4th. of July is coming up shortly. My Family is following a long time tradition where all family members from the Grand Mother's, and Grand Father's side meet at a Park, and we all play a few rounds of Softball, which is nice, we get to catch up with aunts and cousins we have not seen for a long time. The Men are grilling while the Ladies are chatting and playing with their children. We barbecue Hamburgers and Hot Dogs, and everyone usually brings a side of Potato Salad, French Fries, Corn , Cole slaw, and lots of yummy deserts. The typical american style. The tradition follows by jumping into the Aunts Swimming pool, and watch the fireworks at sundown. Love it.
We used organic Beef for our Burgers, and grilled them over oak wood for that nice smoky flavor. 
A few days ago I made some homemade spiced Steak fries. They turned out so yummy. You must try it! Steak fries: 1 tablespoon Paprica 1 teaspoon Sea Salt pinch ground black pepper pinch sugar ¼ teaspoon garlic powder ½ teaspoon dried onion ¼ teaspoon dried parsley Mix all ingredients together in spice mill. Rub into thick cut potato wedges. Place onto baking sheet. Drizzle with Olive Oil. Bake at 375 degrees F ca. 30-40 min., or until golden brown. 
Nastassja enjoying the last cherries from our tree. 
Nastassja enjoying the last cherries from our tree. For desert I made a light and fluffy - No Bake-Cheese cake with a hint of Key Lime, topped with fresh berries. My kids love it. If you like, recipes are below. How do you celebrate your Independence Day? Do you follow a family tradition? Would love to know. Love, Diana
Recipe
Key Lime Cheesecake
Ingredients
- For the Crust:
- 1 ½ cups Graham Crackers
- 6 tablespoons butter unsalted
- For the Filling:
- 6 Leaf Sheets Gelatin (if you can find Sheet Gelatin, you can substitute with Gelatin Powder)
- 1 Key Lime Peel- finely zested and Juice
- 3 cups Cream Cheese
- 1 cup Greek Yogurt
- 1 cup sugar
- ¾ cup Heavy Cream
Instructions
- For the crust: Melt butter in microwave. Break graham crackers into crumbs, mix with the melted butter.
- Brush a 9-inch springform pan with butter. Press the crumb mixture into pan. Cool ca. 30 min in Refrigerator.
- For the Filling: dissolve sheets of Gelatin in cold water.
- Finely grate zest of a Lime, and press out the Juice.
- Whip heavy cream to peak, cool in refrigerator.
- In a Mixing machine, middle setting, cream the Cream cheese, Yogurt, Sugar, Lime Juice and zest, mix until smooth and creamy. You can go up until the highest setting on the mixer.
- Press out the water from the disolved gelatin, then heat gelatin in pan, and add about 3 tablespoons of cream cheese into pan. Heat until disolved, then add the gelatin to cream cheese mixture. Mix with high speed until gelatin is completely incorporated. Last step: take out whipped cream from fridge, and stir (lowest setting) into cream cheese mixture.
- Pour Cream cheese mixture over cooled crust. For best result, allow to cool overnight, or at least 4 - 6 hours.
- Garnish with your favorite berries.
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