Celebrating the Red, White & Blue!

It's another weekend for patriotic celebration so I thought I would share two great "red, white and blue" recipes to move your picnic fare from ordinary to a real celebration.

Want to try something a little different? How about trying a "Red, White and Bleu Burger?"

You'll Need:

• 2 lbs ground beef
• 1 lb bacon
• 1 container crumbled bleu cheese
• Salt and pepper to taste

Step By Step

1. Break up ground beef (or turkey) into a large mixing bowl.
2. Cut up uncooked bacon into small bite-sized pieces and add to bowl
3. Add full container of bleu cheese crumbles
4. Add salt and pepper to taste


5. Mix all ingredients and hand-form burgers

6. Grill immediately, or cover and refrigerate until ready to serve
7. Serve on a crusty kaiser or potato roll
NOTE: You will want to grill these over a lower flame to ensure the bacon cooks through, but the burger doesn't char. Cooking to a temperature of 150 degrees makes for a nice medium rare burger and the bacon will be cooked (though not crispy).

A perfect side to really compliment the flavors is a Red, White and Bleu Spinach Salad


Borrowing this image from www.pensieve.me/ because I haven't made the salad yet this weekend....but I will!!
You'll Need

Salad

• fresh spinach (cleaned and torn)
• strawberries (sliced)
• blueberries (whole)
• crumbled bleu cheese
• chopped red onion (optional)
• walnuts or pecans (chopped)
• Poppyseed dressing (I've included a recipe if you like to make your own, but I've found Brianna's poppyseed dressing to be every bit as good as homemade).

Dressing

• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon dry mustard
• 1/3 cup white wine vinegar
• 1 cup salad or olive oil
• 1 Tablespoon poppy seeds

Mix ingredients in a jar, cover, shake well and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Step-by-Step

1. Add all salad ingredients (except dressing) in a large bowl.
2. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
3. Just before serving toss salad in dressing.

If you still have room for more, don't forget the perfect ending to your Red, White and Blue Celebration
-- a festive fruit pizza!



Of course, if you're on strawberry and blueberry overload there's always the great all-American favorite -- apple pie and ice cream!

Have a safe and happy 4th of July!

ENJOY!!