Family Features

Celebrate with a fabulous party for family and friends.

• Marinated butterflied leg of American lamb, grilled to perfection, feeds a crowd deliciously. It’s easy. Try Mint-Raspberry Marinade to complement lamb’s rich flavor. Combine 1/3 cup olive oil, 2 tablespoons raspberry vinegar, 1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint and 1 minced garlic clove.

• Sweet Northwest cherries, available June through August, are nutrient dense and loaded with important antioxidants. Choose firm, plump, shiny cherries and store in the refrigerator, ready for healthy snacking or to toss into a salad for a flavor and nutrition boost. Cherries can even be grilled (see recipe below)!

• A star-shaped pan and cookie cutters instantly say Fourth of July. The pan does double duty for baking (or freezing if it’s ice cream) and serving. Cookies become “pop stars” when sticks are attached to the back. Use red, white and blue sprinkles, sugars and picks to give desserts that star-spangled sparkle.

For additional recipes and serving suggestions, visit:

www.americanlamb.com

www.nwcherries.com

www.wilton.com

4th of July Cherry, Cheese & Greens Salad

Makes 4 servings

2 quarts mixed baby greens

2 cups pitted Northwest fresh sweet cherries

1 cup (4 ounces) small fresh mozzarella cheese balls