Red, White & Blue Berry Brownie Torte

Red, White & Blue Berry Brownie Torte

inspired by Betty Crocker's Gluten Free Brownie 'n Berries Dessert Pizza 

and originally posted last year at Shower of Roses

Ingredients:

• Fudge Brownie Mix + ingredients for brownies
• 1 - 8 oz. package of cream cheese
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla
• Blueberries
• Strawberries

Directions: 

Mix up a box of Betty Crocker Fudge Brownies, or your favorite brownie recipe, and bake as directed in two Torte Pans. (I used my Pampered Chef Torte Pans.) After the brownies have cooled combined cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla to divide and spread over the top of both tortes. Top with blueberries and chopped strawberries. 

Find additional Independence Day recipes in the archives! 

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4 More Festive Foods on the 4th {and a link-up!}

I mentioned that we were still trying to decide what to make for this year's 4th of July celebration earlier this week when I posted 6 Patriotic Treats for Independence Day.  I thought I'd share what we ended up making, as well as a link up for any other American readers who would like to share their 4th of July celebrations! 

.: Star Spangled Berry Cake :. 

I posted all about our cake here.

.: American Flag Cupcakes :.

We have been reading about Our Flag this week, from the sweet Little Golden Book, and the girls were very excited to help create this year's Flag Cupcakes.  Since we were using all the berries on the cake and brownies the girls decorated the cupcakes with white frosting with white & red sprinkles and blue frosting with white stars!  I thought it turned out great, even if we were short on stars...  Just think of it as the Flag of 1822! ;) 

 

.: Red, White & Blue Berry Brownie Torte :.

Recipe can be found here: Red, White & Blue Berry Brownie Torte

.: Flag Fruit & Marshmallow Kabobs :. 

We have made a variation of these Red, White and Blueberry Skewers back in 2009 but this year we made the Flag themed Berry Kabobs from Family Circle. 

Directions: Thread 4 blueberries, 2 mini-marshmallows and 2 raspberries on each of five 10-inch wooden sticks. On the remaining seven sticks, thread 4 raspberries and 3 marshmallows to create this all-American treat.

To Participate:

1. Create a post about your 4th of July Food Creations.
2. Using the linky below, enter the exact link to your post.
3. Add a link your post, referring back to this post so that others can find the link-up as well!
4. Be sure to visit the links and see how everyone else celebrated!

God Bless America! 

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6 Patriotic Treats for Independence Day

Last year our children had so much fun helping create treats to take to the 4th of July party we were attending.  We are still trying to decide what we will make for tomorrow, but I thought I'd repost these here in case any of you are still looking for ideas too!     

.: 4th of July Ice Cream Cones :.

Sugar cones dipped in melted white chocolate and rolled in sprinkles

Served with Vanilla White or Strawberry Red Ice Cream

(these were a hit with the kids AND adults!) 

.: Red, White and Blueberry Trifle :. 

White cake, blueberries, whip cream and strawberries

layered in a trifle bowl!  So pretty and easy!

 

.: Red Licorice :.

(leftover) Red Licorice wrapped in bundles with these free Printable Napkin Rings (inspiration found here)

.: Sparkler Pretzel Rods :.

Pretzel Rods dipped in melted white chocolate and decorated with sprinkles

.: Red, White, and Blue Berries :.

Strawberries (washed and dried completely) dipped in melted white chocolate and blue sprinkles

(I ran across this idea online, and it looks like Charlotte made them this year too, along with all their awesome t-shirts!  One of these years we need to try painting t-shirts.  I love how theirs turned out, especially the patriotic cupcake for that cute-as-can-be-god-daughter of ours!) 

.: United States Flag Cupcakes :.

White Cupcakes decorated with whipped cream, sliced strawberries and blueberries (as an alternative to last year's flag cake) 

We pray, Thee O Almighty and Eternal God! Who through Jesus Christ hast revealed Thy glory to all nations, to preserve the works of Thy mercy, that Thy Church, being spread through the whole world, may continue with unchanging faith in the confession of Thy Name.

We pray Thee, who alone art good and holy, to endow with heavenly knowledge, sincere zeal, and sanctity of life, our chief bishop, Pope N., the Vicar of Our Lord Jesus Christ, in the government of his Church; our own bishop, N., all other bishops, prelates, and pastors of the Church; and especially those who are appointed to exercise amongst us the functions of the holy ministry, and conduct Thy people into the ways of salvation.

We pray Thee O God of might, wisdom, and justice! Through whom authority is rightly administered, laws are enacted, and judgment decreed, assist with Thy Holy Spirit of counsel and fortitude the President of these United States, that his administration may be conducted in righteousness, and be eminently useful to Thy people over whom he presides; by encouraging due respect for virtue and religion; by a faithful execution of the laws in justice and mercy; and by restraining vice and immorality. Let the light of Thy divine wisdom direct the deliberations of Congress, and shine forth in all the proceedings and laws framed for our rule and government, so that they may tend to the preservation of peace, the promotion of national happiness, the increase of industry, sobriety, and useful knowledge; and may perpetuate to us the blessing of equal liberty.

