Ballreich's has you covered for your dad and grad gift. Offering each a treat of their own.

For dad its a grilling package with a two piece  grill set and a variety of Ballreich's snacks.

For the grad in your life its a great frame to hang up that picture that they have waited so long for as well as a great variety of snacks

You can find these and other great deals on the Ballreichs website here

National Donut Day --- Easy Donut Hole Recipe

For the glaze:
1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
3 to 4 tablespoons whole milk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
For the doughnut holes:
5 cups vegetable oil, for frying
1 cup milk
1 large egg
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 Tablespoons sugar
4 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted
Equipment: Deep-fry thermometer; Small ice cream scoop

 

Make the glaze:
Sift the confectioners' sugar into a medium bowl. Slowly stir in 3 tablespoons of milk and the vanilla extract until the mixture is smooth. If the glaze isn't thin enough, stir in 1 additional tablespoon of milk. Cover the glaze with plastic wrap and set it aside while you make the doughnut holes.
Make the doughnut holes:
Add the vegetable oil to a large, heavy-bottomed pot. (There should be at least 2 inches of oil in the pot and at least 2 inches between the top of the oil and the top of the pot.) Attach the deep-fry thermometer to the pot and begin heating the oil over medium heat to 350ºF. Line a baking sheet with paper towels.
In a small bowl, whisk together the milk and the egg.
In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Stir the milk-egg mixture into the dry ingredients, then stir in the melted butter, mixing until a soft dough forms.
Once the oil has reached 350ºF, use a small ice cream scoop to drop about 1 tablespoon scoops of dough into the oil, careful not to overcrowd the pan. (See Kelly's Notes.) Fry the doughnut holes, flipping them in the oil, for about 2 minutes or until they're golden brown. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the doughnut holes to the paper towel-lined baking sheet.
Allow the doughnut holes to cool slightly. Place a cooling rack atop a baking sheet, then one by one, dip the doughnut holes into the glaze and transfer them to the rack to allow the excess glaze to drip off. Serve immediately.


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Remembering D-Day

It was 70 years ago that D-Day took place.

Short History Lesson
On June 6, 1944, more than 160,000 Allied troops landed along a 50-mile stretch of heavily-fortified French coastline, to fight Nazi Germany on the beaches of Normandy, France. Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower called the operation a crusade in which, “we will accept nothing less than full victory.” More than 5,000 Ships and 13,000 aircraft supported the D-Day invasion, and by day’s end, the Allies gained a foot-hold in Continental Europe. The cost in lives on D-Day was high. More than 9,000 Allied Soldiers were killed or wounded, but their sacrifice allowed more than 100,000 Soldiers to begin the slow, hard slog across Europe, to defeat Adolf Hitler’s crack troops.

To all those that served then and now I say Thank You

Summer Time Treat

Summer time brings many awesome flavors. Right now at berry season there are those tasty little berries that we can all enjoy. I love to mix them in with sweet good for you yummy recipes. Check out this strawberry recipe and see what you think



















1 (6 oz.) container vanilla flavored yogurt
2 tablespoons Jif® Creamy Almond Butter
2 tablespoons almond milk
2 teaspoons agave nectar
1/2 cup finely chopped strawberries
4 (3 oz.) disposable plastic cups
4 wooden craft sticks
                                   
WHISK yogurt, almond butter, almond milk and agave nectar until smooth. Stir in strawberries. Divide mixture evenly into cups. Insert sticks. Freeze 3 hours or until firm. Warm cup with hands before removing pops.
   
recipe resource Jif peanut butter


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Inspire us Thursday

Summer Dessert Fresh Strawberry Pie

Fresh Summer Strawberry Pie

               4 cups fresh strawberries
              1 (6-ounce) graham cracker crust
              1 (4-ounce) package JELL-O Vanilla Sugar-Free Cook & Serve Pudding
              1 (4-ounce) package JELL-O Strawberry Sugar-Free Gelatin
              1 1/2 cups water
              1 cup Reduced-Calorie or Fat-Free Cool Whip
              1/2 tsp. vanilla extract (optional)

              Arrange strawberries in pie crust. In large saucepan, combine dry pudding mix
              dry gelatin and water. Cook over medium heat until mixture thickens and starts
              to boil. Stir often. Spoon hot sauce over strawberries. Refrigerate at least 2
              hours. Mix topping and vanilla and cover pie evenly. Serves 8.

resource here


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Thursday Sweet Haute

National Cheese Day

Happy National Cheese Day not to be confused with National Cheese Lover day which is sometime in January. Cheese is a common commodity that many houses will have. In our house we have cheese but we also have cheese lovers so it is very important before planning a meal to check the supply. There are many types of cheese and while I have been able to taste many varieties but with over 500 types of cheese listed by the International Dairy Federation there are many more I have not had the chance to try. Cheese comes from milk that is produced in a wide range of flavors, textures, and forms by coagulation of the milk protein casein. Not only cow milk but buffalo, goats and sheep can make types of cheese.

