Connie's Kitchen

Summer. The season for impromptu outdoor gatherings whether with neighbors, friends or family. Today, let's consider two recipes requiring commonly found ingredients and simple preparation. The end result promises interest and flavor at your next party.

French bread pizza

Choose French bread, baguettes or French rolls, sliced lengthwise, buttered sparingly with surface seared in mediumhot fry pan (as you would hamburger buns). Press bread down with spatula to sear surfaces evenly. Set aside.

In mixing bowl, combine:

1 pound super lean ground beef (7 percent fat or less)

1 egg, unbeaten (binder)

1 tsp. Italian seasoning

1/2 tsp. garlic powder

1/4 tsp. each salt and pepper

1 eight-ounce can pizza sauce

Reserve for topping:

8 ounces mozzarella cheese, grated or sliced

4 ounces, or less, pepperoni slices

Mix ingredients thoroughly until all liquid are incorporated. Spread evenly on bread surface 1/4 inch or more depending on thickness of bread, extending a bit beyond edges allowing for shrinkage.

Top with cheese and bake at 375º for 8 to 12 minutes determined by thickness of meat layer. When done, add pepperoni slices and return to oven to heat. Optional additions: black or green sliced olives, marinated artichokes, sun-dried tomato or other choices. Slice diagonally to serve.

Sue's Tortilla rollups

10 to 12-inch package flour tortillas

8 ounces cream cheese

2 Tablespoons mayonnaise

1/2 pound deli meat slices

Choice of colorful vegetables

Spread each tortilla with cream cheese mixed with mayonnaise. Begin layering deli meat adding veggies such as: spinach (cooked and squeezed), grated carrot, coarsely grated purple cabbage and any other colorful veggie. Optional additions: chopped olives, green chilies or marinated artichoke.

Roll up, cut into serving size wedges secured with a toothpick.

Summer coolers

Slake your thirst with a healthy alternative to soda pop. Add 1/3 measure of "0" calorie club soda to a 2/3 glassful of any pure fruit juice for added zip.

Ice cream soda

You'll need a tall glass, tall spoon, straw, vanilla ice cream, flavored syrup (chocolate or strawberry) and club soda. Into glass, put two scoops ice cream and ¼-cup syrup. Fill with soda, stirring to mix with syrup. Plunk in the straw and enjoy!

Connie's Kitchen runs the last week of every other

month or six times per year.

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