Those Fun Faux July Holidays

 It;'s JUly and that means celebrating holidays - yes holidays.Of course there the Fourth of July barbecues but there's also the fun Summerween barbecues and Christmas in July trays.It means interesting spins on classic holiday treats.

There's always been some sort of Christmas in July. Mostly people may set up a mini fake fir tree and decorate it with seashells and lights. As for Summerween this is brand new yet growing in popularity. There are some really fun ideas for a ghost and pumpkin themed barbecue. I think the pumpkin cheeseburger will be making an appearance at my upcoming outdoor party. This is taking a slice of cheddar and cur out a jack o' lantern face .It;s then laying the slice on the burger and eating it open faced. You can do the same thing with a slice of MUenster to create a ghost on a burger. Then there's the mini pizzas with the mozzarella ghosts which can be made on a grill.The piece de resistance is the watermelon carved like a pumpkin. It could filled with fruit as the centerpiece or lit with votive candles for light. The flesh itself can be turned into balls and added to fruit salad or pureed for tasty mocktails and cocktails. Try mixing it with lime juice and water and sweeten with agave syrup for a refreshing drink.End the night with bloody s'mores You can dip the marshmallows in red food coloring to get that sanguine look.Also serve black and red fruit like blackberries and cherries for a dessert treat.

What about Christmas in July? Look to Australia and other parts of the Southern Hemisphere. Whiles it's winter up here ,it;s summer down there. Many have barbecues that feature chicken and London broil. You could serve this with Stovetop stuffing or Yorkshire pudding which surprisingly can be made on the grill. You will need some kind of pan to collect the drippings for the gravy. An easier plate would be a Christmas tree charcuterie board. This will have all the components of a regular board but the lines of food are arranged so it forms a giant triangle with a small trunk.. Make the trunk out of crackers or slices of French or Italian bread. Decorate with green olives and cherry tomatoes to represent balls. You also use strands of string cheese for tinsel. This idea can be carried out in veggies along with seafood too.Of course a picnic salad is de rigeur. Have a macaroni salad heavy with broccoli florets and sliced grape tomatoes. What would be the perfect dessert? It's too hot to make a slew of cookies but you could buy chocolate wafers and make the famed chocolate log . Dust some cocoa powder on it for a true Buches de Noel feel. Another idea is chocolate peppermint sundaes. Have chocolate ice cream with syrup and crushed Starlight mints for a fun ending. Top with  mounds of whipped cream and more crushed peppermint.

Yes the JUly 4th barbecue can be tasty and fun?Yet what could be better than Halloween and Christmas in a month that's also full of beach fun.Celebrate with gusto and tasty food.

Lidl Treats For The Weekend

 One thing Lidl is known for its it's treats. They have everything from tasty pizza to a wide array of sodas.If you're looking for fun eating this is the store to visit.

As everyone knows I"m a big fan of the store and love anything they sell.One of my favorite  weekend meals is their vegan flatbread pizza from

their Vendemi line.The pies are perfect for two people with two slices a piece. It's crispy and saucy.

Another weekend must have is Lidl's sodas.Again they're so tasty and a good price.A twelve can pack of their brand is only $3,00! I live their seltzer too which is only 89 cents a bottle.

I love their cherry ,especially for egg creams but they also have such flavors as peach and grapefruit ,perfect for summer mock tails or just filling a glass with ice.Another plus is that their fizz lasts twice as long as the national brand seltzers. It was still bubbly two weeks after opening and did not go flat.

If you're looking for some tasty treats for fun weekend meals, then shop at Lidl. They have the no doubt the best for interesting foods .Try them for a Saturday and Sunday full of treats.

Indulge In Dr Pepper Cotton Candy

 Imagine combining your two favorite things. That's what it is with Dr.Pepper Cotton Candy. Cotton candy is special but adding this soda flavor elevates it to an epic level.

This is what I discovered today on a a fun trip to my local Five Below.

It was my two favorite things - the marriage of Dr. Pepper with cotton candy. They also had a Mike and Ike flavor which looked kind of interesting although it's not my favorite candy. Five Below is a store that has tons of cute stuff ,from tee shirts to toys to make up and bath gear to books and home furnishings to candy - lots and lots of candy.Imagine a funky sweet shop where you ca get everything from giant candy dots to all sorts of bubble gum. There are also savory snacks like flaming hot Taki sticks and Funyuns too.Yet it's. the candy that shines though.

Of course I could not resist this.It ;s that deep cherry red that  Dr Pepper is. Did it taste extra sweet with the soda flavor added?

It was super sweet as any cotton candy would be. Yet the soda's flavor came through perfectly. it was a fun once in a great while treat. I'm a big fan of freshly spun cotton candy, especially if it's down the shore yet this is a nice alternative. I do wonder if there will be a Coke,Pepsi  or Fanta flavored cotton candy next.Would I buy any of those? Maybe.