Cheese often melts at cooking temps. Nutritional value in cheese varies wildly from cottage cheese that may have 4% fat and 11% protein to some weigh cheeses that have as much as 15% fat and 11% protein and then you have the even more crème cheeses that have 36% fat and 7% protein. Calcium is a given in the value of all cheeses but did you know that protein, phosphorus and fat are also great resource in cheese.

resource here

Watermelon and Feta Cheese Salad

Adapted from Ottolenghi's 

Ingredients: 

watermelon

feta cheese

a sprig of fresh mints, optional

freshly ground black pepper

olive oil

Cut watermelon into bite size and place it in a large bowl. Crumble feta cheese and add it to the bowl, scatter fresh mints on top,  season with freshly ground black pepper, then lightly drizzle olive oil. Serve immediately

National Fishing and Boating Week

Welcome to summer. No better time to get out on the water and enjoy fishing and boating week. Here in southern Illinois it is very common to see people out enjoy catching fish or taking a ride in the boat and often both at the same time. National fishing and boating week is celebrated nationally the first week of June every year. This year it is June 1st to the 8th. It helps show that recreational fishing and boating enhances the quality of a persons life and helps preserve our country's natural beauty. This week often coincides with the states free fishing days

States offer free fishing days where individuals are allowed to fish on public water without a fishing license. If you are new to fishing then perhaps you would be interested in taking part of a free fishing day. It would be a great day to get out on the water way with someone  who has never had the opportunity. There are many programs that are out there on free fishing days to help the younger crowd grow interest as well.

State's Free Fishing Days
Alabama	6/7/14
Arkansas	Noon on 6/6/14 until midnight on 6/8/14
Arizona	6/7/14
California	7/5/14 and 9/6/14
Colorado	6/7/14 - 6/8/14
Connecticut	5/10/14
District of Columbia	6/1/14 - 6/8/14
Delaware	6/7/14 and 6/8/14
Florida	4/5/14 - 4/6/14; 6/14/14 - 6/15/14 (freshwater); 6/7/14 - 6/8/14 , 9/6/14, 11/29/14 (saltwater)
Georgia	6/7/14, 6/14/14 and 9/27/14
Hawaii	365 days a year (marine)
Iowa	6/6/14 - 6/8/14, Iowa residents only
Idaho	6/14/14
Illinois	6/6/14 - 6/9/14
Indiana	4/19/14, 5/17/14, 6/7/14 - 6/8/14, Indiana residents only
Kansas	6/7/14 and 6/8/14
Kentucky	6/7/14 and 6/8/14
Louisiana	6/7/14 - 6/8/14
Maine	2/15/14 and 2/16/14; 5/31/14 and 6/1/14
Maryland	6/7/14, 6/14/14 and 7/4/14
Massachusetts	6/7/14 - 6/8/14
Michigan	2/15/14 and 2/16/14; 6/7/14 and 6/8/14
Minnesota	1/18/14 - 1/20/14 and 6/6/14 - 6/9/14
Missouri	6/7/14 - 6/8/14
Mississippi	6/7/14 - 6/8/14; 7/4/14
Montana	6/14/14 - 6/15/14
North Carolina	7/4/14
North Dakota	6/7/146/7/14 - 6/8/14, North Dakota residents only
Nebraska	5/17/14
New Hampshire	6/7/14
New Jersey	6/14/14 and 6/15/14
New Mexico	6/7/14
New York	6/28/14 and 6/29/14
Nevada	6/14/14
Ohio	5/3/14 - 5/4/14
Oklahoma	6/7/14 - 6/8/14
Oregon	6/7/14 and 6/8/14
Pennsylvania	5/26/14 and 7/4/14
Rhode Island	5/3/14 and 5/4/14
South Carolina	5/26/14 and 7/4/14
South Dakota	5/16/14 - 5/18/14
Tennessee	6/7/14
Texas	6/7/14; free fishing every day in State Parks
Utah	6/7/14
Virginia	6/6/14 - 6/8/14
Vermont	6/14/14
Washington	6/7/14 - 6/8/14
Wisconsin	1/18/14 - 1/19/14 and 6/7/14 - 6/8/14
West Virginia	6/7/14 - 6/8/14
Wyoming	6/7/14

Boating and fishing is not only fun activities but they also help to distress the body. Most of us live with in an hour or so of the nearest waterway and the fees for fishing and boating go to help maintain and conserve nature.

 

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