Cute Candy Favor

Flag Favors

via Martha Stewart

 

A spirited holiday celebration calls for a fun take-home treat, like this goody bag of candies arranged to resemble the American flag.

Start by partially filling a 2-by-10-inch cellophane bag with blue candies to stand in for stars. Then add red and white candy sticks to mimic stripes. Tie the bag with red waxed twine, and don't be surprised if you catch yourself humming "Stars and Stripes Forever."

The American Flag

I posted this message about the American Flag on our Young Women’s Blog yesterday.  I found it a couple of years ago and I love it so I decided to share it here too.

I am the flag of the United States of America. I was born on June 14, 1777, in Philadelphia.There the Continental Congress adopted my stars and stripes as the national flag.

My thirteen stripes alternating red and white, with a union of thirteen white stars in a field of blue, represented a new constellation, a new nation dedicated to the personal and religious liberty of mankind.

Today fifty stars signal from my union, one for each of the fifty sovereign states in the greatest constitutional republic the world has ever known.

My colors symbolize the patriotic ideals and spiritual qualities of the citizens of my country.
My red stripes proclaim the fearless courage and integrity of American men and boys and the self-sacrifice and devotion of American mothers and daughters.
My white stripes stand for liberty and equality for all.
My blue is the blue of heaven, loyalty, and faith.

I represent these eternal principles: liberty, justice, and humanity.

I embody American freedom: freedom of speech, religion, assembly, the press, and the sanctity of the home.

I typify that indomitable spirit of determination brought to my land by Christopher Columbus and by all my forefathers - the Pilgrims, Puritans, settlers at James town and Plymouth.

I am as old as my nation.

I am a living symbol of my nation's law: the Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights.

I voice Abraham Lincoln's philosophy: "A government of the people, by the people, for the people."
I stand guard over my nation's schools, the seedbed of good citizenship and true patriotism.

I am displayed in every schoolroom throughout my nation; every schoolyard has a flag pole for my display.

Daily thousands upon thousands of boys and girls pledge their allegiance to me and my country.

I have my own law—Public Law 829, "The Flag Code" - which definitely states my correct use and display for all occasions and situations.

I have my special day, Flag Day. June 14 is set aside to honor my birth.
Americans, I am the sacred emblem of your country. I symbolize your birthright, your heritage of liberty purchased with blood and sorrow.
I am your title deed of freedom, which is yours to enjoy and hold in trust for posterity.

If you fail to keep this sacred trust inviolate, if I am nullified and destroyed, you and your children will become slaves to dictators and despots.

Eternal vigilance is your price of freedom.

As you see me silhouetted against the peaceful skies of my country, remind yourself that I am the flag of your country, that I stand for what you are - no more, no less.
Guard me well, lest your freedom perish from the earth.
Dedicate your lives to those principles for which I stand: "One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
I was created in freedom. I made my first appearance in a battle for human liberty.
God grant that I may spend eternity in my "land of the free and the home of the brave" and that I shall ever be known as "Old Glory," the flag of the United States of America.
                                                                    ~written by Melanie

 Happya FlagaDay
Fly your Flag!

********************************

The American Flag:

source

Continental Colours
(Top left)

This 1776 flag reflects the sentiments of our forefathers: The British Union Jack acknowledged the colonies' origins; the stripes, their emerging independence.
Stars and Stripes
(Top right)
The Flag Resolution of 1777 specified that there should be one star for each state but did not specify configuration. Each flagmaker arranged the stars to his or her liking.

Star-Spangled Banner
(Bottom left)
Two stars and stripes were added in 1795 in recognition of Vermont and Kentucky. This version inspired the Francis Scott Key poem that became our national anthem.
Grand Old Flag
(Bottom right)
In 1912, President William Taft approved the first detailed standards for flag proportions. This flag, with 48 stars, was official until 1959 -- the longest-flying version.

Last Day!

Today is the LAST Day!

Mindful Monday ~ Happy Memorial Day

Wishing you a Happy Memorial Day!

Hope you are having a beautiful day enjoying time with friends and family!


I just want to send a word of appreciation to all of the soldiers, past and present, who've given us the wonderful gift of freedom ♥.

We remember and honor your amazing service!

Thank you !

