It’s 4^th of July! Here at Tesa Babe, we love this holiday. We love the picnics, the food, the time spent with family, and the fireworks of course. Every 4^th of July, we usually head down to the beach to watch the fireworks display show that never fails to disappoint! We always get to the beach early to stake out a spot; it becomes so crowded that you’d be lucky to find even a square foot to camp out on! But this year, spending time on a crowded beach is not really an option, no matter how good the fireworks show is. Instead, like many American families this 4^th of July, we have opted to have our very own celebration from the comfort (and safety) of our backyards. We know that many other families are doing the same, so we wanted to curate some tasty and simple 4^th of July treats that you can make right at home with the little ones!

 

 

Red, White, and Blue Popsicles

 

 

We loved this first one because it’s a healthy alternative to typical store-bought sugary popsicles. It uses real fruit instead of flavorings, and maple syrup instead of processed sugars – and your kids won’t even know the difference. The author of this recipe says she used a cluster star mold to render these treats even more festive!

 

Prep time: 1 hour

Total time: 1 hour

Servings: 6 popsicles

 

Ingredients

Red layer

1 cup strawberries , chopped

1 Medjool date , pitted (or 1 tablespoon maple syrup)

2 tablespoons water

 

White layer

1 cup culinary coconut milk (not the refrigerated kind)

2 tablespoons maple syrup

 

Blue layer

1/4 teaspoon spirulina powder (optional)

1/4 cup frozen blueberries

 

Instructions

1. Combine the fresh strawberries, date (or maple syrup), and water in high-speed blender, and blend until very smooth. Pour the mixture into the 6 ice pop molds, using about 1 1/2 tablespoons per mold. Place the mold in the freezer to set for at least 40 minutes.
2. While the red layer is freezing, combine the coconut milk and maple syrup in a clean blender canister and blend until smooth. Once the red layer is set, add a heaping tablespoon of the white mixture to each mold, making the white middle layer. Return the molds to the freezer.
3. To the remaining white mixture, add in the spirulina and frozen blueberries, and blend again until smooth. Remove the molds from the freezer and add the blue layer on top, as the last popsicle layer. Insert a popsicle stick into each mold, and freeze until firm, about 4 to 5 hours.
4. To remove the popsicles from their mold, run them under hot water for about 10 seconds. This should help the ice pops easily release from the plastic mold. Serve frozen, and keep any remaining popsicles stored in the freezer for up to a month.

Source: https://detoxinista.com/4th-july-popsicle-recipe/

 

 

4th of July Chocolate-Covered Frozen Bananas

 

Photo by Ryan Dausch 

 

Personally, one of my go-to treats is chocolate-covered frozen bananas. They’re easy to make and they’re better for you than a candy bar! This is a similar idea, but with candy melts instead of chocolate to get that red, white, and blue coloring.

 

Total time: 1 hr 15 min

 

Directions

Cut peeled bananas in half, insert a lollipop stick into each and freeze until firm, about 1 hour. Then dip in melted red, white or blue candy melts; drizzle with more candy melts and decorate with sprinkles. Freeze until ready to serve.

Source: https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/chocolate-covered-frozen-bananas-5312687

 

 

Watermelon Granita

 

Photo by Alice Gao @2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved

 

Not only is this treat tasty and easy to make, it’s also super refreshing for those hot July days! 

 

Prep time: 3 hr

Total time: 3 hours

Yield: 2 cups

 

Ingredients

4 cups seedless watermelon chunks

1/2 cup sugar

Juice of 1 lemon

 

Directions

Combine all ingredients in a food processor. Puree until smooth. Pour into a shallow, wide pan and freeze for 1 hour. Rake mixture with fork and freeze for another hour. Rake and freeze for one more hour. Rake and serve in cups.

Source: https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/watermelon-granita-recipe-1957577

 

 

4^th of July Rice Krispie Treats

 

Photo by eatingonadime.com

 

What’s more American than a rice krispie treat? It’s a favorite of children from sea to shining sea, and for Independence Day, you can give them a 4^th of July dressing up!

 

Servings: 24

 

Ingredients

9 tablespoons butter
15 cups mini marshmallows (about 2 1/2 bags)
12 cups Rice Krispies cereal
food coloring

 

Instructions

1. Spray a 9x13 pan with non-stick cooking spray.
2. We'll make the rice krispie treats in 3 different batches.
3. Melt 3 tablespoons of butter on low heat in a large saucepan. Add 5 cups of mini marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Add a few drops of blue food coloring to the melted marshmallow mix. Stir until well combined. Remove from heat and add 4 cups of rice krispies cereal. Mix until completely coated. Spread evenly in prepared pan.
4. Wash out your saucepan and repeat the above steps, leaving out the food coloring. Spread into pan on top of blue layer.
5. Wash your saucepan again and repeat the steps, adding red food coloring to the marshmallow mix. remember to add the food coloring BEFORE the rice krispies cereal. Spread red rice krispie mixture on top of "plain" layer.
6. Cut and serve. These are best eaten the same day you make them. 

Source: https://www.eatingonadime.com/4th-of-july-rice-krispie-treats/

  

 

Firecracker Milkshake

 

Photo by Naomi Robinson 

 

Who doesn’t love a milkshake? No one, that’s who. Give an old favorite a patriotic makeover with some red and blue food coloring!

 

Yields: 4

Total time: 10 MINS

 

Ingredients

1 half g. vanilla ice cream

3 drops red food coloring

3 drops blue food coloring

  

Directions

1. Soften ice cream to a soft serve/yogurt texture. Evenly divide ice cream into three bowls.
2. Place red food coloring in one bowl and blue food coloring in the other, using a whisk beat each bowl until color is well blended.
3. Layer bottom of glass with red ice cream, then plain vanilla and blue ice cream, using long spoon or knife drag it from the bottom to the top, stirring in between to mix the color (do not overmix).
4. Optional decorating idea: Finish with whipped cream and red, white and blue confetti

Source: https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/recipes/a42978/firecracker-milkshake/