Olla-Podrida: patriotic

Showing posts with label patriotic. Show all posts

Tuesday, June 27, 2023

Summer Berry Icebox Cake

There is a lot to like about this dessert, particularly where patriotic summer holidays are concerned. It is cool and refreshing, makes use of the sweet goodness of fresh fruit, will be enjoyed by all, it is boldly red, white, and blue, and probably most importantly is that this no-bake dessert is make ahead. There is nothing to putting together this simple dessert; it’s more assembly than anything. I have found its sweet, cool deliciousness to be quite welcome for breakfast, so I think this would be as suitable for brunch as it would be for lunch or dinner.

No Bake Summer Berry Icebox Cake

Adapted from cakescottage.com

21 graham crackers

8 oz. cream cheese, softened

2 (3.4 oz) packages Vanilla Instant Pudding

2 c. whole milk

½ c. Amaretto

12 oz. Cool whip (or homemade whipped cream)

3 c. sliced fresh strawberries

1½ c. fresh blueberries

2 oz. white chocolate chips

Beat cream cheese and dry pudding mixes in large bowl with mixer until blended; gradually beat in milk and Amaretto.

Gently stir in Cool Whip or homemade whipped cream, reserving ½ cup. Spread a thin layer of Cool Whip in a 9” x 13” pan just to coat the bottom.

Layer 5 graham crackers across the center of the pan, then 2 more, breaking them as needed, to fit around the top and bottom edges.

Spread a layer of pudding mixture over grahams and top with a layer of blueberries and sliced strawberries. Place graham crackers on top of berries, then pudding mixture, and then layer of berries again. Repeat the graham/pudding/berries layers 1 more time (3 times total) and you should reach the top of the pan.

Refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight until the graham crackers have softened completely.

When ready to serve, melt white chocolate chips in a bowl as directed on package and drizzle over dessert.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Monday, June 14, 2021

Flag Day Tablescape

This post contains affiliate links.

Happy Flag Day, everybody! Celebrated annually on June 14th, Flag Day commemorates the adoption of the flag of the United States that took place on June 14, 1777. Generally, I am not a celebrator of Flag Day, but I was feeling in a red, white, and blue mood and figured, why not?

As you can see from this place setting, you don’t have to have specialty dishes in order to make a patriotic statement. I just created a red, white, and blue plate stack, and placed it on top of patriotic fabric that I had rescued from my parents’ house.

My mother was the one who celebrated the summer holidays, always going to a lot of trouble. She would set up individual tables in the backyard and made tablecloths with matching napkins for each. In order to keep the tablecloth in place, she would top it with a glass hurricane filled with a pillar candle matching her table setting. It was always festive and fun. I managed to retrieve a number of patriotic theme fabrics, so you’ll be seeing another come Fourth of July.

Every time I get out these white-washed chargers that I purchased from Pier One prior to their physical demise, I wish I would have purchased more; these work with everything! The red plate on top with a nubby edge is from Pier One as well. The blue plate on top of it was part of a set that I bought 30 years ago, when I was in my blue phase. I got tired of them, and gave them to my number two son. He and his wife used them for years, and then they got tired of them, and gave them back to me. After all that time, I was delighted!

The heart-shaped casserole with the lid is perfect for one serving, and surprisingly versatile. The bamboo cutlery, purchased years ago, is festive and fun. The white cups and saucers are an Amazon purchase; the stemware is from Avon’s “Cape Cod” collection.

I hope the weather is beautiful where you are, and that you are flying your flag high.

This post is linked to:

Tablescape Thursday

Thursday, June 10, 2021

Red, White, and Blue Salad with Candied Pecans

This salad is perfect for summer and its patriotic holidays, as well as being elegant, and super easy to assemble. Have your blueberries and strawberries washed and prepped ahead of time, as well as the baby spinach. Candied pecans are a breeze to make, you can find that recipe here, but don’t eat all of them before it’s time to serve your salad because they are quite tempting. Then, it’s nothing more than piling it up on a plate, and dressing it with the best balsamic vinaigrette ever. Or, you can serve the dressing on the side.

Red, White, and Blue Salad with Candied Pecans

1 bag fresh baby spinach
1 4-oz. container blueberries
1 small container strawberries

Feta
Candied pecans
Balsamic vinaigrette

Place ingredients, in order, on serving plates. Drizzle with vinaigrette, or serve it on the side.

Monday, July 2, 2018

Stars & Stripes Tablescape

Thinking back, I cannot remember a time when I hosted a Fourth of July anything. For years my dad played in a symphonic band that had a fabulous Fourth of July concert, complete with a spectacular fireworks display, that was held on the Fourth every year at the local Civic Center. We would either head to my mother's for a Fourth of July barbecue, or to my aunt’s, and then we would all go to the Civic Center, spread out our blankets, set up our lawn chairs, and unload our cooler full of beverages and cold desserts, and enjoy the concert and display.

But, as happens, people moved out of the area, got older, became ill, and this celebration that I remember so fondly, ceased to take place. After that, Fourth of July just didn’t seem as important to me anymore. I do have a spectacular view of the fireworks from my deck, and I enjoy that every year, generally while sipping a cocktail. This year, instead of being an old poop, I decided that I was going to set a pretty table as well.

Some Pottery Barn rewards dollars were burning a hole in my pocket, so I spent them on these placemats and blue napkins with the white stars. From there, I just started rummaging through my hutches, cabinets, drawers, closets, you name it, in order to dig up something that would go together and look attractive. It’s not as heavily laden as some of my previous tables, but it gets the job done. The beauty in this table is its simplicity.

Whatever you do or however you celebrate the Fourth of July, be safe!

Sources:
Placemats, flatware, and star napkins - Pottery Barn
Jeweled chargers - Pier 1
White dinner plates - “Amelie” by Versailles
Heart-shaped salad plates - Amazon
Small red and blue bowls - Fiestaware
Candleholder Centerpiece - Pottery Barn
Blue champagne flutes - a wedding gift, years ago
Red napkins with white stars - my mother made these years ago