Happy birthday America!
By Staff
Celebrate with food, films and fun this Fourth of July
When it's time to celebrate our nation's birthday, Americans break out their true colors – red, white and blue!
"WAVE THE FLAG" CUPCAKES
1 package (18- to 19-ounces) yellow cake mix
1/3 cup applesauce
3 egg whites
3 cups fresh blueberries, divided
1 package (8 ounces) reduced-fat cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 roll red-colored rolled fruit snack (from a 4.5-ounce box)
1. Preheat oven to 350 F.
2. In a large mixing bowl, beat cake mix with applesauce, egg whites and 1-1/4 cups water for 30 seconds on low speed, then 2 minutes on medium speed. Spoon batter into 24 (2 1/2-inch) aluminum or paper-lined muffin cups. Evenly divide 1 cup of blueberries onto tops of batter; do not stir. Bake cupcakes following package directions; remove to a wire rack and cool completely.
3. In a small bowl, beat cream cheese, confectioners' sugar and vanilla until smooth. Spoon onto cooled cupcakes; spread to the edges. Unroll fruit snack and, with a sharp knife, cut into strips 1/8-inch wide by 2-inches long. On half of each cupcake, arrange strips, trimming each to fit. Arrange remaining 2 cups blueberries on the frosting on other halves of the cupcakes, about 10 blueberries per cupcake. Makes 24 cupcakes.
Films
The Fourth of July weekend is traditionally an outdoorsy affair.
But we all know that sometimes the weather doesn't cooperate or circumstances occur that force us indoors. If you're one of the homeridden during this holiday, why not watch a movie? And not just any movie, but one that in some way celebrates America.
Here's a list to get you started:
If you've ever stepped barefoot on a just-discarded sparkler, you know how hot these fireworks can get. In fact, sparklers can get as hot as 1,800 degrees F – hot enough to melt metal!
Here's a great tip to prevent a nasty burn this Independence Day by keeping used sparklers off the ground.
First, round up an adult volunteer, matches or a lighter (a grill lighter is ideal) and a bucket of water. Put the adult in charge of all the sparklers, and have him or her pass out one sparkler per child.
Next, tell the kids (and adults, too) that to get another sparkler when theirs burns out, they've got to come back and drop the used one in the water bucket.
You might even put on a demonstration by dropping a hot sparkler in the bucket.
The sharp "hissing" sound when the sparkler hits the water will get the kids' attention and let them know just how hot one can get.
Now have the kids line up, and light their sparklers one at a time.
Sparklers are the second highest cause of fireworks-related injuries requiring trips to the hospital.
Always keep sparklers at arm's length, and closely supervise children using them. If you stick to the rules, no one will get burned. However, it's always best to keep an emergency kit on hand just in case someone forgets to play it safe.
(c) 2006 King Features Synd., Inc.
