4th Weekend Recipes: Patriotic Pops, Ice Cream Sandwiches
July 5, 2014
The Fourth of July calls for a carefree party, with good friends, fab food, fun and fireworks – a real star-studded holiday celebration.
Patriotic Pops cut into star shapes definitely say “Happy Fourth of July.” Decorated in red, white and blue icing, red licorice and colored candies, these easy-to-make crispy rice treats are a favorite for both youngsters and the grown-ups. The kids can lend a hand to help decorate by placing the candy pieces on the stars.
Add a taste of nostalgia for the child in all of us with Ice Cream Sandwiches – everybody loves ‘em. Homemade brownies and buttery vanilla cookies, sandwiched with the ice cream flavor of your choice are a cut above ice cream truck offerings. Give them the flair of the Fourth by rolling the edges in patriotic sprinkles and sugars. Or, dip part of the sandwich into melted candy melts and decorate with sprinkles for a fun and festive finish.
(Scroll down to see both recipes.)
Patriotic Pops
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter or margarine
- 4 cups mini marshmallows
- 6 cups crisp rice cereal
- 24 8-inch Cookie Treat Sticks
- Red, Blue and White Cookie Icing
- Red and blue candy-coated chocolates
- Red licorice
Preparation
- Spray Star Cookie Treat Pan and rubber spatula or wooden spoon with vegetable pan spray.
- In large saucepan, melt butter. Add marshmallows; cook and stir until melted. Remove from heat and add cereal; mix well. Press into prepared pan; insert cookie sticks. When cool to touch, remove from pan. Repeat with remaining cereal mixture. (If mixture becomes hard to work with, microwave at 50% power 30 to 60 seconds to soften.)
- Outline treat as desired with Cookie Icing; add candy and licorice. Let dry at least 1 hour.
Serves
Makes about 2 dozen pops
Ice Cream Sandwiches
Ingredients
Brownies
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
- 1-1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 2/3 cup granulated sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Vanilla Cookies
- 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup firmly-packed light brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon lemon extract, orange extract or ground cinnamon (optional)
Preparation
- Brownies: Preheat oven to 325°F. Spray Ice Cream Sandwich Pan with vegetable pan spray.
- In small bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt. In large microwave-safe bowl, melt butter with chocolate chips. Whisk in sugar, eggs and vanilla; beat well. Add flour mixture; stir until just combined. Spoon 2 tablespoons batter into each pan cavity, spreading evenly.
- Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until toothpick inserted at an angle toward center comes out clean. Immediately remove to cooling rack; cool completely. Repeat with remaining batter.
- Vanilla Cookies: Preheat oven to 325°F. Spray Ice Cream Sandwich Pan with vegetable pan spray.
- In small bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt. In large microwave-safe bowl, melt butter. Whisk in sugars, eggs, vanilla and, if desired, other extract or cinnamon; mix well. Add flour mixture; mix until blended. Spoon 2 tablespoons batter into each pan cavity, spreading evenly.
- Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until toothpick inserted at an angle toward center comes out clean. Immediately remove to cooling rack; cool completely. Repeat with remaining batter.
- To Assemble: 1 quart ice cream, any flavor
- Assorted Patriotic Mix Sprinkles and Red and Blue Sugars
- White Candy Melts, melted (optional)
- Scoop about 1/4 cup ice cream onto smooth side of half of the brownies. Top with remaining brownies, pressing gently. If desired, roll edge of sandwiches in sprinkles or sugars. Wrap and freeze immediately.
- Or, dip a portion of the sandwich in melted candy melts; add sprinkles and sugars. Freeze 5 minutes to set, then wrap and freeze until ready to serve.
Serves
Makes about 12 ice cream sandwiches
Fire Causes Minor Damage To Molino Mobile Home
July 5, 2014
A laundry area fire caused minor damage inside a mobile home in Molino Friday afternoon. The fire was reported just after 5 p.m. in the 6000 block of Highway 95A, across from Highland Baptist Church. Firefighters were able to quickly bring the fire under control. There were no injuries reported. NorthEscambia.com photo by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
Century Seniors Celebrate The Fourth
July 5, 2014
The residents of the Century Health and Rehabilitation Center celebrated the Fourth of July with an old fashioned picnic Friday.
