Happy Birthday 'Merica

Although this a little late, though I'd share the dessert I made for the Fourth of July this year. For some reason I always end up creating something that is more patriotic in its appearance/colors rather than the ingredients themselves, maybe because it the reverse of how I normally bake. Rising temperatures made  a cold, refreshing treat the most appealing so after looking up several different ice cream and parfait options I decided to combine the two with sugar cookies. After all, who doesn't love sugar cookies? That's what I thought.

The best part about this desert is how easy it is, really the only effort comes from the cookies. I simply used my regular sugar cookie recipe. While they were baking I whipped up a powdered sugar glaze for decorating, adding blue food coloring.

Store bought raspberry sorbet and vanilla ice cream (you could get fancy and do homemade) got layered into clear glass cups with a star-spangled cookie on top and a generous sprinkle of red sprinkles for extra sparkle. 

 Hope everyone had a fantastic 4th!

Blackhawks Celebration

Attending the Stanley Cup celebration parade was a big deal for me. Part of that was the fact that deep down I still love parades - the cheering, the crowds, the excitement and all the commotion occurring in a place that is otherwise restricted to mundane transportation.

I would not consider myself an avid sports follower, my short attention span does not get along well spending hours a night in front of the tv, but I make the exception for hockey. After years of faithful watching, I have become one of "those people" that know the players names and faces like classmates, the announcers voices like a family member and refers to team as "we." All through the playoffs I would tell people how much I wanted them to win - so that I could go to the parade and rally. Much to my happiness and excitement I got to join in the tens of thousands of celebrating The Blackhawks, hockey and Chicago.

 Just the beginning of the crowds for the rally in Grant Park...

 Despite the waiting, the heat, sweat, crowds of people nearly crushing us, it was an amazing day. (my friend let me sit on her shoulders to get this shot!)

Fingers crossed for next year!