Easy Fourth of July Recipes

This recipe holds a special place in my heart and with my taste buds. It has been a summertime treat in my family since I was a baby and it is a recipe any age can appreciate.

For the adults, it is quick, easy and sneaks fruit into your child’s diet. For kids, it combines three favorites into one dessert—cake, Jell-O and whipping cream.

Poke Cake

1. Make a white cake. (Any brand of cake mix or recipe will do.) Bake in rectangle cake pan.
2. Using a fork, poke holes in the cake after it cools.
3. Make small package of Jell-O (I prefer strawberry flavor, both for the taste and the red, Fourth of July appropriate color). Mix Jell-O using one cup hot water, ½ cup cold water.
4. Poor liquid Jell-O over the cake.
5. Cover the top of the cake with whipping cream.
6. Chill in the refrigerator.
7. Decorate the top with fruit (or other decorations). You can create an American flag using sliced strawberries as the stripes and blueberries in the corner as stars.

Potato Salad

1. 5 pounds red potatoes
2. 6 eggs
3. 1/2 teaspoon ground mustard
4.  2/3- 2 cups mayonnaise
5. 2 green onions, thinly sliced
6. 1 diced onion
7. 3 stalks celery, thinly sliced
8. 2 teaspoons salt
9. 1 teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions

1. Add potatoes to a pot of boiling water. Cook for 15 to 20 minutes, so the potatoes are tender but firm. Drain, let the potatoes cool and cut them into cubes.
2. Place eggs in a saucepan with cold water. Bring to a boil and remove from the heat as soon as the water starts to boil. Let the eggs stand in hot water for 10-12 minutes. Remove the eggs from the hot water and let them cool, before peeling and chopping them.

Combine the potatoes and eggs in a large bowl. In a seperate bowl, mix the mayonnaise, onions and celery. Season with the spices then mix it all together. Cover, and refrigerate for several hours.

Enjoy and Happy Fourth of July!