If you want a different treat then try Dr. Pepper flavored cotton candy.It's just a fun summery treat. Enjoy it like you would a icy glass of the soda.!

Japan's passion Lychee Cake

 Countries will go crazy over another country's food.It's evident here in the States when we order pizza ro munch or croissants.Even though Jamaica has its' fair share of tasty food, Jamiacans go mad for lychee cake.

New contributor and cookbook author Ramin Ganeshram wrote about this new island classic in yesterday's New York TImes Wednesday Food section. Chinese cuisine has been a part of the Jamaican table since the late 1800's when many came over to work the sugar cane fields not just of Jamaica but also Trinidad and Cuba .Lychee remains one of the ingredients most associated with the descendants of Chinese immigrants. Lychee trees though have a longer history on the island as they were first imported in the 1700's,The fresh fruits aren;t used on the cakes though.According to Virginia Burke, author of Eat Caribbean and Selena Wong who created the recipe, the trees have a fickle bearing cycle which makes them expensive. Also Jamaicans would prefer to eat them fresh out of hand.The fruit itself has a flavor that's sort of a combination of a strawberry and pear with a hint of citrus. They lend the,shelves well to the cake , first created by Ms Wong in 1988. She created a light sponge cake that featured canned lychees and their syrup.It not only became a family hit but a national hit that grew into an obsession.Now every bakery and grocery sells it.

It's an easy cake to replicated.Ms Ganeshram gives the recipe and its; very much a Caribbean cake too.It's a scratch cake with a creamy fruit filling and topped with fruit. Rose water also flavors the cake, which again appears in most island dessert recipes. Every Jamaican has a recipe but they're all secret. Ms.Wong credits her invention with giving her a successful pastry business. Yet any home baker can make it for a lovely summer event .The cake is a vanilla one with lychee syrup added.  It's added to  the egg yolks while the whites are whipped into thick peaks The syrup can be  made on the stove top simmering it and stirring it often until it coats the back of a spoon. The filling is a mix of marscapone cheese, heavy cream, confectioner's sugar and more rose water.The cake is also iced with this and then topped with six to seven freshly peeled lychees, strawberries,kiwi and mandarin slices. Before frosting place the  bottom cake layer puffy side down on the plate. Do the opposite with the second layer  with the puffy side up,Brush the fruit with the remaining lychee glaze.

Lychee cake is now a classic in Jamaican cuiine.It's a fresh , fruity take on a summery cream cake.it;s the perfect end to a summer party.

The Best Pizza IN The USA

 This country can brag about having the best of many foods. we're good at making plump , juicy  hot dogs. Our fries are super crispy and deliciously salty .Then there's pizza. Surprisingly we are a country of good slices reflecting our varied ethnic history. What's the best? That's a hard call.

Regular contributor Brett Anderson wrote about America's great pizzarias and pies in todays New York Times Food section.Good pizzas nowadays isn;t just limited to just big cities ,It's everywhere from the Pacific Northwest seacoasts to new England coastal towns and Wisconsin.The food;s broad appeal coupled with the relatively low cost of opening up a pizzeria. It's also easy to acquire the recipes and mastery to create a top notch pie.All anyone has to do is learn how to make a simple dough and that's it.fromthere they can open up their own places.This renaissance in pizza making has enabled people around the country - even in such remote areas to enjoy such interesting extras like honey drizzled om top of toppings or Korean style pizza.There is Pizzeria Sei in Los Angeles that bakes Tokyo influenced pies and the city's pizza and oyster bar fusion pie rife with oysters.Ann Kim makes Korean pizzas, ones that she knows she would like.She had no background yet now she's an acclaimed chef.

The best pizza list is a wide one. Many come from businesses that aren't necessarily pizzerias, Bakeries like the Tinder Hearth in Brookville , Maine and Flour and Flower in St. Joseph Minnesota feature pies on select evenings.Is New York City mentioned on the list? No!!! The city does have excellent pizzas however it's the smaller towns that shine.Charlotte <North Carolina has Bird Pizzeria which features  caramelized crust pies and a dandelion pesto!Kerrel Thompson responded to the call for more pizziolos or pizza makers in the area and lived up to the name. Can a pizza be Southern too? Yes, if it's Nashville's City House! Chef Tandy Williams opened this favorite restaurant in 2007 .There are pies inspired by her mother;s love of tomato sandwiches along with ones topped with trout or dotted with peaches.Amar Pizza in Hamtramck Michigan celebrates owner's Kurshed Ahmed's heritage. There's a pizza made with a fish paste used as a condiment in Mr Ahme'ds childhood.There's also one topped with a Bangladesh veggie, naga peppers.There are several other pizzarias throughout the country that offer unique takes on sauce and toppings.

Pizza usn't just pizza anymore.The best also isn;t just found in New York Ciy. It's all over the country with different looks and flavors.

