Officially, today marks the first day of summer!

Don’t forget to start planning your summer parties:

• 4th of July
• Family Reunions
• Birthday Parties
• Labor Day Parties
• Beach Parties

We would love to hear about some of your favorite summer recipes that you are planning on making for your next party!

Cinco de Mayo is less than 2 weeks away!  Here is a one of my favorite recipes that I enjoy bring to the party! 

Taco Dip 

• 1 pkg. (8 oz.) Cream Cheese, softened 
• 1 package Taco Seasoning Mix
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1 cup guacamole
• 1 cup Salsa (or Picante)
• 1 cup shredded lettuce
• 1 cup dices tomatoes
• 1 cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese

MIX the cream cheese and seasoning mix until well blended. Spread onto bottom of a pie plate.

LAYER lettuce, Salsa (or Picante), tomato and cheese over the cream cheese mixture; cover. Refrigerate several hours or until chilled.

GARNISH with the guacamole and sour cream around the edge for dipping.   

SERVE with tortilla chips.

 Don’t forget to decorate for your party… It isn’t too late to order your Cinco de Mayo party supplies from Party Favor Mall.

First you need the following ingredients:

• ½ c.butter
•  ¼ c.soy sauce
• ¼ c.Worchiser sauce
• ¼ c. chili sauce
• 1Tablespoon mustard (any kind-brown or yellow)
• 1 clove garlic minced

Bring the above ingredients to a boil.  Remove your mixture from heat and let cool.  *Do not cool in refrigerator.  Pour your mixture over fish and let marinate at least 3 hours.  Grill on high with the skin down.  *Do not flip the fish. 

Fish is done when it flakes easily with a fork.  The skin of the fish will remain on the grill when filets are removed. 

Enjoy!

• 1/2 cup flour
• 2 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• Strawberries
• Chocolate Chips
• Banana’s
• Orange slices (peeled)
• Canned Whipped Cream

Beat egg yolks until light.  Sift flour, baking powder and salt together.  Add alternately with the milk.  Beat egg whites stiff and fold into flour mixture.  Bake on hot griddle.

To form the smiley face, Pour one large round circle of pancake batter, placing two smaller ones in the 2 o’clock and 10 o’clock postitions for the ears. Carefully turn over as to not lose the ears.  Spray two small curved lines of whipped cream for the eye brows.  Place two orange slices underneath for the eyes.  Place strawberry in the center for the nose. Make the mouth with a banana (cut in half length ways) or a big curved line of whipped cream, carefully placing chocolate chips for the teeth.  Place one chocolate chip in the bottom lower part of the ear. 

You can decorate this pancake with just about any fruit, or just let the children use their imagination. 

• 2 tablespoons chopped onion 1 small clove garlic, minced 1 tablespoon cooking oil
• 1  11¹/4-ounce can condensed
• chili beef soup or 4 manicotti shells beaten egg cup cream-style cottage
• cheese, drained cup shredded sharp American
• cheese (2 ounces)
• 2 tablespoons chopped canned green chili peppers

Cook onion and garlic in oil till tender; stir in soup. Cook manicotti in boiling salted water till tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Drain. Cut shells in half crosswise, if necessary, to fit two individual baking dishes.

Due to some medical issues, our blogger, Cindy, has been unable to write for us.  We wish her the best and are praying for her health!  …We miss you Cindy!

Please, check back with us often, we will be sharing all sorts of new and exciting recipes and gift ideas!

 Welcome Back!

Stacy

What you will need:

• 1lb ground sirloin (12% fat)
• ½ cup Italian bread crumbs
• 1 egg
• 1 white onion finely chopped
• 1 clove of garlic minced
• ½ lb   sliced pepperoni
• 1 lb mozzarella cheese
• 1 cup fresh grated parmesan cheese
• 1 jar of spaghetti or pizza sauce

Instructions

1. Mix the ground sirloin with the  bread crumbs, egg, chopped onion, minced garlic and a 1/2 cup of the parmesan cheese.
2. Flatten out the mixture on a cookie sheet.
3. Layer the pepperoni on top of the mixture.
4. Sprinkle half of the mozzarella cheese on top of the pepperoni.
5. Now roll the meat loaf up into a log it will kind of look like a jelly roll when done.
6. Place the meat loaf in at least a 3inch deep baking pan with some sauce covering the bottom.
7. Bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes or until browned.
8. Pour the remaining sauce over the meatloaf.
9. Sprinkle the remaining  mozzarella  cheese on top the sauce and cook until melted and browned.
10. Let stand for at least 15 minutes before serving.
11. Use the remaning parmesan cheese to garnish.

