Tasty treats for the Fourth

Festive Treats for the Fourth

Make one of these red, white, and blue recipes with the kiddos—they’re that easy!

PATRIOTIC ICE CREAM CONES

Instead of filling the cones with ice cream, you can also use them as a serving cup for red and blue fruit.

Sugar or cake cones

White chocolate chips

Red, white, and blue sprinkles (like Betty

Crocker Decorating Decors), nonpareils, or star sprinkles (available on Amazon)

Melt white chocolate chips according to package directions. Use a pastry brush to “paint” a rim of chocolate around a cone, then roll in decorations or sprinkle on chocolate. Repeat with all cones; allow to dry on wax paper, then serve with your favorite ice cream flavors, cherries, and extra sprinkles.

SALUTE SNACK MIX 3/4 c Honey Nut Cheerios 3/4 c Rice Chex 1 bag Chex Mix Muddy Buddies 2/3 c Mini pretzels or pretzel sticks 3/4 c Red, white, and blue M&M’s 2/3 c Patriotic candy corn, such as Brach’s (available on Amazon)

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Mix all ingredients together in a large red bowl. Feel free to add your own spin with additional add-ins like Swedish Fish, peanut butter balls, mini marshmallows, or white chocolate chips.

FLAG FRUIT KEBOBS

Strawberries and/or raspberries

Mini marshmallows

Blueberries

Wooden skewers

Skewer strawberries or raspberries, mini marshmallows, and blueberries. For a fun variation, thread blueberries, strawberries, regularsize marshmallows, and bites of brownies onto longer wooden skewers.

WATERMELON STARS

Small seedless watermelon

Whipped cream (make your own using 1 cup heavy whipping cream and 1 T confectioner’s sugar, or use store-bought) 1 small container blueberries

Slice watermelon and cut out pieces using a small star-shaped cookie cutter. Dollop each star with whipped cream, and top with a few blueberries.

RED, WHITE, AND BLUE STRAWBERRIES 1 pound strawberries, washed

White baking chocolate

Vegetable oil

Blue sugar sprinkles

Wash and dry strawberries completely. Melt baking chocolate and a little vegetable oil until smooth. Dip strawberries one at time in chocolate and then in sugar about halfway up the white chocolate. Place on wax paper to cool. (You can also use this method with cherries.)

SPRINKLE ICE-CREAM SANDWICHES

Store-bought ice-cream sandwiches (regular, mini, or square-shaped will work)

Wooden ice-pop sticks

Assorted patriotic sprinkles

Unwrap ice-cream sandwiches and allow to get slightly soft. Press all sides in a dish of sprinkles. Insert a wooden stick in the bottom to make a sandwich pop. Place on a baking tray to freeze until ready to eat. Wrap any extra sandwiches in plastic wrap and store in the freezer.

HEALTHY PATRIOTIC PARFAITS

Red fruit such as chopped cherries, sliced strawberries, or raspberries

Vanilla yogurt

Blueberries or blackberries

Layer red fruit, yogurt, and berries in a glass or clear plastic cup. Serve chilled with a dollop of whipped cream.

SAVORY FLAG “CAKE”

If sweets aren’t your thing, layer up this savory plate instead.

Blueberries

Strawberries and raspberries

Mozzarella or Swiss cheese cubes

Round water crackers

Place a small container of blueberries in the top left corner of a white rectangular dish. Layer fruit, cheese, and crackers in “stripes” until plate is filled. Serve with preserves or pepper jelly. Variation: Sub white chocolate or yogurt-covered pretzels for cheese and crackers.

PATRIOTIC PRETZELS 3 dozen square-shaped pretzels 36 White Candy Melts (like Wilton Bright

White Candy Melts)

Red and blue M&M Minis

Place 10 pretzels on a microwave-safe plate. Add a candy melt to each pretzel, and microwave for 45 seconds to 1 minute, or until softened (but not melted). Working quickly, press 2 blue M&Ms side by side into the top corner of each pretzel. Add 2 more blue M&M’s directly below the first two to create a row. Fill in the “stripes” with red M&M’s. Allow to cool completely before serving.

USA CANDY BARK 1 cup each white, blue, and red candy melts 1/2 cup patriotic sprinkles

Edible gold or silver stars

Line a baking sheet with wax or parchment paper. Melt candy melts in three separate bowls. Spoon over prepared baking sheet, using double the white melts. Swirl colors together with a knife until you achieve a tie-dye look. Add sprinkles and stars,

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then freeze bark for 30 minutes or until set. Break into pieces. (You can add other toppings like M&M’s and Oreo crumbles too.)

