Party Foods - Desserts

Fruit Pizza

This looks good and kids do like it.

Roll out sugar cookie dough into a large circle. Bake at 350°F for 12-14 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool. Spread with cream cheese that has been thinned with a little milk or cottage cheese that has been whipped in a blender. Arrange chunks, wedges or slices of fresh or canned, drained fruits: bananas, pineapple, strawberries, kiwi fruit, peaches. Glaze with one cup of pineapple juice thickened with 2 tablespoons cornstarch.

Makes 16 servings.

Cookie Art

• 1 pkg. (8 oz.) refrigerated sugar cookie dough
• All-purpose flour
• 2 eggs (separate yolks from whites)
• 1/2 tsp. water
• Assorted liquid or paste food colors
• Small candies or miniature semi-sweet morsels (if desired)

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Place roll of dough crosswise in middle of 11" x 15" jelly roll pan; let stand about 5 minutes to soften. Sprinkle dough with flour and roll or press into one large rectangle about 1/4-inch thick.

Dip cookie cutters in flour. Press designs into dough for a picture. Add details using a small knife.

In small bowl, mix egg yolks with water. Carefully divide egg yolk mixture into several small bowls or custard cups. For each desired color, add 1-3 drops food color to each cup and mix well.

Paint cookie dough using small craft paint brushes. If "paint" thickens, stir in a few drops of water. Decorate cookie with small candies if desired.

Bake 17-18 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool 10 minutes. Cut cookie into pieces and serve.

Makes 24 servings.

Build Your Own Ice Cream Sundae

Use a variety of toppings, fruits, nuts, cereal, whipped cream. Place all ingredients in small containers on a table or counter top. Serve a scoop or two of ice cream in a dish and let everyone add their own toppings.

Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream

• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 2 envelopes unflavored gelatin
• 8 cups light cream
• 4 tsp. vanilla
• 1/8 tsp. salt
• 2 beaten eggs

In a large saucepan combine sugar, gelatin, and 1/8 tsp. salt. Stir in half of the light cream. Cook and stir over medium heat till mixture almost boils and sugar dissolves. Stir about 1 cup of the hot mixture into beaten eggs; return all to saucepan. Cook and stir 2 minutes more. Cool. Add remaining cream and the vanilla. Freeze in a 4- or 5-quart ice cream freezer according to the manufacturer's directions.

Makes 8 to 12 servings.

Beverages • Desserts • Main Dishes • Snacks