We pray for his excellency, the governor of this state, for the members of the assembly, for all judges, magistrates, and other officers who are appointed to guard our political welfare, that they may be enabled, by Thy powerful protection, to discharge the duties of their respective stations with honesty and ability.

We recommend likewise, to Thy unbounded mercy, all our brethren and fellow citizens throughout the United States, that they may be blessed in the knowledge and sanctified in the observance of Thy most holy law; that they may be preserved in union, and in that peace which the world cannot give; and after enjoying the blessings of this life, be admitted to those which are eternal.

Finally, we pray to Thee, O Lord of mercy, to remember the souls of Thy servants departed who are gone before us with the sign of faith and repose in the sleep of peace; the souls of our parents, relatives, and friends; of those who, when living, were members of this congregation, and particularly of such as are lately deceased; of all benefactors who, by their donations or legacies to this Church, witnessed their zeal for the decency of divine worship and proved their claim to our grateful and charitable remembrance. To these, O Lord, and to all that rest in Christ, grant, we beseech Thee, a place of refreshment, light, and everlasting peace, through the same Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior. Amen.

From his 1791 Prayer for Government, recited in parishes throughout his diocese. Archbishop John Carroll, SJ

Happy Independence Day! 

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Divine Mercy Cupcakes

These are easy Divine Mercy Cupcakes!

Instructions:

Follow the same instructions for Mardis Gras Cupcakes, dividing white cake mix into 3 colors. Or you may use just 2 colors of blue and red if you like. Use food coloring for red and blue only. (Cake mixture is already white for the middle) I chose to use white for the middle color so that the 2 rays would be more pronounced.  You may also opt out of using the white at all.

My kids loved biting into the cupcakes to reveal the colors of the Divine Mercy Rays.

(For those who live in the United States, these would also make great 4th of July or Memorial Day cupcakes)

 I found these Divine Mercy toppers for $1.50 at out local Catholic Bookstore.

Happy Divine Mercy Sunday!

+Blessed Pope John Paul II,  please pray for us+

The Official Prayer for John Paul II's Intercession
O Blessed Trinity,
We thank You for having graced the Church with Pope John Paul II and for
allowing the tenderness of your Fatherly care, the glory of the cross of
Christ, and the splendor of the Holy Spirit, to shine through him. 

Trusting fully in Your infinite mercy and in the maternal intercession of
Mary, he has given us a living image of Jesus the Good Shepherd and has
shown us that holiness is the necessary measure of ordinary Christian life
and is the way of achieving eternal communion with you. 

Grant us, by his intercession, and according to Your will, the graces we
implore, hoping that he will soon be numbered among your saints.
Amen
With ecclesiastical approval CARDINAL CAMILLO RUINI
the Holy Father's Vicar General for the Diocese of Rome

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Fun Food for the Feast of St. John the Apostle

The following guest post was submitted by Lacy from Catholic Icing.  Thank you Lacy!

Hi! This is Lacy from Catholic Icing, and I'm posting today to share some ideas for the Feast of St. John with you. His symbol is the eagle, so here are some eagle foods I have made:

Eagle Marshmallow Pop

If you want to make your own eagle marshmallow pop, here's what you'll need:

Lollipop Sticks
Large Marshmallows
Dark Chocolate Chips
White Gumdrops
Shredded Coconut
Almond Bark
Black Food Color Paste
Flower Shaped Sprinkles

Here's what you do:

For the Body~
Put your large marshmallow on the stick and cover in melted dark chocolate. Stick on 2 yellow flower-shaped sprinkles for his feet, and chocolate chips for the wings. Allow to cool. Use a blob of melted almond bark to stick on shredded coconut for the eagle's tail.

For the Head~
Melt your dark chocolate and almond bark until smooth. Dip the bottom of your white gumdrop into the melted almond bark, then dip into your shredded coconut to make the "feathers" on his neck. Cut a slit where his beak goes, and insert a sideways yellow flower-shaped sprinkle.  For the eyes, make 2 dots with black food color paste using a dull toothpick (as a substitute for one of those awesome food markers).

Eagle Head Quesadillla

This eagle head quesadilla is really easy to make. Just fold a tortilla in half, and then cut out a "ghost" shape with some scissors.  It cuts very nicely with scissors. Then, put some cheese in the middle and microwave (or fry it if you're a little more ambitious than me, or if you're preparing it for adults). Finish off by cutting the beak shape out of a slice of cheddar cheese, and stick a raisin on there for an eye :-D


Other ideas for celebrating the feast of St. John can be found in the archives! Pin It