Kids from the nearby Campfire USA Century Learning Center brought cards and handmade bracelets for some of the residents, and residents shared watermelon with the kids. The facility residents, in addition to the traditional picnic items, enjoyed 15 watermelons donated by Charlotte Lowry.
Pictured: Fourth of July picnic fun at the Century Health and Rehabilitation Center Friday. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Drop Bay To Bay Series Opener 6-2 To The BayBears
July 5, 2014
The Mobile BayBears bested the Pensacola the Blue Wahoos 6-2 Friday night. The BayBears scored five runs over the first two innings against Blue Wahoos starter Daniel Corcino to cruise to victory in the opener of the second installment of the Bay-to-Bay Series.
Mobile used six hits, three walks and one Blue Wahoos error to plate three runs in the first and second innings. Pensacola was held to just four hits in the game, but one was a two-run home run from Travis Mattair in the seventh inning. It was his first home run since June 5 at Montgomery.
The Blue Wahoos bullpen was strong again working a combined 1.2 scoreless innings. The only base runners that James Walczak and Fabien Williamson allowed were a pair of walks. Blue Wahoos relievers have now worked 17 consecutive scoreless innings dating back to Tuesday, July 1.
Corcino (L, 7-7) settled down after the second. He was finished after 5.1 inning having allowed 6 R/4 ER on seven hits with four walks and four strikeouts. BayBears starter Eric Brooks (W, 1-0) baffled Blue Wahoos hitters for 5.0 innings. He earned the win after allowing just two hits with five strikeouts.
The series continues on Saturday with RHP Jon Moscot (4-7, 3.08) set to start for the Blue Wahoos against BayBears RHP Archie Bradley (0-0, 1.23). First pitch is set for 6:05 p.m. from Hank Aaron Stadium in Mobile.
by Tommy Thrall
American Airlines Plane Makes Emergency Landing In Pensacola
July 4, 2014
An American Airlines plane made an emergency landing at Pensacola International Airport Thursday night due to a “strong odor” in the cabin.
Flight 386 was en route from Jacksonville International Airport to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport when the incident was reported. As a precaution, the MD-80 was diverted to Pensacola.
A spokesman for American Airlines said all 115 passengers and five crew members aboard the plan were unharmed. The passengers boarded a different plane and were shortly back en route to Dallas.
Century, Flomaton Celebrate The Fourth With A Bang (With Photo Gallery)
July 4, 2014
Fireworks lit up the night Thursday with an early celebration at Century’s Showalter Park.
The fireworks show was a joint effort of both the Town of Flomaton and the Town of Century. The towns alternate hosting the festivities each year.
For a photo gallery, click here.
For a schedule of other area fireworks shows tonight, click here.
Photos by Ditto Gorme for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Three In A Row: Northview’s Food For America Program Wins Florida’s Top Honor
July 4, 2014
Thursday, the Northview High School FFA Chapter was awarded the first place 2014 Fresh from Florida Advocacy Award during the Florida FFA State Convention in Orlando. It was the chapter’s third consecutive first place award, which is sponsored by the Florida Department of Agriculture.
Formerly known the Food for America program, the program is designed to encourage FFA members to participate in agricultural literacy and awareness projects on the local level.
The local Food for America Program, conducted by the Northview FFA in March, gave hundreds of elementary students a chance to learn about agriculture firsthand as they got up close and personal with farm animals, farm equipment and more at the Northview campus. The students even had the opportunity to make their own butter and enjoy it on crackers.
Earlier in the year, members of the Northview High School FFA officer team visited several area elementary schools to read ag-related books to students.
The Northview FFA program began implementing plans for their Fresh From Florida program in the early fall of the 2013-2014 school year. They sent letters to schools and potential vendors letting them know to save the date for the 2014 activity.
The day of the event, students from surrounding elementary schools were invited for a day on the farm. They traveled to various booths that were manned by FFA members and community partners. Students were able to see animals, discuss the amount of land that is available for farming, as well as seed germination necklaces.
The Northview program was able to impact over 1,800 students, and they are continually looking for ways to improve their agenda in order to impact more students in the future.