Summer Seafood

Seafood lends itself to summer.It 's so versatile in this season. Any kind can go from the grill to a salad. It's just  getting creative with it.

What kind of seafood you want is up to you. Many go with shrimp because it's easy to work with and versatile. Steaming shrimp is a simple make and the best for sealing in it's flavor. This makes for a tastier salad.Shrimp salad can be eaten on it's own , a fresh leaf of Bibb lettuce or in a tasty roll. You can use mayo but combine it with lemon juice to make it lighter and less greasier. Dill is added for flavor along with chopped celery.Chopped red onion also gives it more flavor but you could use onion powder if this is too overpowering in flavor. Dijon mustard gives it some zing as well as color. After mixing well , the salad should be left to chill for at least two to three hours. Overnight in the fridge is the best. Howe you serve it is up to you. Try it on a lettuce leave with a tomato wedge or in a crusty roll for a light lunch or even dinner. Grilled shrimp is another way to go.it should be marinated first usually in a simple one of lemon juice ,olive oil and that seafood must Old Bay Seasoning.  You could add sugar to caramelize the shrimp but this is up to you.This last is a great addition to any barbecue because it also goes well on chicken too. Skewer the shrimp and then grill for three minutes on each side until they have char. 

What are the best fish to grill? Salmon comes out as the number one. It's flavor can mix with anything , where it's a savory sweet teriyaki sauce or a tart and bright lemon.Keep in mind that wild salmon has a stronger flavor than farm raised which has a sweeter and milder taste.It should be brushed with a quality oil such as grape seed or extra virgin olive oil. grill the fish on both sides on a 450 to 500 Farenheit degree grill for six to eight minutes to ensure the fish wont' stick to the grates and pull away easily when lifted. what to serve with it? Try grilled asparagus with a light lemon butter sauce. Another popular fish for the grill is tuna. There are so many different types but the best for grilling is albacore.Its' fleshy white meat is perfect for barbecuing.Most tuna marinades have an Asian bent. Create one that is a mix of soy sauce , and freshly shredded ginger. it should be marinated for thirty minutes before grilling for two to three minutes on each side on a 475 degree Farenheit grill. what about cod? Is it too flaky to put on a grill? No.You can easily create some tasty barbecued fillets but just be careful with handling them.Generously oil the grill before cooking so the fish won;t stick.You can try a combo rub of onion and garlic powder with paprika for color and flavor. Grill on a 400 degree Farenheit for four minutes on each side,

Summer seafood is always the right choice.It;s delicious and versatile. Try it in a salad or grilled for a tasty warm weather meal.

The Summer Mediterranean Diet

 The Mediterranean diet is the perfect one for living healthy. It can easily be redone for easy summer eating. It's easy ,especially with all the fresh produce and seafood.

The diet is from countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea, They're Italy France, Greece and Spain. Each country has not only dishes that are beneficial but they're also delicious. It's basically consume more fresh and less processed. It's also staying away from excess sugar and grains.Eating this way not only promotes weight loss but also lowers the risk of heart attack and diabetes.Summer is the perfect time to switch to the diet. Tomatoes which are in abundance even now are a main component of it. You cna easily make a few no fuss no muss  sauces .Try a burst tomato which is super simple to make. It's sauteing mini San Marzano or grape tomaotes in a mix of plant butter and olive oil. Garlic is added along with oregano. The tomatoes are smashed or burst when their skin turns wrinkly after cooking.Use a spatula for this and serve with any kind of pasta Think a chunky one like rotelli or penne. Another tasty and easy sauce is salsa cruda. This is tomatoes marinated in olive oil with garlic, oregano and thyme .Freshly cooked pasta is mixed with it , cooking the sauce.

The Spanish classic gazpacho is another wonderfully healthy and tasty soup.It  definitely an easy make that requires absolutely no cooking. There are many variations but the best is one that four to six  diced tomatoes,one chopped pepper, one diced onion and one clove of garlic. OLive oil is added a long with a few tablespoons of red wine vinegar. You can add just a sprinkling of salt and a good amount of freshly ground black pepper. for some spice.  Use a big bowl for it to accommodate the immersion blender. Using it will create a rich , creamy textured soup.Make it around three to four hours before serving and pop into the fridge. Of course a true Mediterranean dish is a salad. Think a Greek one that has a little feta along with anchovy fillets for maximum flavor. it also has sliced cucumbers and sliced, Add Kalamata olives and sliced green bell peppers for more flavor. Seafood is another must have in the Mediterranean diet.try grilled shrimp kabobs for your next barbecue. marinate them in a mix of olive oil and lemon. Add some oregano for flavoring. The same can be done for lobster too.

Adapt the Mediterranean diet for your summer cooking. It;s healthy eating with the freshest produce and seafood. It;s also delicious and easy to create too.