Happy 4th of July

With 4th of July falling on Shabbos this year, it calls for a bit of effort to make the Independence Day feel festive. Try these easy, healthy recipes to add to your Shabbos.

Move over Bomb Pops, these red, white & blue Patriotic Pops are just as fun and a whole lot healthier.

Ingredients:

Red Layer:
1 cup fresh or frozen strawberries
1/2 cup orange juice
1T honey or maple syrup

White Layer:
1 overripe banana
1/4 cup plain yogurt
1/4 cup milk

Blue Layer:
1/3 cup frozen or fresh blueberries
1/4 cup orange juice
1T honey or maple syrup

Directions:

Mix the three different layers in a blender, one at a time. Store the white and blue mixtures in the fridge. Pour the red layer into popsicle molds and freeze for at least 30 minutes.

Add the white layer and freeze again (don’t let this layer harden too much because you’ll need to stick the popsicle stick inside of it).

Add the blue layer and the lid and freeze for at least an hour.

FRUIT PIZZA ‘AMERICAN PIE’
For the crust:
2 cups whole wheat flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup softened butter
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 cup milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt in a large bowl. Add the butter, brown sugar, sugar, vanilla and milk and mix well.

If dough is too soft, refrigerate for 20 minutes or more. Roll the dough into a large ball and flatten out on a greased baking sheet until it’s about 1/2-inch thick and in the shape of a rectangle or oval. Bake for 15-17 minutes and then let cool on a wire rack.

For the ‘sauce’ and toppings:
1/2 cup cream cheese
1 Tbs. maple syrup
1 pint blueberries
1 sliced banana
1 pint sliced strawberries

Combine cream cheese and maple syrup well and spread over cooled crust. Add the blueberries in the top left corner and then fill the rest of the cookie with banana and strawberry slices.

For the glaze (optional but yummy):
1/4 cup orange juice
1 tsp. maple syrup
1 tsp. corn starch

Combine the OJ and maple syrup in a bowl and then slowly add the corn starch while whisking. Drizzle the mixture over the flag and refrigerate for 30 minutes or more.

Enjoy! Have a safe and happy Fourth of July!