Pictured top: Northview FFA members pose with their first place 2014 Fresh from Florida Advocacy Award Thursday afternoon in Orlando. Pictured inset and below: Scenes from the March 2014 Northview Fresh from Florida program. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia Extension Urges Smart Grilling For Food Safety
July 4, 2014
Safety is an important consideration when operating a grill. Improper use can cause a fire or explosion. Keep the area around a lighted grill clear of combustible materials, and never use a grill in an enclosed area such as a sheltered patio or a garage. Avoid wearing loose-fitting clothing that may catch fire. The cooking grids should be cleaned after every cookout. The last thing you want to do is cause someone to become ill due to improper cleaning or unsafe food preparation practices.
Wash your hands with hot soapy water for at least 20 seconds before starting to prepare any foods, and wash your hands again if you do anything else—change a diaper, pet an animal, or blow your nose, for example. Cover any cuts or sores on your hands with a bandage, or use plastic gloves. If you sneeze or cough while preparing foods, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue and turn your face away, or cough into your sleeve. Always wash your hands afterwards.
Bacteria multiply rapidly at room temperature. Most food-borne illness-causing bacteria cannot grow well at temperatures below 40°F or above 140°F. Thaw foods in the refrigerator or in the microwave. Never leave foods out at room temperature.
Keep everything that touches food clean. Bacteria can hitch rides around your kitchen on all sorts of things—plates and cutting boards, dirty utensils, dish rags and sponges, unwashed hands.
Never chop fresh vegetables or salad ingredients on a cutting board that was used for raw meat without properly cleaning it first. If possible, keep a separate cutting board just for the preparation of raw meat, poultry, and fish.
Wash cutting boards thoroughly with hot soapy water, and then sanitize with a solution of household bleach and water.
Keep raw meat, poultry, fish, and their juices from coming into contact with other foods during preparation, especially foods that will not be cooked. Wash all utensils and your hands with hot soapy water after contact with raw meat.
Marinate meat, poultry and seafood in the refrigerator in a covered, non-metal container. Throw away any leftover marinade.
Grill food to a safe internal temperature. Use a meat thermometer to assure correct doneness of the food being grilled.
Safe minimum internal temperatures:
- Poultry (whole, ground, and breasts): 165°F
- Hamburgers, beef: 160°F
- Beef, veal, and lamb (steaks, roasts and chops):
- Medium rare: 145°F
- Medium: 160°F.
- All cuts of pork: 160°F.
Hold meat at 140°F until served. Use a clean platter for transferring cooked meat from grill to serving table.
Summer is the time for getting together with friends and family and cooking outdoors. Make your outdoor grilling experience safe and enjoyable.
For further information regarding food safety and other related topics, go to the University of Florida’s Solutions for Your Life website: http://www.solutionsforyourlife.com.
Dorothy C. Lee, CFCS, is an Extension Agent II, Family & Consumer Sciences with the Escambia County Extension Service. Reference: Safe Food Handling Fact Sheet, United States Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Series.
Two Injured In Highway 29, Bluff Springs Road Crash
July 4, 2014
Two people were injured in an accident Thursday afternoon on Highway 29.
The accident happened about 4:50 p.m. at the intersection of Highway 29 and Bluff Springs Road and involved a GMC Denali. The two injured persons were transported by Escambia County EMS to Jay Hospital with injuries that were not considered severe.
The accident was investigated by the Florida Highway Patrol; further details, including names, were not released.
The Century Station of Escambia Fire Rescue also responded to the crash.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
FDOT: Road Construction Suspended For 4th Weekend
July 4, 2014
The Florida Department of Transportation is suspending highway construction projects on major major roadways across Northwest Florida for the holiday weekend. There will be no work on state roads requiring lane restrictions Friday, July 4. All major roads will be open to normal traffic.
Although no construction closures are scheduled over the Independence Day holiday, existing state highway work zones will remain in effect. Motorists are reminded to use caution while traveling through work zones around barricades and equipment.
FDOT is encouraging drivers to allow extra travel time and to use extra caution in existing work zones along state highways. Drivers are urged to make sure they buckle up, along with their passengers. FDOT and other safety agencies also ask drivers to obey speed limits, get adequate rest before traveling, avoid distractions and never drink and drive.
Drivers also are urged to be prepared for unscheduled highway closures due to accidents, disabled vehicles or other events. Motorists should be alert to changing weather conditions while traveling.