Fourth of July Treat Bags

Happy Fouth of July, everyone! The Fourth of July is probably the best day of the year (barring my birthday, which is always the BEST of the best days). I might argue that it is even better than Christmas. I mean, right? Christmas season is the best, but Christmas day is practically all celebrated by 9am anyway (we get up early in my family). But the Fourth of July...what a breath of hot and humid fresh air. The celebration lasts all day long!

This year we will be starting with a pancake breakfast and then heading to the parade. Now, I admit that this is my first year in Napa and maybe they still throw candy here during the parades. But where I'm from in Utah, candy had been banned. Banned, I tell you! Is this regional? Does anybody else have candy-less parades or was it just my little town? Well, I don't know what little kid got hit in the eye with a piece of taffy, but I say it is quite egrecious not to be able to throw candy at a parade. Put on your goggles, everyone. Tootsie rolls oughta be a-flyin'!

In any case, these little treat bags can suffice if you also live in a candyless region of the parade world. If you are one of the blessed cities that still allows children to be children then these treat bags can augment either your parade or your firework experience. They will take you two seconds to make and put you right in the patriotic mood!

All you need are the following:

York Pieces

Red vines

Cellophane bags

Ribbon

Now for the instructions. Drumroll please...patriotic drumroll that is. These are complicated, so pay close attention.

1. Scoop York pieces into the bottom of the bag.

2. Next add Red Vines. I cut mine in half so that they would fit in the bag better.

3. Tie the bag with ribbon.

Treats have been served. God bless the USA.

4th of July Red Velvet Brownies

I realize it is now the 5th of July and these brownies were made for the 4th of July - red, white and blue treats are really the essence of a good Independence Day. The good news is, treats are a good way to celebrate any day, so enjoy them whenever you like! Red treats also come in handy for Christmas, Valentine's and horror films.

1/2 cup butter
2 oz semisweet baking chocolate, chopped
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
red food coloring gel - I used a whole tube, but I'm not positive this was necessary.
2/3 cup all purpose flour
1/4 tsp salt
8 oz cream cheese, room temperature
1/3 cup sugar
1 large egg
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1. Melt butter and chocolate together in small, heatproof bowl. Stir until combined and very smooth. Set aside to cool for a few minutes.
2. Beat sugar, eggs, vanilla extract and red food coloring. Add chocolate mixture and stir until smooth. Add flour and salt and stir just until combined.
3. Pour into 8x8 greased pan and spread in even layer.
4. To prepare cheesecake mixture, beat cream cheese, sugar, egg and vanilla extract in a medium bowl until smooth. Distribute the cheesecake mixture in 8 dollops over batter in the pan. Swirl in with knife or spatula.
5. Bake for 35-40 minutes until brownies and cheesecake are set.
6. Top with blueberries (or strawberries or nothing!)

Yum yum.

Original recipe: Baking Bites