ALL-AMERICAN CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES 1 cup butter, softened 1 cup white sugar 1 cup packed brown sugar 2 eggs 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 3 cups all-purpose flour 2 cups chocolate chips 1 cup red, white, and blue M&M’s

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream together butter and sugars until smooth. Beat in eggs one at a time. Stir in vanilla. Dissolve baking soda in 2 teaspoons hot water and add to batter with salt. Stir in flour, chocolate chips, and M&M’s. Drop by large spoonfuls onto a greased baking sheet. Bake 10 minutes or until edges are browned.

CELEBRATE S’MORES

Graham crackers

Red royal icing

Blue royal icing

Red, white, and blue star sprinkles

Marshmallows

Chocolate candy bars

Coat tops of graham crackers evenly in red and blue icing. Sprinkle with stars and allow to dry. Pair with marshmallows and chocolate for perfect patriotic s’mores.

KIDS WHO SHINE LIBBY LAW, MBA CANDIDATE AT OLE MISS

At age 23, born-and-raised Mountain Brook native Libby Law is not exactly a “kid.” But she is a student who recently completed her MBA at Ole Miss in Oxford, Mississippi.

As part of a post-grade entrepreneurial class, Libby and four other group members were tasked with creating a fundraising website that included page visit and donation requirements.

“Our group was given a list of potential fundraising groups to choose from,” says Libby. “Because we were from different states, we felt like the veterans association was a group that everyone could relate with. In some way, we all have connections with veterans, and we knew this would help us with fundraising.”

On their project page (ignite.olemiss.edu/ project/31102), visitors learned that their donations would go toward essential funding for student veterans, noting: “These students have put their lives on the line so that we may enjoy the liberties of freedom that we experience every day. Your donation will help provide resources and support to ensure a positive campus experience for our student veteran community. In addition to this, you will also be directly supporting these student veterans family members.”

Creative donation options included $6 for the six branches of the military; $19.20 in honor of the year the SVA was founded; $50 in recognition of the 50 stars on the U.S. flag; $103 to commemorate the 103 years since Veteran’s Day began in 1919; and $246 to celebrate America’s 246th birthday this month.

It was up to the five-student group—Libby; Michael Coccia of Guelph, Ontario, Canada; Kate de Steuben of Washington, D.C.; Nick Sebens of Oxford, Mississippi; and Brooks Quartararo of Greenville, South Carolina—to figure out how to promote the website, which included posting QR codes around campus, individually texting, posting on social media and other sites, and then determining the best point of return for their efforts.

“The project lasted over a month, so we had to consistently promote the veterans association to be able to reach our goals,” she says. “In a little over four weeks, we raised $1,980. The funds go directly to the Ole Miss Student Veterans Association (SVA), which has an on-campus

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF LIBBY LAW

Libby Law created a fundraising website with her classmates.

house with a computer lab, study and relaxation areas, a kitchen for meals, and more. Veterans can visit any time.”

According to Jamie King, a veteran (82nd Airborne, United States Army) and president of the SVA, on the Ole Miss Veteran and Military Services site: “The mission of the SVA, with the support of Veteran and Military Services, is to provide military veterans with the resources, support, and advocacy needed to succeed in higher education, as well as develop a sense of camaraderie within the student veteran community on campus.”

The University of Mississippi is one of America’s top military-friendly universities, the number one school in the state for veterans, and is an Unlimited/Unlimited Yellow Ribbon School and Purple Heart Campus. “This is a student-run organization with veterans at its core,” says Jamie. “As a veteran, I know the difficulties one can face in the transition from military to civilian life.”

The funds raised by Libby and her classmates will help to keep the George Street House, where the SVA is located, running for veterans. This month, Libby will move to Charlotte, North Carolina, to work as an Enterprise Analyst in the Leadership Development Program for Truist Bank. You can learn more about the Ole Miss SVA at vms.olemiss.edu/student-veteranorganization.

Olivia Tetralogy of Fallot Patient Olivia Tetralogy of Fallot Patient

was actually through her leg. MENDING HER The path to HEART was actually through her leg. MENDING HER The path to HEART

Olivia was born with a congenital heart defect requiring open heart surgery at 3 months old. She also required a second Olivia was born with a congenital heart defect requiring open surgery as a teen to replace her pulmonary valve – but this time heart surgery at 3 months old. She also required a second they went through a vein in her leg to insert the Harmony surgery as a teen to replace her pulmonary valve – but this time Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve in her heart. This less-invasive they went through a vein in her leg to insert the Harmony path to replacement shortened her recovery time, and she went Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve in her heart. This less-invasive home the next day. Olivia was the first pediatric patient in the path to replacement shortened her recovery time, and she went southeast to receive the Harmony valve, and it was here at home the next day. Olivia was the first pediatric patient in the Children’s of Alabama. southeast to receive the Harmony valve, and it was here at Children’s of Alabama.

To learn more visit ChildrensAL.org/heartTo learn more visit ChildrensAL.org/heart

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