Summer Eats

Best thing about summer? Cookouts of course! I'm a huge fan of summer foods, anything from brats to salad dishes to cool desserts and everywhere in between. The first recipe to share is what I brought for a family 4th of July party: Strawberry Pretzel Squares...yep I said 'pretzels' alright. Some people's reaction to the combination is "Ew" but usually after they have a bite they're hooked by the salty sweetness.

2 cups finely crushed pretzels

1/2 cup  Sugar, divided

2/3 cup Butter or margarine, melted

11/2 pkg. Cream Cheese, softened

2 Tbsp. Milk

1 cup  thawed Cool Whip topping

2 cups boiling water

1 pkg.  (6 oz.) JELL-O Strawberry Flavor Gelatin

1-1/2 cups cold water

4 cups strawberries, sliced 

Heat oven to 350°F.
Mix pretzel crumbs, 1/4 cup sugar and butter. Press onto bottom of 13x9-inch pan. Bake 10 min. Cool.

My pretzels were a bit on the large side. I think I'll put them in a food processor next time

 
Beat cream cheese, remaining sugar and milk until blended. Stir in Cool Whip; spread over crust. Refrigerate.

 

Add boiling water to gelatin mix in large bowl; stir 2 min. until completely dissolved. Stir in cold water. Refrigerate 1-1/2 hours or until thickened (spoon drawn through leaves definite impression). Stir in strawberries; spoon over cream cheese layer. Refrigerate 3 hours or until firm.

YuM! Now go try it, it's TOO easy not to!

 WAIT! There's more! This is a double recipe blog day for AOP! (I know, not procrastinating? that's so weird for me, don't worry I'm sure it's just a phase).
I've been on a BLT kick lately and then I remembered this fantastic BLT pasta salad that used to carry in the deli at the store I used to work at. So I attempted to make my own little creation.

8oz. pasta noodle (rigatoni or macaroni work best) cook, rinse and drain according to package
8 slices of bacon cooked until crispy, crumbled (reserve drippings)
1 cup mayonnaise
4 leaves of romaine lettuce chopped
1 plum tomato, chopped

Mix bacon drippings into mayonnaise and pour over pasta, bacon, lettuce and tomato. mix until incorporated. Refrigerate for 2 hours.

BACON BACON BACON :D It'S BACON!!!!