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These sunny days of July give us so much to look forward to...hometown parades, fireworks and picnics! We just love celebrating the 4th and have found some simple, inexpensive ways to show our patriotic spirit. Check out our tips below!
Since we're smack dab in the middle of picnic season, we're sharing some of our favorite summertime recipes. From burgers to a simple Cobb salad, peach hand pies and summertime iced tea...there's something for everyone on our menu.
Our brand new Summer 2009 catalog just arrived here at Gooseberry Patch this week! If you're signed up to receive it, watch your mailbox. Since you're a V.I.P. member of our Email Club, you get a sneak peek before anyone else, and a chance to SAVE on some of our brand new items! Check out our "News from the Patch" section below.
We hope you can take some time to relax, share good food with family & friends and see some spectacular fireworks! |  |
P.S. We love hearing from you, and your suggestions are terrific! If you have a minute, will you
sign our Guestbook and tell us what you think about our E-letters...and our brand new catalog once you've had a peek!
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Fire up the grill, gather family & friends...here's a tasty picnic menu everyone will enjoy!
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Dagwood Burgers
From Fast Fix Meals cookbook.
2 lbs. lean ground beef
1 lb. Italian ground pork sausage
2 c. dry bread crumbs
1 onion, chopped
1/2 c. barbecue sauce
1 egg, beaten
1.35-oz. pkg. onion soup mix
1 t. jalapeño pepper, diced
salt and pepper to taste
12 to 15 hamburger buns, split
Mix all ingredients except salt, pepper and buns in a very large bowl. Form into 12 to 15 patties; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place on a charcoal grill or in a skillet over medium heat. Cook burgers to desired doneness. Serve on buns, garnished as desired. Makes 12 to 15 sandwiches.
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California Cobb Salad
From Ready, Set, Eat! cookbook.
1 head lettuce, shredded
3 c. cooked turkey, cubed
8 slices bacon, crisply cooked and crumbled
3 eggs, hard-boiled, peeled and sliced
2 tomatoes, chopped
1 avocado, pitted, peeled and diced
3/4 c. crumbled blue cheese
1 c. green onion, chopped
8-oz. bottle ranch salad dressing
Divide lettuce among 4 to 6 salad plates. Arrange remaining ingredients except dressing in rows over lettuce. Drizzle with dressing to taste. Makes 4 to 6 servings.
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Summertime Iced Tea
From 101 Easy Entertaining Recipes cookbook.
4 c. boiling water
2 family-size teabags
6 leaves fresh mint
6-oz. can frozen lemonade concentrate
1 c. sugar
5 c. cold water
Garnish: ice cubes, fresh mint sprigs
Pour boiling water into a large heatproof pitcher. Add teabags and mint leaves; let stand for 5 minutes. Discard teabags and mint leaves. Add frozen lemonade, sugar and cold water, mixing well. Serve over ice; garnish with mint sprigs. Makes about 10 servings.
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Just Peachy Hand Pies
From Get-Togethers with Gooseberry Patch cookbook.
1 T. butter
4 t. cornstarch
1/3 c. plus 1 T. sugar, divided
2 lbs. peaches, pitted, peeled and diced
1 t. cinnamon
1/8 t. salt
1 T. lemon juice
4 9-inch pie crusts
1 egg, beaten
Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Combine cornstarch with 1/3 cup sugar; add to skillet. Stir in peaches, cinnamon and salt. Cook until mixture thickens and boils, about 25 minutes, stirring
frequently. Boil for one minute; remove from heat and stir in lemon juice. Cool completely; set aside. Cut crusts into quarters; spoon 2 tablespoons filling into the center of each quarter, leaving
3/4-inch dough uncovered on each side. Fold dough over filling; press edges together to seal. Transfer pies to 2 ungreased baking sheets. Brush tops of pies with egg; sprinkle with remaining sugar. Cut a one-inch slit in the top of each pie. Bake at 425 degrees for 18 to 20 minutes until golden, rotating baking sheets between upper and lower racks halfway through baking. Remove to wire racks to cool. Makes 16 pies.
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Summertime Crafts
Red & blue bandannas make great napkins for a summertime picnic. Sew several together for a matching patchwork table runner!
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In the evening, your backyard will look magical filled with the flickering flames of these luminarias. Just fill Mason, jelly or Pantry Jars with colored sand, marbles, sea shells or pebbles to hold tealights and votives. Set them all around your yard...on picnic tables, porch steps, along a walkway. How pretty!
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