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.
 
________________

*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.

How easy is this for patriotic eating on July 4th (photo #1)

 
Or make the recipe below. Thanks to Wisconsin Cheese for the recipe.

We don’t need a holiday to eat berries: They’re one of our favorite low-calorie, high-nutrition foods.

Berries are high in antioxidants, and chock-full of vitamins and minerals.

Here’s why Healthline calls berries “among the healthiest food on earth.”
 
 
JULY 4TH RECIPE: RED, WHITE & BLUE FRUIT SALAD

Ingredients
 
For The Honey-Lime Dressing

 
For The Fruit Salad

 
Preparation

1. MAKE the dressing. Whisk the honey, lime juice and lime zest in a small bowl. Stir in the mint; set aside.

2. MAKE the fruit salad. Cut the cheese into 1/2-inch slices, each about 2-inches wide.

3. CUT the slices with a 1-1/2-inch star cookie cutter, using the handle of a small spoon to press and release the cheese from the cutter at the star points.

4. COMBINE the fruit in a large serving bowl. Top with the cheese stars. Chill, covered, if you’re not planning to eat immediately.

5. DRIZZLE with the dressing just before serving; gently toss the fruit salad to coat. Garnish with mint as desired.
 
 
BERRIES NOT SWEET ENOUGH?

If the berries are not as sweet as you’d like, the honey dressing will give them additional sweetness.

If you’ve bought berries that are really disappointing, toss them with a bit of sugar or non-caloric sweetener right after you add them to the serving bowl.
 
 
________________

*Unfortunately, pure white cheeses such as feta, goat, mozzarella and queso blanco don’t necessarily slice cleanly with a cookie cutter. They have too much moisture.

[1] Patriotic berries with cheese stars (photo © Wisconsin Cheese).

[2] For lunch, hold the semi-hard cheese stars and scatter the berries around soft, milky burrata (photo © Murray’s Cheese).

[3] A soft or aged goat cheese log, like this boucherondin, is another delicious choice for lunch (photo © Goat Cheeses Of France).

[4] Aged New York white cheddar (photo © Di Bruno Bros | Philadelphia).