Happy 4th of July!!!

Well, today is our nation's 233rd Bday!!!



How are you celebrating?



We are going to have a family cookout for lunch, then we'll watch fireworks tonight. Hopefully the kids aren't scared of them this year. Two years ago, my son was scared, while my oldest dd loved them. Last year my oldest dd was scared and my son loved them. We haven't taken the youngest two to see them yet, we're waiting to see if the two oldest ones can handle them, first...LOL.



All we have to do is sit out in our front yard. We can see the fireworks from the next town. We live on top of a hill in the country on 30 acres, so we can see pretty far away (no other houses around to block our view).



Here is a craft for the kids:


Patriotic Pinwheel
SHOPPING LIST OF SUPPLIES:
Level - Beginner

2 OZ Americana Acrylic Paint Snow White
Value Pack Foam Stars Red/White/Blue
1/4"x36" Dowel

9x12 Foamtastic Sheets:
1- Red
1-Royal
Additional Supplies:

#8 Flat BrushFoam Glue
1 1/4" paper fastener or straight pin
scissors
INSTRUCTIONS:
Cut out an 8" square from Royal Foamtastic Sheet. Refer to diagram on Zoom Image picture to cut in from all corners, leaving approxiametly 1 1/2" from center uncut.
Repeat first step using Red Foamtastic Sheet and cutting a 5 1/2" square. Leave approximately 1" from center uncut.
Gently bend one of the red cut corners to the center point. Skip the next cut corner, and bend the next one. Continue until all four points meet in the center. Push a 1/4" paper fastener through the points and back of the pinwheel. Set aside.
Repeat above instructions using Royal Foamtastic Sheet. After all four points meet in the center, pushe fastener with Red pinwheel attached through the points and back of the Royal pinwheel. Set aside.
Cut a 12" piece of wood dowel. Paint dowel Snow White. Open paper fastener in pinwheel and bend ends around top of dowel.
Glue foam stars randomly on pinwheel.
*NOTE: Using a paper fastener will create a fixed pinwheel. If you want the pinwheel to spin, replace the fastener with a thick straight pin and push pin into to of dowel.




Today's menu:

Breakfast: eggs, toast, grits, bacon, tomatoes

Lunch: Family Cookout

Dinner: Cheeseburger Bake, Salad, Pintos

Dessert: Holiday Poke Cake (I used cherry & blueberry to make it red, white, blue)



Recipes:

Cheeseburger Bake
Recipe By : Cherylann

Serving Size : 8

8 ounces refrigerated crescent rolls

1 pound ground beef -- browned and drained

1 package taco seasoning mix

15 ounces tomato sauce

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Preheat oven to 350°.
Unroll crescent roll dough; press into a greased 9" round baking pan, pinching seams closed.
Bake for 10 minutes; set aside.
Add beef, seasoning and tomato sauce to a 12" skillet; heat through, about 7 minutes.
Pour into crust; sprinkle cheese on top.
Bake for 10-15 minutes.
Set aside 5 minutes before serving.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Per Serving (excluding unknown items): 318 Calories; 25g Fat (69.5% calories from fat); 17g Protein; 7g Carbohydrate; 1g Dietary Fiber; 78mg Cholesterol; 827mg Sodium. Exchanges: 2 1/2 Lean Meat; 1/2 Vegetable; 3 1/2 Fat; 0 Other Carbohydrates.



Holiday Poke Cake
Serving Size : 12

2 baked 9" round white cake layers -- cooled

2 cups boiling water

1 package cherry gelatin powder

1 package lime gelatin powder

12 ounces Cool Whip® -- thawed
Place cake layers, top sides up in 2 clean 9" round cake pans. Pierce layers with/large fork at ½" intervals.
Stir 1 cup of the boiling water into each flavor of gelatin in separate bowls at least 2 minutes until completely dissolved. Carefully pour cherry Jell-O over 1 cake layer and lime Jell-O over the 2nd cake layer. Refrigerate 3 hrs.
Dip lime cake pan in warm water 10 seconds; unmold onto serving plate. Spread with about 1 cup of the cool whip. Unmold cherry cake layer; carefully place on top of lime cake layer. Frost top & side of cake with/ remaining cool whip.
Refrigerate at least 1 hour or until ready to serve. Decorate as desired. Store leftover cake in refrigerated.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Per Serving (excluding unknown items): 142 Calories; 5g Fat (36.6% calories from fat); 1g Protein; 20g Carbohydrate; 0g Dietary Fiber; 0mg Cholesterol; 44mg Sodium. Exchanges: 1 Fat; 1 1/2 Other Carbohydrates.


Have a blessed 4th of July~Cherylann