4th of July Treats

Banana Pudding with a patriotic twist:

The secret ingredient to delicious banana pudding is sour cream.  Who knew?! I am not a fan of sweetened, condensed milk, which is a common ingredient in banana pudding, but this recipe calls for sour cream and reduced fat cool whip instead. It gives the pudding a light, delicious flavor. It wasn't my idea, so I can't take credit, but try it yourself- I bet you'll like it too! (Link to original recipe above)

Ingredients:

1 large box instant vanilla pudding (5.1 oz.)
2 (8 oz.) containers Cool Whip (softened)
2 c. milk
1 (8 oz.) carton sour cream
1 box vanilla wafers
3 to 4 large bananas
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Whipped Topping:
Combine pudding mix with 2 cups of milk (not 2 1/2 like the box says)
Add sour cream, one container of Cool Whip, and vanilla extract

Step one: Layer banana slices on top of vanilla wafers. 

Step two: Add half of the whipped topping on top. 

Step three: Repeat steps one and two.
Step four: Spread the second container of Cool Whip on top

Step five: Find a cute man to help with decorating

Step five: ENJOY!

Sangria

This is the first time I've ever made this, and it was deLISH! The link to the original recipe is above.

Ingredients:
1 bottle of your favorite red wine
1 lemon cut into wedges
1 lime cut into wedges
1 orange or peach cut into wedges
1 cup sliced strawberries
1/2 cup blueberries
1/2 cup lemonade or limeade
1/2 cup sugar
2 shots of apricot, peach, or berry flavored brandy
2 cups ginger ale
1 can of diced pineapple chunks with juice

Directions:
Pour wine in the pitcher and squeeze the juice wedges from the lemon, orange and lime into the wine. Toss the fruit wedges (without seeds) and add strawberries, lemonade, sugar and brandy. Chill overnight. Add ginger ale and ice just before serving. If you'd like to serve right away, use chilled wine and serve over ice.

*pineapple and ginger ale not shown

Love our sweet friends!