Old Glory Cherry-Blueberry Pie

via Sunset, July 2001

 

Ingredients

• 5 cups fresh sweet, dark cherries, rinsed and pitted, or frozen pitted cherries (see notes)
• 3 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 1/2 cups fresh blueberries, rinsed and drained, or frozen blueberries
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup cornstarch
• Flag pastry
• 2 teaspoons butter or margarine, cut into small pieces
• Vanilla ice cream (optional)

Preparation

1. In a large bowl, mix cherries with 2 tablespoons lemon juice. In a smaller bowl, mix blueberries with remaining 1 tablespoon lemon juice. Combine sugar and cornstarch; gently stir 1 cup of the mixture into cherries and 1/4 cup into blueberries.
2. Spoon cherry mixture over 3/4 of the pastry in pan, leaving 1 quadrant free. Spoon blueberry mixture into unfilled area. Scatter butter evenly over fruit.
3. Top filling with stars and stripes as directed for flag pastry. Set pie in a foil-lined 13- by 17-inch baking pan.
4. Bake on the bottom rack of a 400° regular or convection oven until fruit is bubbling in the center and pastry is well browned, about 1 hour. If pastry edges brown too quickly (check after 40 minutes), cover loosely with foil.
5. Let pie cool on a rack at least 3 hours; let stand at room temperature up to 8 hours. Cut into wedges and serve with ice cream, if desired.

Notes: If using fresh cherries, buy about 1 3/4 pound; if using frozen, you'll need about 1 1/2 packages, 16 ounces each.

Makes 8 to 10 servings

Mindful Monday

How to start your week off right: 1.      Wake Up Decide to have a good day.  "Today is the day the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad in it"   Psalms 118:24 2.    Dress Up The best way to dress up is to put on a smile. A smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.  "The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at outward appearance; but the Lord looks at the heart." I Samuel 16:7  3 . Shush Up  Say nice things and learn to listen. God gave us two ears and one mouth, so He must have meant for us to do twice as much listening as talking.   "He who guards his lips guards his soul."   Proverbs 13:3  4. Stand Up For what you believe in. Stand for something or you will fall for anything. "Let us not be weary in doing good; for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good..."   Galatians 6:9-10 5. Look Up To the Lord. "I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13 6. Reach Up For something higher.  "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, And He will direct your path." Proverbs 3:5-6 7. Lift Up ! Your Prayers.  "Do not worry about anything; Instead PRAY ABOUT EVERYTHING." Philippians 4:6   And remember: God answers prayers.

Big Time Burger

With Summer"just around the corner" and Memorial Dayweekend upon us ...
Introducing:

Big Mike Burger

(Paula Deen's Ultimate -Big Time Burger)

Courtesy of Paula Deen

Show: Paula's Party

Episode: Paula's Drive-Through

Patty #1

Pecan Burger:                                                                                                                             

• 1 1/2 pounds ground beef
• 6 slices bacon
•  1/2 cup chopped pecan
•  3 tablespoons chopped parsley leaves
•  2 tablespoons grated onion 
• 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter, softened

Preheat broiler or grill. Divide ground beef into 12 flat patties.  Partially saute bacon - the fat should start rendering, but it shouldn't be crispy.  Drain bacon. Mix pecans, parsley, onion, and butter together. Spread mixture on 6 of the patties. 

Top with remaining 6 patties and seal the edges with the partially sauteed bacon and secure with a wooden toothpick. Broil or grill 10 to 15 minutes, or until cooked to desired doneness, turning once.

Patty #2

ButterBurger:                                                                                                                                

• Butter  
• Salt  
• Freshly ground black pepper   
• 1 1/2  pounds ground beef or ground chuck  
• 4 tablespoons butter, Cut into small cubes  
• 4 ounces American cheese, cut into 6 portions.

 Special Sauce for the "Big Mike" 

• 1 cup mayonnaise 
• 1/2 cup yellow mustard
•  1/4 cup ketchup
•  Hot sauce
•  2 tablespoons finely chopped pickled jalapenos

To serve:

• 12 hamburger buns 
• 6 leaves lettuce
• 6 tomato slices
• 6 onion slices

Salt and pepper the beef, to taste.  Mix beef and cubed butter together with your hands and form 6 balls. Push a piece of American cheese into the center of each ball.   Mold ground beef around the cheese in the shape of a patty.  Cook on hot grill or in skillet to desired doneness.

Special Sauce for the "Big Mike": Stir all ingredients together until well blended.

To Serve: Place 1 pecan burger on a bottom piece of 6 buns. Top with another bottom piece of bun and the butter burger. Top with sauce, lettuce, tomato, onion and a top piece of the bun. Discard or save for another use the remaining 6 top bun pieces.