Independence Day Will Be Hot and Miserable – Food and Drinks To Cool Us Off

This Independence Day promises to be one of the hottest in recent memory. Records will be met and set if not shattered. So how do you cool off in this heat? Food and drink are a sure fire (no pun intended) way to cool off and beat the heat. So what to eat and drink that is the question. Start with something simple.

Fruit is a good way to start the day. Cantaloupe is great anytime but especially at breakfast. It is normally eaten as a fresh fruit, as a salad, or as a dessert with ice cream or custard. Strawberries, blueberries, black berries and raspberries are good mixed together and chilled.

Lets not forget the best (in my opinion) watermelon. Of course it is good anytime of the day or night. Best put into a container big enough to hold lots of ice and water if you plan on having it later in the day.

Of course there is all other kinds of hot weather foods that you can prepare ahead of time to have for Independence Day or any other hot day of the summer. The one "old time" favorite is homemade ice cream. Sure you could cheat and go to the store and get a carton or two or more of "homemade ice cream" but where is the adventure here? You have to make it yourself to get a sense of Americana.

I far as I can remember, ice cream was a part of our Independence Day activities. Mom would get all of the ingredients well in advance just in-case the stores might happen to be short. (She always managed to have enough.) Now if you have never attempted to make ice cream there is no time like the present to learn and start here. I am attaching mom's recipe for you to try:

• 1 Can of Eagle Brand Milk
• 1/2 - 3/4 gallon of whole milk
• 6 - 8 eggs (at room temp)
• 1 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 Tbsp Vanilla

Directions - Beat eggs, sugar and vanilla till smooth. Add canned milk. Pour mixture into ice cream freezer. Helpful hint. Put your freezer into your freezer until ready to use. This will help speed up the process. Once you have the mixture in, add milk to top of freezer line. Add ice and rick salt around freezer. With in an hour, you will have a creamy smooth batch of vanilla ice cream. Of course there are many variations you can use to make your favorite flavor of home made ice cream. The recipeI have given you is a good base.

Drinks. Where to start here. Naturally water comes to mind to quench the thirst of any person that is out in the heat. But, there are many other drinks that are good for Independence day. Like the following: Iced tea - SWEET. Did I mention SWEET? Sorry that is the south speaking here. Lemonade, regular or pink. Then of course ther are many different types of pop (soda) or adult beverages. Nancy wanted me to include Tequila and Pink Lemonade. Ok I did. Does not sound like it could quench my thirst.

What ever you eat or drink this Independence Day, enjoy. Eat in moderation. Do not overindulge and get out in the heat. If you are going to partake in adult beverages, do so responsibly. If you try my mom's ice cream let me know how it woks for you!