 Enjoy!

Ingredients:

• 4 cups of stuffings
• 1 1/4 cups boiling water
• 4 tablespoons of butter
• 4 to 6 boneless chicken breast halves
• Paprika
• 1 can (10 3/4 oz) of Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup/Chicken
• 1/3 cup of milk

Instructions:
1.  Mix water and butter bring to a boil.

2.  Place stuffing in a 3 quart caserole dish.

3.  Add boiling water and butter, mix lightly.

4.  Mix soup and milk in a bowl.

5.  Place chicken on top of stuffing.

6.  Spread soup mixture over chicken.

7.  Cover and bake at 400 for 30 minutes or until chikn is done.

Mai Tai

Ingredients:

• 1 oz Light Rum
• 1 oz Dark Rum
• 1 oz Triple Sec
• 1/2 oz of Amaretto
• 1 oz Orange Juice
• 1 oz Pineapple Juice
• 1 Dash of Grenadine
• 1 Dash of Lime Juice
• 1 Orange Slice
• Cherry

Instructions: Shake well and pour over ice. Garnish with a Cherry and Orange.

Pina Colada

Ingredients:

• 4 oz Pina Colada Mix
• 1 oz Light Rum
• 1 cup Ice
• 1 oz Half and Half
• Cherry
• Pineapple Slice

Instructions: Combine ingredients in a blender or mix well and enjoy. Garnish with a cherry and pineapple.

Chi Chi

Ingredients:

• 4 oz Pina Colada Mix
• 1 oz Vodka
• 1 cup of Ice
• 1 oz Half and Half
• Cherry
• Pineapple Slice

Instructions: Combine ingredients in a blender or mix well and serve on the rocks. Garnish with a cherry and pineapple. Drink and enjoy.

Blue Hawaiian

Ingredients:

• 1 oz Light Rum
• 1 oz Blue Curacao
• 3 oz Pina Colada Mix
• 1 cup Ice
• Cherry
• Pineapple Slice

Instructions: Combine ingredients in a blender or mix well and enjoy on the rocks. Garnish with a cherry and pineapple.

Lime Daiquiri

Ingredients:

• 1.5 oz Light Rum
• 1 oz Lime Juice
• 1 cup Ice

Instructions: Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a cocktail glass.

Strawberry Daiquiri

Ingredients:

• 1.5 oz Light Rum
• 1 oz Lime Juice
• 3 oz Fresh Strawberries
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 cup Ice

Instructions: Blend ingredients thoroughly. Serve in a glass with sugar on the rim.

You may want to visit our other party drink recipes and mixed drink recipes. We have recipes for cosmopolitan, jello shots, kiwi rum punch, sunshine day dream, sex on the beach and many more favorite drinks.

Chocolate Cake and Fruit Kabobs

Ingredients:

• Kabob sticks
• 12-oz. pkg. Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels
• 2 tablespoons vegetable shortening
• 24 bite-size pieces pound cake
• 24 bite-size pieces fresh fruit or berries, (pineapple, banana, melon, strawberries)
• Strawberry Sauce
• 1 can (10-oz.) frozen strawberries in syrup, thawed
• 3 tablespoons or more sugar

Directions:

FOR KABOBS
LINE a baking sheet with waxed paper. MICROWAVE morsels and vegetable shortening in a medium, microwave-safe bowl on HIGH for 1 minute and stir. Microwave an additional 10- to 20-seconds, stirring until smooth. Dip cake pieces into chocolate mixture; shake off excess. Place on prepared baking sheet then drizzle tops with additional chocolate. Refrigerate until set. On skewers, alternately thread chocolate coated pieces of cake with pieces of fruit; refrigerate. Serve with Strawberry Sauce.

FOR STRAWBERRY SAUCE:
PUREE strawberries and sugar in blender until smooth.