[1] Patriotic pie crust (photo © The Topless Baker).

[2] This Captain America Pie can be easily repurposed for July 4th. Here’s the recipe (photo © Hungry Enough To Eat Six).

While our previous recipe for red, white and blue frozen yogurt pops is a snap to make, this pie crust requires a bit more handiwork.

This piece of pastry art was created by Matt Adlard, the Topless Baker.

You can use different coloring techniques to add red and blue colors to a pie crust.

You don’t need an elaborate cut-out top like The Topless Baker’s. You can paint a plain crust with your own design. Abstracts are fine!
 
 
HOW TO COLOR DOUGH

Food Powder. You can color all or some of the stars in photo #1 (or any simpler design)red.

Or, you can make only the base crust red.

Beetroot powder, mixed into the dough, bakes into a dark red color.

You can use blueberry powder for the “blue,” but it turns out more purple than blue.

Here’s how to do it.

Food Color. You can paint the top of the stars after the pie comes out of the oven, using a colored egg wash. Here’s how to do it.

Food Gel. How about painting with food gels? It’s like painting with watercolors.

Here’s the technique.

Food Coloring. This recipe makes a red and blue pie crust with the food colors you likely have on hand.

Finally, how about a red, white and blue apple pie (photo #2)?

Here’s the recipe from Hungry Enough To Eat Six.

For dessert or snacking over July 4th weekend, it couldn’t be easier to make these frozen yogurt pops.

You need only 4 ingredients—plus an ice pop mold or paper cups and sticks—to make these scrumptious frozen yogurt pops.

We have them in the freezer all the time during the warm weather; each week, a different flavor.
 
 
RECIPE: VANILLA YOGURT FROZEN POPS WITH BERRIES

Ingredients For 6 Pops

 
Preparation

You can easily make mixed berry pops. If you want single-berry pops as shown in the photo, place the berries in separate bowls and divide the other ingredients.

1. PLACE the berries in a bowl. Add the yogurt and sweetener, and fold together.

2. DIVIDE the mix among the ice pop mold and freeze until solid, 2-3 hours or longer.

3. TO REMOVE: Rinse the ice pop molds under hot water to loosen the pops.
 
 
ICE POPS VS. POPSICLES

Most people say “Popsicle” instead of “ice pop,” but that’s technically wrong.

The Popsicle® brand is owned by Unilever, and only that company can call its ice pops Popsicles.

Everything else on a stick is an ice pop or a frozen yogurt pop.

[1] Patriotic ice pops for July 4th or any warm day (photo © Pixabay | Pexels).

[1] Use your favorite brand of yogurt (photo © Bellwether Farms).

> CHECK OUT THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF YOGURT

A patriotic cheese ball: our national bird, the bald eagle (photo © Di Bruno Bros | Philadelphia).

O.K., we’re impressed! The cheese professionals at Di Bruno Bros in Philadelphia created this bald eagle cheese ball.

Why not salute our national bird on July 4th? The garlic-herb cheese ball is great with beer and wine.
 
 
RECIPE: GARLIC & HERB CHEESE BALL

Ingredients

1. MAKE the candied pecans. Here’s the recipe. If you have extra, they’re delicious for snacking, to serve with cheese, or to garnish green salads.

2. BLEND the cream cheese, butter, herbs and garlic. Chill in the freezer until and you can form the eagle’s head. You can start with a ball and shape it further.

3. CARVE the bell pepper into a beak shape as shown in the photo. Insert into the head. When ready to serve…

4. PLACE the eagle head on a serving plate, affix the eyes and press the pecans into the base. Surround with crackers or breads.

NOTE: This makes a small eagle head. To make a larger one, double the recipe.
 
 
Bald Eagle Trivia: The bald eagle has been the national bird of the United States since 1782, when it was included with outspread wings in the design of the Great Seal of the United States. Here’s the story.
 
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*Garlic powder yields a more intense flavor than the equivalent amount of granulated garlic. To use granulated garlic as a substitute for garlic powder, double the amount.