs or Italian Burgers - they're new and unexpected ways to appreciate old favorites.

The kabobs blend peppers and onions with the juicy pop of Italian sausage, the sweet tang of pineapple and an unexpected touch of ripe black olives. Or, combine ground Italian sausage with your beef and a few special ingredients for a bolder, better burger.

Serve these dishes with a simple tossed garden salad and a chilled wine or icy microbrew, and sit back while your friends and family marvel at the new master of the grill.

Before you get started, consider these tips to make the most of your sausage grilling experience:

• Avoid utensils such as forks, which can puncture the sausage and allow flavorful juices to escape.
  
   
• Keep all your food safe and flavorful by using one set of tongs to place raw meat on the grill and different tongs to turn meat that is already cooking, as well as any side dishes, such as vegetables, that you may be grilling at the same time.
  
   
• Grill sausages at a low to medium-low heat, cooking slowly to keep the meat moist and flavorful.
  
   
• Maintain the same temperature on the outside and inside of the sausage. Meat should be cooked through with no pink showing, and a thermometer should read 160°F when your sausage is done.

For additional recipes featuring Italian sausage, as well as cooking demonstrations and video tips, visit www.johnsonville.com.

Italian Burgers

Ingredients
 

• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup finely chopped onion
• 1/3 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs
• 1 pound ground beef
• 1/2 pound Johnsonville Ground Mild Italian Sausage
• 6 tablespoons pesto
• 6 slices provolone cheese
• 6 slices tomato
• Fresh basil leaves
• 6 hamburger buns, split

Preparation
 

1. Preheat grill to medium. In large bowl, combine egg, onion and bread crumbs. Add ground beef and sausage; mix well. Shape into six burgers.
2. Grill burgers for 10 to 12 minutes, turning once, until a meat thermometer reads 160°F. Serve burgers on buns with pesto, provolone cheese, tomato and basil.

Serves
6 servings

Notes, Tips & Suggestions
Serving suggestion: For spicy burgers, substitute Hot Italian Sausage.

Preparation Time:
20 minutes

Grill Time:
10 minutes

Summertime Kabobs

Ingredients
 

• 1 medium green pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1 medium sweet red pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1 medium sweet onion, cut into wedges
• 2 cups Italian salad dressing, divided
• 1 package (19.76 ounces) Johnsonville Mild, Sweet or Hot Italian Sausage Links
• 1 fresh pineapple, cut into 1-inch chunks
• Black olives, optional

Preparation
 

1. In a large resealable plastic bag, combine peppers, onion and 1 1/2 cups Italian dressing. Seal bag and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
2. Place 1 inch of water in a large skillet; add sausage. Bring to a simmer; cover and simmer for 10 minutes. Cool sausage slightly; cut into 1-inch pieces.
3. Preheat grill to medium. On metal or soaked wooden skewers, alternately thread sausage, peppers, onion, pineapple and olives. Grill for 10 minutes or until browned, turning frequently and basting with remaining Italian dressing.

Serves
6 servings

Preparation Time:
30 minutes

Grill Time:
10 minutes

White Wine Sausage Bath

Ingredients
 

• 8 ounces fresh mushrooms, sliced
• 1 bell pepper, sliced
• 2 shallots or small onions, sliced
• 3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
• 1 bottle (750 ml) sauvignon blanc or other fruity white wine
• 1 bunch fresh thyme sprigs
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 packages (19.76 ounces each) Johnsonville Mild Italian Sausage Links
• Large (12-inch x 9-inch) heavy-duty disposable foil pan

Preparation
 

1. Preheat grill to medium-low. Place a large heavy-duty disposable foil pan on grill. Add mushrooms, peppers, shallots and garlic; cook and stir until tender. Add wine, thyme and bay leaves. Bring to a gentle simmer. Add sausage and cover pan with foil. Simmer for 10 to 15 minutes or until a thermometer inserted into sausage reads 160°F.
2. Remove sausage from pan. Grill links until browned; then return to pan. Discard thyme and bay leaves. Cover pan and keep warm until serving.

Serves
10 servings

Preparation Time:
15 minutes

Grill Time:
30 minutes

SOURCE:
Johnsonville
 

Summer Splash!

Chill out with cool watermelon treats

Beach Bucket
Watermelon Beach Party
Watermelon Raspberry Lemonade
Watermelon Popsicles
 

(Family Features) There's nothing quite like juicy, fresh watermelon to cool you off on a hot summer day.

Whether you want to give the kids a refreshing, healthy snack or wow guests with a watermelon showpiece at a backyard barbecue, these recipes serve up great taste and good nutrition all summer long.

For more tasty ways to make a summer splash, visit www.watermelon.org.

Did you know?

• Watermelon has higher concentrations of lycopene than any other fresh fruit or vegetable.
• Watermelon is naturally low in saturated fat, total fat and cholesterol.
• A 2-cup serving of watermelon is an excellent source of vitamins A and C and a good source of vitamin B-6.

How to choose a watermelon

• Look for a firm, symmetrical watermelon that is free from bruises, cuts or dents.
• The watermelon should be heavy for its size.
• The underside of the watermelon should have a creamy yellow spot from where it sat on the ground and ripened in the sun.

