Star Punch

1 64 oz cranberry juice (can be cranapple if you can't find sparkling cider)
1 24 oz bottle cold sparkling cider
1 1 liter bottle ginger ale
1 orange washed
1 16 oz bag frozen strawberries, raspberries or blend (optional)
star anise fruit (optional)

Combine all liquids except for 1 cup of cranberry juice if wanting the anise flavor into a punch bowl.

Cute orange in half and squeeze juice of 1/2 the orange into liquid.  Slice other half and garnish on top.

Place frozen berries in punch bowl or make into a circular shape by arranging in bundt pan with some water and freeze.  Place flat side down in punch bowl after frozen.

Hint of anise flavor: Place 3-4 slices star fruit in saucepan  with reserved cranberry juice and bring to a simmer.  Remove from and pour into glass and allow to cool. Refrigerate until cool and stir into punch. 

For a nice fun star theme place a slice of star anise into glass as a garnish.

Garlic Fridge Pickles - July 2011 at Marlana's

Garlic Fridge Pickles

• 2 whole Cucumbers
• 2 cloves Garlic (I used that mashed garlic that comes in a jar)
  
• 1 cup Vinegar (I used 1/2 c. white vinegar and 1/2 c. red wine vinegar)
  
• 1 cup Water
• ⅓ cups Sugar
• 1 Tablespoon Salt
• 1 teaspoon Dill, Dried
• 1 pinch Red Pepper Flakes
• 1 pinch Coriander (Didn't have this; I used a dash of celery salt)
  
• 6 whole Peppercorns (I used about 1 tsp. coarse pepper)
  

Use cucumbers with no wax residue on the peels (I peeled my cucumbers)

Slice cucumbers in 1/4″-1/8″ slices.

Cut garlic cloves in quarters, then smash them a bit.

Put cucumbers and garlic in a bowl.

Heat vinegar (I like apple cider vinegar, but white works also), water, sugar, salt, dill, red pepper flakes, coriander and peppercorns in a small sauce pan until sugar and salt are dissolved.*

Pour over the cucumbers and garlic.

Cover and let marinate in refrigerator for at least two hours.

Serve cold.

Crab Wonton Stars with Firecracker Sauce

8oz Crab
8oz Cream Cheese
1/8 C Sour Cream
1/2 T Garlic Powder
1/2 T Sugar
Chopped Green Onion (I didn't measure it)
Soy Sauce (splash, I didn't measure it either)

Wonton Wrappers
Sweet Red Chili Sauce

Blend ingredients and place small spoonful in center of wonton wrapper. Seal edges with water. Fry in oil for one minute at 350 degrees.