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Great All-American Goodies

Each July 4th, Americans gather to celebrate Independence Day with food, fun and fireworks. What delicious Fourth of July desserts can you share?

Patriotic Parade Cookies

1 package refrigerated sugar cookie dough

3/4 cup flour

Preheat oven to 400 (F).

Mix the flour and sugar cookie dough in a large bowl. Roll dough out on a well-floured counter. Use star-shaped cookie cutters.

Bake sugar cookies on ungreased cookie sheets for 8 minutes. Remove baked cookies immediately from sheets to racks or counter. Frost and decorate cooled cookies.

Easy Icing

3 cups confectioner's sugar

1/2 teaspoon lemon juice

6 tablespoons warm water

Red and blue food coloring

Combine first four ingredients in a medium bowl. Mix well until icing is smooth.

Divide icing into smaller bowls, and add food colorings. Spoon colored icings into zippered plastic bags (one for each color). Snip a small corner off each bag. Squeeze the icing onto cooled cookies.

Bandstand Brownies

1 package brownie mix

Vegetable oil

Egg/s

Water

Powdered sugar

Prepare brownies, according to package instructions.

Trace and cut a simple stencil on copy paper. Choose from online clipart: a flag, stars, firecracker, fireworks or other artwork. Place the stencil on top of your cooled brownies. Sift powdered sugar on top. Carefully remove the stencil, leaving a patriotic pattern.

Uncle Sam Cake

Red velvet cake mix

Eggs

Vegetable Oil

Water

Prepare cake mix, according to package instructions. Pour the batter into a large flat baking pan, and bake it.

Cut the cooled cake into a simple top-hat shape. Removing a long, narrow rectangle from each long side will create a top hat with a brim.

Uncle Sam Cake Frosting

1 cup vegetable shortening

4 cups powdered sugar

1/4 cup milk

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Red and blue colored sugar

In a large bowl, beat vegetable shortening. Sift in powdered sugar. Add milk and vanilla. Beat well. Frost your cake generously. Make stripes with red and blue sprinkles.

Flag-Waving Waffles

1 tablespoon white granulated sugar

4 eggs

1/2 cup butter or margarine (softened)

1 cup milk

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 tablespoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 cups flour (unsifted)

Fresh berries (your choice)

Whipped cream

In a large mixing bowl, blend sugar and eggs. Beat with electric mixer, until mixture is light and fluffy. Stir in softened butter or margarine and milk.

In a small bowl, combine baking powder, salt and flour. Add to batter.

Spray hot waffle iron with vegetable oil (unless manufacturer instructions dictate otherwise). Pour batter onto waffle iron by half cupfuls.

Serve with berries and whipped cream.

Learn more about this author, Linda Ann Nickerson.
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