Happy 4th!!

I saw these cute Firecracker Favors and thought they would be a cute addition to our festivities for the Fourth of July. They're super easy to make. Start out with mailing tubes that have plastic lids on top. Cut some red, white, and blue paper and ribbon to size and apply them to tubes with the adhesive of your choice. Then apply a star on the outside of each tube. Poke a slit in the top of the lids, and insert paper "fuses" into each hole. Fill with red, white, and blue candy and ta-da! A super cute, inexpensive favor that everyone will love I'm sure.


Red, White, and Blueberry Trifle

1/4 c. plus 1/3 c. sugar
1/4 c. freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 store-bought pound cake (12 oz), cut into 3/4 inch thick slices
1 bar (8 oz) reduced fat cream cheese, room temp.
1 c. heavy cream
3 c. fresh blueberries, rinsed and drained
3 c. fresh raspberries (or strawberries)

1) Make lemon syrup by bringing 1/4 c. sugar, lemon juice, and 1/4 c. water to boil over medium heat, stirring to dissolve sugar. Let cool completely, then brush over both sides of cake slices. Quarter each slice.
2) Beat cream cheese with sugar on high speed until lightened. With mixer on medium speed, gradually add heavy cream in a steady stream; continue beating until mixture is light and airy (mixture will be like a very soft whipped cream).
3) Arrange half the cake pieces in the bottom of a 2-qt serving dish. Spoon half the cream-cheese mixture over cake in dollops; spread to sides of dish. Scatter half the blueberries and raspberries on top. Repeat layering with remaining cake, cream-cheese mixtures, and berries.
4) Cover, refrigerate until chilled, at least 1 hour and up to overnight.