A Bafflingly Random Holiday Filler Post

Happy Independence Day!

How patriotic are we?

Well, for starters, the Minions were born in July, April, and September.

All of my "Momma" jewelry is red, white and blue.

 Savannah's best friend's birthday is today

(Happy 18th Birthday, Kerri!),

and this was the pillow Savannah designed and made for her.

Iron Man and Captain America are pretty darned patriotic!

 We watch two of my favorite "chick flicks" every 4th;

Mel picking another fight, and my all time favorite...

...well, you know.

Our epic battle for freedom against some aliens.

We park our Rehabbing tushes at the kids' college for a perch that affords us not one...

 ...but THREE local fireworks shows going off in harmony.

We've been doing this since Samwow was almost a year old.

He'll be 21 this month.

How did THAT happen???

Our table is a beachy display of Americana.

We'll have flags, funky glasses, top hats and personal slightly illegal

exploding items of our own.

We stick to great American refreshments!

No matter how revolting!

And we take a day off from harassing the Home Depot across from the house.

"Hey, Life in Rehab, what are you guys making now?"

"Oh, headphones."

 So slip into something cool.

Stay hydrated.

 Lay claim to some shade.

Pack the cooler with something tasty and fresh.

 Keep the fridge stocked for unexpected visitors.

 Most people won't show up empty handed.

 But be prepared for surprises.

 Wear something stunning and appropriate.

 Fill the pool.

 Have planned activities.

 And set aside time to stretch out...

 ...relax...

 

 ...and enjoy some time for just you.

Need some ideas?

These guys have the right idea.

 Finish the whole bash off with something sweet.

Speaking of something sweet, how about you show up to the BBQ

with something that will edge Aunt Hortense's Flag Cake right off the buffet?

This Napoleon looks fancy and complex,

but it's surprisingly easy, and you will look like a super star!

Sunny's Ridiculously Easy Napoleon

You'll need:

2 boxes of instant cheesecake flavor pudding mix

1 eight ounce package of cream cheese, softened

1 package of Pepperidge Farms Phyllo Dough Sheets, thawed

An 8 ounce tub of fat free whipped topping

3 cups of 2% milk

1 egg, lightly beaten with 3 tbs of water

1 pint of fresh blueberries

2 pints of fresh strawberries, sliced

Powdered sugar

Hershey's syrup if desired

Line a cookie sheet with foil and spritz it lightly with cooking spray.

Unwrap the two portions of phyllo dough that are in the box and separate each one into three sheets.

Brush each of the six sheets with egg, set them on the cookie sheet, and bake them until

puffy and golden in a 350 degree oven, about 20 to 30 minutes.

While that's happening, cream the cream cheese

 ("Department of Redundancy Department, can I help you?")

 with a hand or stand mixer. Add the pudding mix and milk and blend until smooth.

Fold in the whipped topping. Pop this in the fridge to chill.

Once they're all puffy, pull the crispy dough sheets out of the oven and

 cool them completely on a wire rack.

Set the 2 bottom portions on a platter.

Layer 1/4 of the pudding stuff on each.

Top this with blueberries and sliced strawberries.

Stack the 2 middle portions on top of this, and repeat the pudding, 

blueberry and strawberry step, reserving just enough pudding to 

frost the top layer of the two stacks.

Set the tops, um, you know, on top, frost, and arrange a few slices of strawberries and some blueberries decoratively.

Sprinkle any remaining berries around the desserts,

then sift powdered sugar over the whole affair liberally.

Just before serving, you can criss cross drizzles of chocolate syrup over 

the Napoleons to really dazzle.

This whole thing takes under an hour too!

Now go make some Sangria with carambola star fruit, light some

sparklers with the kids, and tell Aunt Hortense I said hi.

 See you guys tomorrow...I have a watermelon to carve into a whale.