4th Weekend Recipes: Patriotic Pops, Ice Cream Sandwiches
July 3, 2016
The Fourth of July calls for a carefree party, with good friends, fab food, fun and fireworks – a real star-studded holiday celebration.
Patriotic Pops cut into star shapes definitely say “Happy Fourth of July.” Decorated in red, white and blue icing, red licorice and colored candies, these easy-to-make crispy rice treats are a favorite for both youngsters and the grown-ups. The kids can lend a hand to help decorate by placing the candy pieces on the stars.
Add a taste of nostalgia for the child in all of us with Ice Cream Sandwiches – everybody loves ‘em. Homemade brownies and buttery vanilla cookies, sandwiched with the ice cream flavor of your choice are a cut above ice cream truck offerings. Give them the flair of the Fourth by rolling the edges in patriotic sprinkles and sugars. Or, dip part of the sandwich into melted candy melts and decorate with sprinkles for a fun and festive finish.
(Scroll down to see both recipes.)
Patriotic Pops
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter or margarine
- 4 cups mini marshmallows
- 6 cups crisp rice cereal
- 24 8-inch Cookie Treat Sticks
- Red, Blue and White Cookie Icing
- Red and blue candy-coated chocolates
- Red licorice
Preparation
- Spray Star Cookie Treat Pan and rubber spatula or wooden spoon with vegetable pan spray.
- In large saucepan, melt butter. Add marshmallows; cook and stir until melted. Remove from heat and add cereal; mix well. Press into prepared pan; insert cookie sticks. When cool to touch, remove from pan. Repeat with remaining cereal mixture. (If mixture becomes hard to work with, microwave at 50% power 30 to 60 seconds to soften.)
- Outline treat as desired with Cookie Icing; add candy and licorice. Let dry at least 1 hour.
Serves
Makes about 2 dozen pops
Ice Cream Sandwiches
Ingredients
Brownies
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
- 1-1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 2/3 cup granulated sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Vanilla Cookies
- 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup firmly-packed light brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon lemon extract, orange extract or ground cinnamon (optional)
Preparation
- Brownies: Preheat oven to 325°F. Spray Ice Cream Sandwich Pan with vegetable pan spray.
- In small bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt. In large microwave-safe bowl, melt butter with chocolate chips. Whisk in sugar, eggs and vanilla; beat well. Add flour mixture; stir until just combined. Spoon 2 tablespoons batter into each pan cavity, spreading evenly.
- Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until toothpick inserted at an angle toward center comes out clean. Immediately remove to cooling rack; cool completely. Repeat with remaining batter.
- Vanilla Cookies: Preheat oven to 325°F. Spray Ice Cream Sandwich Pan with vegetable pan spray.
- In small bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt. In large microwave-safe bowl, melt butter. Whisk in sugars, eggs, vanilla and, if desired, other extract or cinnamon; mix well. Add flour mixture; mix until blended. Spoon 2 tablespoons batter into each pan cavity, spreading evenly.
- Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until toothpick inserted at an angle toward center comes out clean. Immediately remove to cooling rack; cool completely. Repeat with remaining batter.
- To Assemble: 1 quart ice cream, any flavor
- Assorted Patriotic Mix Sprinkles and Red and Blue Sugars
- White Candy Melts, melted (optional)
- Scoop about 1/4 cup ice cream onto smooth side of half of the brownies. Top with remaining brownies, pressing gently. If desired, roll edge of sandwiches in sprinkles or sugars. Wrap and freeze immediately.
- Or, dip a portion of the sandwich in melted candy melts; add sprinkles and sugars. Freeze 5 minutes to set, then wrap and freeze until ready to serve.
Serves
Makes about 12 ice cream sandwiches
Vietnam Vet’s Flag Display Honors Military
July 2, 2016
On this Fourth of July weekend, Floyd Calloway on Bluff Springs Road has a flag display in front of his home supporting our military. Calloway is a retired Marine and a Vietnam veteran. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
UWF Professor Featured In ‘Shark Week’ Coverage
July 2, 2016
Dr. Toby Daly-Engel, an assistant professor of biology at the University of West Florida, was featured as part of the Discovery Channel’s “Shark Week” coverage.
Daly-Engel, who researches the evolution of shark reproductive strategies, was interviewed by the Discovery Channel and is expected be part of the online content that accompanies its popular week of shark-centered television programming. Daly-Engel said her interview will be part of a feature on female scientists who study sharks.
“I love Shark Week,” Daly-Engel said. “I grew up watching it just like lots of other folks. So to work with people from the Discovery Channel was exciting. Any time I get to talk about my research, which I’m really passionate about, is a good day.”
There aren’t many women working as principal investigators in shark research, Daly-Engel said. She said she was one of the first in the country doing field work when she was hired at UWF.
