Happy 4th of July! Garlic Popcorn with Cayenne Pepper and Popcorn with ”Buffalo Wings” Red Hot Sauce - Hot Snack for Hot Summer Days

It is always a good idea to pop a bunch of corn when watching a movie with friends, the games or even all alone with your book. Adding some salt and butter is never a bad idea but, let’s get creative for a change.



Garlic Popcorn with Cayenne Pepper

Ingredients:

• I tsp sea salt
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
• 2 Tbsp melted butter

Directions:

Mix all ingredients together in the small bowl. Drizzle  the popcorn with a garlic mixture in a large bowl and toss to coat. Serve.



Popcorn with ”Buffalo Wings” Red Hot Sauce

Ingredients:

• 2 Tbsp melted butter
• 2 Tbsp Frank's RedHot sauce or any other Buffalo Wing Sauce

Directions:

Toss melted butter and hot sauce with popcorn in a large bowl and serve.

Vanilla Button Cookies - Just for Fun!

These are little vanilla cream cheese button cookies. They're adorable and I had too much fun with these button cookies! My favorite thing was when my children asked if they could help me to make another "button"-) These cookies are perfect for baby shower or birthday party, holiday gifts and just for fun.



Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup butter, softened
• 3 ounces cream cheese
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• assorted colors of paste food coloring

Directions:

In a bowl cream butter, cream cheese and sugar until fluffy. Add egg and vanilla; beat until smooth.

In a medium bowl combine flour, baking powder and salt. Add dry ingredients to the creamed mixture. Stir till soft dough forms. Divide dough into two parts. Tint each with a different food color. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill for 2 hours.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).



Remove from refrigerator, one color at a time and on a lightly floured surface, roll dough until just over 1/8" thick.

Cut 2-inch rounds with round cutter. Next on each round, just in from the edge, mark with a smaller round cutter, approximately 1.5 inches diameter, pressing slightly,  but not pushing through. Run a metal spatula underneath the dough, to make sure it is not sticking to the table, sprinkle with flour underneath as necessary.

With top of a small #3 piping tip (or with straw) cut 2 or 4 holes in the centre of each cookie so it resembles a button, make sure to push down to the counter so the small pieces fall out.



Lift dough with metal spatula onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment or a sil-pat, collect scraps and repeat.

Follow the same method with another color, being sure to clean your work surface between each.
Refrigerate buttons for 15 minutes before baking.

Bake at 350F for 8-10 minutes.

Transfer to a cooling rack and eat with a perfect cup of tea.