4th of July Giveaway Winning Recipe: Fruity Peacock

Here is the winning recipe by Cortney:



Choose a watermelon that is not too big and fairly round. Cut a little bit off one end so it is stable on your plate. Take either a toothpick, pencil or marker to sketch out the shape you will eventually cut. In the picture, I made the tail round, but you could do scallops or a zig-zag even. The shape of the head is important. Follow the picture to give you an idea.

Then take a knife and follow your line. Cut out your shape and leave the chunks that you cut off as big as you can so you can use the fruit within. If you take just little bits at a time, it won't be as usable.

When you've got most of your shape cut out, take a melon ball utensil and gut the watermelon. As you can see in the photo, I was able to get many melon balls, but also wedges taken from the chunks that I cut out. When using a melon ball utensil, take care not to dig too deep into the white flesh. You don't want the rind too thin and it's better if the inside is all the same color, preferably red.

The skewers are the next important part. Use 5 or 7 wooden skewers and load with fruit chunks. An odd number is best since one would stick straight up and the rest would be even. It's ideal if you can do a pattern of large fruit, small fruit including peeled and sliced kiwi. Kiwi is a little difficult to work with since it's so soft, but the effect is awesome since they represent the "eyes" in a peacock's tail. If you can't or don't want to work with kiwi, other large, round slices of another fruit would be okay. Make sure all the skewers are loaded with the same pattern of fruit.

Stick the first skewer right in the top of the "tail". Stick it down far enough that it won't fall over. Make sure there is no skewer showing above the top fruit. Add the other skewers around the "tail" at even intervals.

Blueberries are the next important element. Use three toothpicks. Cut about 1/3 off two of the picks. Using the picture as a guide, put a blueberry on each toothpick and place on the "head" of the peacock. Use the 1/3 that was cut off and place a blueberry on that and stick on front of "head" as an eye.

Put whole peacock on decorative plate that has a lip. Juices may drain! Add cut fruit to peacock bowl and around plate for garnish. Enjoy!

Red, White and Blue Cookies

1 log of Sugar Cookie Dough
Red Food coloring
Blue Food coloring


Take the cookie dough and divide it into 3rds.
To one 1/3 add 15-20 drops of blue food coloring and mix well.
To another 1/3 add 20-25 drops of red food coloring and mix well.
You now have your red, white and blue cookie dough.



Now you are going to take the colored cookie dough and take bits of it and stack it up and form it into a log.



Wrap the log in plastic wrap.



Now put the wrapped cookie dough into the refrigerator. Leave cookie dough in refrigerator 45-60 minutes.

Take cookies out of plastic wrap and slice and put on cookie sheet.



Bake at 350* for 11-14 minutes.

HAPPY 4th OF JULY!!!

Easter Cookies

To be made the evening before Easter with your child or children !!


1 cup Whole Pecans
3 Egg Whites
1 cup Sugar
1 tsp. Vinegar
pinch of Salt
Zip lock bag
Wooden Spoon
Wax Paper
Tape
Bible


1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees.

2. Place the pecans in a zip lock bag and let the child beat the bag with a wood spoon to break up the pecans into small pieces. Explain to the child that after Jesus was arrested, He was beaten by the Roman soldiers. ( Read John 19:1-3)

3. Let the child smell the vinegar. Put the vinegar into a mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross He was given vinegar to drink. (Read John 19:28-30)

4. Add egg whites to the vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain the Jesus gave His life to give us life. (Read John 10:10-11)

5. Sprinkle a little salt into the child's hand. Let them taste it and then brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that the salt represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sin. ( Read Luke 23:27)

6. So far the ingredients are not very appetising. Add the sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to him. (Read Psalm 34:8 and John 3:16)

7. Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12-15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleanse by Jesus. (Read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3)

8. Fold in the broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto a wax paper covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid. ( Read Matthew 27:57-60)

9. Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give the child a piece of tape and "seal" the oven door. Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. (Read Matthew 27:65-66)

10. Now GO TO BED!! Explain to the child that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. ( Read John 16:20 and 22)

11. On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are HOLLOW!!! On the first Easter Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. ( Read Matthew 28:1-9)

Irish Potato Bread

1/2 cup warm Water
1/4 cup Vegetable Oil
1/4 cup Honey
2 Eggs
1/2 cup Mashed Potatoes
3 cups Flour
1/2 tsp. Salt
2 1/2 tsp. Yeast

In order listed put ingredients in bread machine.
This makes a 1 1/2 lb. loaf.

Enjoy!!

Snowmen Cookies

1 pkg. (16oz) Nutter Butter cookies
1 1/4 lbs. White Chocolate or White candy coating, melted
Black, Orange,and Red decorating gel or Frosting
Mini M&Ms
Pretzel Sticks, Halved

Using tongs or fork, dip cookies in chocolate; shake off excess. Place on waxed paper.
Place M&Ms down middle for buttons.
For arms, dip ends of two pretzel sick halves into chocolate; attach one to each side.

Let stand until hardened. Pipe eyes, nose and scarf with gel or frosting.