Five Great Recipes to Try This Fourth of July

The Fourth of July takes place on Monday this year, and what better way to spend the weekend with friends and family than by contributing some great holiday dishes.

So, this week we thought we'd focus  on some great recipes to try out this Independence Day. 

1. Shrimp & Yellow Tomato Gazpacho "Martini"

Description: A cool, refreshing Spanish summer soup with chilled shrimp.

Ingredients (Serving Size - 4):

• 12 Shrimp – under 15 shrimp per pound (U-15) – cooked, peeled and deveined
• 2 yellow tomato
• 1 clove garlic
• 1/8 red onion
• 1/4 green bell pepper
• 1/4 red bell pepper
• 1/2 cucumber
• 1/2 bunch fresh cilantro – save some sprigs for garnish
• 1 lime – juiced
• 2 tbsp. white vinegar
• 4 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
• 1 dash Tabasco sauce
• 1/2 tsp. cumin
• 3/4 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. black pepper – freshly ground
• 1 head bibb lettuce
• 1 lime – cut in wedges for garnish

Directions:

1. Finely dice some of each vegetable for a bright relish garnish in each glass
2. Peel and seed vegetables as needed – place all in processor and grind smooth
   yet a bit chunky
3. Season the soup with the lime juice, vinegar, olive oil, Tabasco, salt and
   pepper
4. Pour some into martini glasses – place a couple of leaves of bibb lettuce in
   the glass, add the relish (oiled & seasoned), hang 3 cooked shrimp on the
   rim of the glass, hang a lime wedge on the edge as well, garnish with a
   sprig of fresh cilantro

Courtesy:

2. Pulled Pork

Ingredients:

• Shoulder-less pork butt
• Herbs and spices (can be varied to taste)
• Ground peeled tomato, canned
• White cooking wine

Directions:

• In three separate hotel pans, evenly distribute shoulder-less butt pork
• Add herbs and spices to taste, mix with pork butt
• Add two cans of ground peeled tomato (blended)
• Add white cooking wine to task
• Put dish in oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for approximately five to six hours
• Add water or wine every couple of hours
• Let sit at room temperature over night

Next Day:

• Break pork into small parts
• Add one cup of traditional barbecue sauce per hotel pan (three pans in total)
• Keep in storage container and refrigerate
• Make sure to properly rotate all stock and label with name and date.

Courtesy:

3. Grilled Sweet Potatoes with Apples

Ingredients:

• 2 large sweet potatoes, sliced
• 1 apple - peeled, cored and thinly sliced
• ground cinnamon to taste
• white sugar to taste
• 1/2 cup butter

Directions:

1. Preheat an outdoor grill.
2. In a bowl, toss sweet potatoes and apple slices with cinnamon and sugar. Divide the mixture into four portions, and then place each on a large piece of aluminum foil. Top each with an equal amount of butter. Tightly seal foil around each portion.
3. Place foil packets on the grill, and cook 40 minutes, turning every five to 10 minutes, until potatoes and apples are tender.

Source: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Grilled-Sweet-Potatoes-with-Apples/Detail.aspx

4. English Truffle

Ingredients:

• 2 (8 or 9 inch) white cake layers, baked and cooled
• 2 pints fresh strawberries
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 1 pint fresh blueberries
• 2 bananas
• 1/4 cup orange juice
• 1 (3.5 ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix
• 2 cups milk
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1/4 cup blanched slivered almonds
• 12 maraschino cherries

Directions: 

1. Slice the strawberries and sprinkle with sugar. Cut the bananas into slices and toss with orange juice. Combine pudding mix with milk and mix until smooth. Cut the cake into one-inch cubes.
2. Use half of the cake cubes to line the bottom of a large glass bowl. Layer half of the strawberries followed by half of the blueberries, and then half of the bananas. Spread half of the pudding over the fruit. Repeat layers in the same order.
3. In a medium bowl, whip the cream to stiff peaks and spread over top of trifle. Garnish with maraschino cherries and slivered almonds.

Source: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/english-trifle/detail.aspx

5. Summer Dessert Pizza

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup butter or margarine, softened
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon lemon extract
• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1 cup whipped topping
• 1 firm bananas. sliced
• 1 cup sliced fresh strawberries
• 1 (8 ounce) can mandarin oranges, drained
• 2 kiwifruit, peeled and thinly sliced
• 1/3 cup fresh blueberries
• GLAZE:
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup orange juice
• 1/4 cup water
• 2 teaspoons cornstarch

Directions:

1. In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar; beat in egg and extracts. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; add to creamed mixture. Beat well. Cover and chill for 30 minutes. Press dough into a greased 12-in. x 14-in. pizza pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for 12-14 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool completely.
2. In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and confectioners' sugar until smooth. Add whipped topping; mix well. Spread over crust. Arrange fruit on top. Combine glaze ingredients in a saucepan; bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Boil for two minutes or until thickened. Cool to room temperature, about 30 minutes. Brush over fruit. Store in refrigerator.

Source: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/summer-dessert-pizza/detail.aspx