Beach Bucket

Ingredients
 

• 1 watermelon - can be seeded or seedless
• Cutting board
• Kitchen and paring knives
• Green dry erase marker
• Large bowl and spoon
• Melon baller
• Beach theme cookie cutters
• Light-colored cake mix

Preparation
 

1. Wash watermelon under cool running water and pat dry.
2. Placing watermelon on its side, cut off the bottom end 1/4 to 1/2 inch so it can stand flat on its end. Be careful not to cut too deep into the white part of the rind - this would allow liquid to leak from bottom of carving.
3. Stand watermelon on cut end. With dry erase marker, draw a line about 1/3 of the way down from the top, around the whole watermelon.
4. Pick a point on the line and find the corresponding point on the exact opposite side of the watermelon. From those points measure 1 inch to the right and to the left. Connect those points by drawing two parallel lines across the top forming the shape of the handle.
5. Use paring knife to cut along lines, being careful to not break or crack handle. For best results, hold paring knife like a pen, but only cut half way into rind. Once you complete that first cut all the way around, go back and cut the rest of the way through the rind. Doing the cut in two steps will ensure a cleaner line and smoother cuts.
6. Carefully remove trimmed rind and flesh. Try to remove as much as possible in large portions that can later be sliced and used with the cookie cutters.
7. Scoop out remaining flesh from base, trying to leave as much flesh intact. Remove it in larger pieces that can be used for making watermelon balls or bite-sized chunks.
8. Take knife and carve a channel about 1 to 2 inches from top edge, creating rim of bucket.
9. Take the large removed pieces and trim off rind. From flesh, cut rectangles about 1/2 inch thick.
10. Using cookie cutters, cut shapes from watermelon. To create light colored shapes, use slices of honeydew melons, or cut decorative pieces from white part of watermelon rind. Set aside and drain on paper towel.
11. With remaining fruit, make either cubes or balls and drain. Toss with other cut fruit and berries and fill bucket.
12. Decorate top of bucket with cut watermelon shapes and new, clean toys and shovels. Use light colored cake mix to resemble sand.

Watermelon Beach Party

Ingredients
 

• 1 watermelon - can be seeded or seedless
• Cutting board
• Kitchen and paring knives
• Pencil or thin marker
• Large bowl and spoon or ice cream scoop
• Blue gelatin
• Small plastic container
• Small beach themed items
• Gummy fish

Preparation
 

1. Using an oblong seedless watermelon, cut a 1/4-inch slice off the bottom to provide a stable base.
2. Draw lines in a wave design with a sharp pencil or thin marker approximately one half of the way up and all the way around the watermelon.
3. Scoop out the flesh with an ice cream scoop or a large spoon, and reserve for salad.
4. Chill gelatin in a small plastic container to make a pool of "water" and place in the watermelon bowl. Fill in around the "water" with fruit salad cut into fun shapes and balls.
5. Arrange toys toward the edge of the watermelon bowl. Garnish sides with drink umbrellas and plastic palm tree swizzle sticks, and add gummy fish to complete the scene.

Watermelon Raspberry Lemonade

Ingredients
 

• 6 cups watermelon cubes (seeds removed)
• 1/4 cup raspberries
• 1 cup water
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup lemon juice

Preparation
 

1. Place watermelon, raspberries and water in container of electric blender, cover and blend until smooth. Strain through fine mesh strainer into pitcher. Stir in sugar and lemon juice until sugar dissolves. Refrigerate until chilled, about 1 hour.

Serves
Makes 4 servings

Watermelon Popsicles

Ingredients
 

• Watermelon
• Chunks of fresh fruit - try grapes, strawberries, or kiwi fruit

Preparation
 

1. Puree watermelon and pour into popsicle molds. Drop in chunks of fresh fruit, insert caps and place in freezer. Serve when frozen.

SOURCE:
National Watermelon Promotion Board
 

Jazz Up Your Summer Ice Cream Celebrations

Chocolate Chip Cookie Bowls
 

(Family Features) Whether it's a birthday, graduation, reunion or impromptu get-together, dressing up sweet scoops of ice cream makes a party easy, fun and creative. 

From edible ice cream cups to cones dipped in colorful sprinkles, the entertaining experts at Wilton have big ideas to get you started. One way to wow guests is by making your own, edible, individual ice cream cookie bowls and candy cups to hold those scrumptious scoops.

Favorite cookie flavors become cookie bowls with the new Ice Cream Cookie Bowl Pan. Cookie bowls bake on the outside of the pan using recipes - like the Chocolate Chip Cookie Bowl - specially created for this baking application. A sugar cookie variation is available on www.wilton.com.

Candy cups start with Candy Melts - versatile, creamy and easy-to-melt wafers available in a variety of colors and flavors. The melted candy is brushed inside a silicone cup and refrigerated until firm. Then just unmold and fill with ice cream. For foolproof, step-by-step instructions, visit www.bakedecoratecelebrate.com.

Even the tried-and-true ice cream cone can get a new look. To jazz up a basic store-bought cone simply dip an inch or two from the top into melted candy. Then dip again or roll in colorful, crunchy sprinkles and toppings.

For more summer celebration ideas or to purchase toppings, pans, Candy Melts and other supplies, visit www.wilton.com.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Bowls

Ingredients
 

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2/3 cup firmly-packed brown sugar
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2teaspoon salt
• 3/4cup (1-1/2 sticks) butter, melted
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2/3 cup miniature semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preparation
 

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray outside of each bowl cavity of Ice Cream Cookie Bowl Pan with vegetable pan spray.
2. In large bowl, combine flour, sugars, baking powder and salt; mix well. In small bowl, whisk together melted butter, eggs and vanilla; add to dry ingredients, mixing well to form stiff dough. Mix in chocolate chips.
3. Roll out dough on generously-floured surface to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut 5-inch round circles from dough. Drape one circle over each cavity of pan, pressing to form smooth surface.
4. Bake 12-14 minutes or until cookie cups are firm and golden brown. Cool on pan on cooling rack 5 minutes. Loosen bottom edges of cookies from pan using small spatula. Carefully remove cookies from pan and cool completely. Wash and dry pan; repeat with remaining dough.
5. Fill cooled cookie bowls with ice cream, pudding or fresh fruit.

Serves
Makes 12 bowls

SOURCE:
Wilton Enterprises