“Being a female PI (principal investigator) is rare,” she said. “Having a female-run lab that does field work on sharks is even more rare.”
Part of Daly-Engel’s research revolves around monitoring local shark essential habitats. Her study is part of the Gulf of Mexico Shark Pupping and Nursery project, which the Southeast Fisheries Science Center at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Panama City laboratory has been conducting since 2003.
The program monitors the distribution and populations of sharks, skates and rays in the Gulf of Mexico in order to define and protect essential fish habitats, which are areas deemed critical to the survival of a species, mostly because they’re used for reproduction.
Daly-Engel also works with the Gills Club, a group dedicated to connecting girls interested in sharks with female scientists working in the field. She was interviewed by the Discovery Channel in her office using Google Hangouts. Among the questions she was asked was how she became interested in sharks and why her research is important.
“Research on shark reproduction is important because many shark populations are at-risk or threatened, and we lack data on most of these in terms of where and how these animals are being born,” Daly-Engel said. “So figuring out what sharks need for healthy reproduction is important for management, and to preserve the ecological health of ocean systems.”
Pictured top: Dr. Toby S. Daly-Engel, an assistant professor of biology at the University of West Florida, is doing research with the Gulf SPAN (Gulf of Mexico States Shark Pupping and Nursery Area) survey/ Pictured inset: Dr. Toby S. Daly-Engel and student examining a shark. Pictured below: UWF graduate students Cody Nash, Maggie McClain, Ariel Egan and Matt Davis with Dr. Toby S. Daly-Engel (center). Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
MESS Hall Presents Science In The Summer Programs At The Library
June 29, 2016
The Pensacola MESS Hall presented four weeks of Science in the Summer programs at each branch of the West Florida Library. Student learned about electricity and magnetism through hands-on activities and experiments like building an electrical circuit and observing the affects of magnets on different materials.
The Pensacola MESS Hall is a hands on science museum located in downtown Pensacola. Visitors enjoy exploring math, engineering, science, and stuff with an ever-changing menu of mess kits, activities and exhibits
Pictured: The final Pensacola MESS HALL Science in the Summer program Tuesday evening at the Century Branch Library. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Greatest Show On Earth: Circus Train Passes Through Escambia County
June 27, 2016
The “Blue Unit” of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus trains passed through Escambia County Sunday morning, moving from South Florida to California. The circus has two trains, the red and the blue, that criss-cross the county. Photos by Larry Seale for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
First Baptist Of Bratt Honored For Operation Christmas Child Collections
June 27, 2016
Christmas is still several months away, but Christmas was on the mind of church members Sunday at the First Baptist Church of Bratt.
The church has served for the past five years as a collection point for Operation Christmas Child, which provides simple, gift-filled shoe boxes that bring Christmas joy and evangelistic materials to children in countries across the globe.
Sunday, Bethany Daily, Northwest Florida area coordinator for Operation Christmas Child, gave special recognition to Tim Hawsey and Michelle McKinley at the church. Over 2,300 boxes have been collected by the First Baptist Church of Bratt since 2010.
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Do You Know The Difference Between A Heat Stroke And Heat Exhaustion?
June 26, 2016
The following graphc from the National Weather Service, explains the difference between a heat stroke and heat exhaustion, and it details how to treat each.
Free Food, Math And Reading Help At Cantonment’s Carver Park
June 23, 2016
The first hot dog in the park event was held Wednesday at Carver Park in Cantonment, with kids able to enjoy a free meal and some educational time.
There will be free hot dog meals will be offered every Wednesday, beginning today, at noon in Cantonment’s Carver Park at 2058 Webb Street. The hot dog, chips and beverage meals are sponsored by Saint Jude Catholic Church for school-age children and served by the Cantonment Improvement Committee.
The Carver Park Resource Center will be open from 10 a.m. until noon on Wednesdays for children who want to keep up with their reading and math skills using computer games.
Pictured: Students work on their math and reading skills using the computer lab at the Carver Park Resource Center Wednesday morning. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate’s Grammer Receives State FFA Equine Proficiency Award
June 22, 2016
Tate High School FFA members Rachel Grammer received the Equine Proficiency Award at the Florida State FFA Convention last week in Orlando. She received first place out of four state finalists. She is pictured above (holding awards) with Tata FFA sponsor Austin Courson. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Photos: The Strawberry Moon
June 21, 2016
The summer solstice coincided with a full moon Monday night — a rare event that last happened in 1967 and won’t happen again until 2062.
The strawberry moon is the nickname for June’s full moon and does not refer to the perceived color of the moon. The strawberry moon got its name from the Algonquin tribes, which interpreted it as a signal to gather ripening strawberries, according to the Old Farmers Almanac.
Pictured top: The strawberry moon shot from Walnut Hill. Pictured below: The strawberry moon rises over a field in Bratt. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
