JELL-O Strawberry Gelatin Pops

Jun 26, 2012

Prep Time: 10 min Total: 5hr 10 min
Makes 12 servings

What You Need
1 cup boiling water
1 pkg. (3 oz.) JELL-O Strawberry Flavor Gelatin
1/3 cup sugar
1-1/3 cups cold water

Make It
ADD boiling water to combined gelatin mix and sugar in medium bowl; stir 2 min. until gelatin is completely dissolved. Stir in cold water.
POUR into 6 paper or plastic cups. Freeze 2 hours or until almost firm. Insert wooden pop stick or plastic spoon in center of each cup.
FREEZE 3 hours or until firm. Remove from cups before serving.

Kraft Kitchens Tips
Non-metal frozen pop molds can be used instead of the paper or plastic cups.
How to Remove Frozen Pops from Cups
Place bottoms of cups under warm running water for 15 sec. Press firmly on bottoms of cups to release pops. (Do not twist or pull pop sticks.)

Variations
Orange Gelatin Pops: Prepare using JELL-O Orange Flavor Gelatin and substituting cold orange juice for the cold water.
Super Strawberry Gelatin Pops: Prepare using JELL-O Strawberry Flavor Gelatin and substituting 2/3 cup pureed strawberries for 2/3 cup of the cold water.
Lemonade Gelatin Pops: Prepare using JELL-O Lemon Flavor Gelatin, reducing cold water to 1 cup and adding 2 Tbsp. lemon juice.
Sparkling Berry Gelatin Pops: Prepare using JELL-O Sparkling Wild Berry Flavor Gelatin and substituting cold raspberry flavor seltzer for the cold water.

For more summer recipes visit: http://www.kraftrecipes.com

Top 20 Outdoor Entertaining Tips and Party Ideas

Jun 26, 2012

Have a backyard soiree planned this summer? Make sure you’re prepared with this expert advice.
1. Get your yard clean and in order. Make sure the grass is mowed, raked and free of debris, tools and toys.
2. Don’t overlook spaces inside the house where guests may be, particularly the entryway, kitchen and bathrooms.
3. Decorate with cuttings from your yard. Arrange fresh flowers and greenery to add a pop of color and a natural fragrance.
4. Have plenty of seating for your guests. If you’re short on chairs, spread blankets on the grass.
5. Choose music that will be entertaining and pleasant, not too loud or overwhelming.
6. Think of your guests when choosing the menu. When extending invitations, you may want to ask whether anyone has food allergies or dietary preferences.
7. Be open to the idea of a potluck party. This will lighten your load, and it’s a fun way to try new dishes.
8. Ask a couple of guests whether they would arrive early to help with pre-party preparation. Make it fun by starting the music early and sampling some food.
9. Prepare as many foods in advance as possible. On the day of the party, you’ll be glad you got a head start, and flavors will be enhanced.
10. Have at least two large trash cans emptied and placed in convenient locations.
11. Create a special atmosphere with lights. Be creative by mixing up the sizes and shapes of candles, spreading them throughout your space. Also consider adding lanterns and strings of holiday lights.
12. If you are grilling, make sure the grill is clean and ready to fire up with enough charcoal or gas.
13. Have a working meat thermometer on hand so you don’t have to guess on grilling time.
14. Keep aluminum foil and plenty of clean plates handy grillside. When the meat is ready, place it on the plates and create a foil tent to keep it hot if you won’t be serving it immediately. Remember, the meat will continue to cook for a minute or two, so consider this when factoring in the grill time.
15. Consider grilled vegetables as a great side to accompany the main dish. Skewering is a ideal method. Rotate the veggies once using metal tongs. They should take only a few
minutes to cook.
16. Don’t let mosquitoes ruin your party. Include decorative citronella candles with the rest of the lighting scheme. Also have mosquito repellent handy for your guests. Choose one with a light scent, such as aloe.
17. If you have electricity outside, plug in a portable oscillating fan or two to ensure your guests stay cool during hot summer days and nights.
18. Set out a couple of yard games to play, such as badminton and bocce.
19. Relax and allow your guests the same privilege.
20. Especially if alcohol has been served, make sure everyone is able to get home safely.

Source: HGTV.COM

Picnic Essentials, Ideas and Tips

Jun 26, 2012

The key to a successful picnic is planning and preparing ahead of time — so that you can simply relax and enjoy yourself once you unpack your picnic basket.

Things to pack include:
– Blankets or ground cover
– Forks, knives, spoons, plates, cups, bowls, etc.
– Serving utensils & dishes, including large spoons & forks
– Sharp knives
– Cutting board (can double as a serving tray)
– Tablecloth, serviettes & paper towels
– Can opener, bottle opener & corkscrew
– Salt & pepper
– Appropriate condiments including mustard, ketchup, relish or whatever works with your menu
– Plastic containers or storage bags for leftovers
– Trash bags for clean up
– Moist towelettes for clean ups
– Ice
– Beverages, including water
– And of course, your food….
Other items to consider: insect repellent, sunscreen, bathing suit, books or magazines, deck of cards, camera

Top 10 Reasons for Picnic Entertaining
– You don’t have to clean the house.
– Nothing can get broken or stained in your house.
– You have no mess to clean up the next day.
– You don’t have to worry about the noise.
– You don’t have to worry about guests who stay too late — you can just leave!
– You don’t have to limit the number of guests you invite due to space restrictions.
– You can entertain without worrying about your mother, your pets, your roommates…
– If you’ve planned properly there should be no leftovers.
– It can be a great romantic gesture.
– A great way to enjoy the summer!

Did You Know?
– Picnic comes from the French word pique-nique, meaning “a fashionable social entertainment” in which each guest brings a contribution to the feast. In other words, pique-nique was a fancy way of saying “potluck.”
– “Tea to the English is really a picnic indoors.” Alice Walker.
– A teddy bears’ picnic, traditionally a party for young children and their teddy bears, is believed to have originated from the 1907 “Teddy Bear’s Picnic instrumental march by John Walter Bratton.
– A “picnic” ham is really not a true ham since it is cut from the upper part of the foreleg of a pig; whereas a true ham is cut from the hind leg!
– In Italy, Easter Monday is considered the country’s favourite picnic day — it is called “Angel’s Monday” or Pasquetta (“Little Easter”).
– A 600-mile-long picnic took place in France in the year 2000 to celebrate the first Bastille Day of the new millennium.
– It has been noted that the first table designed specifically for picnics (in a style similar to what we know today) appeared in the late 1800s.
– Following the French Revolution in 1789, royal parks were opened to the public, and picnicking became a popular activity for the newly enfranchised citizens
– A fashionable group of Londoners started a Picnic Society in the early 19th century, and members were expected to share entertainment and refreshments
– The origin of the word picnic is up for debate. Some say it is based on the French verb “piquer” which means to pick; which may go back to the tradition of this type of celebration being potluck in nature –hence, picking from a selection of foods!