It's time to celebrate the nice weather Patriotic holidays which start with Armed Forces Day (third Saturday in May), and include Flag Day (June 14th), Memorial Day, and Independence Day (July 4th). (There are other patriotic holidays, of course, including Constitution Day, Election Day, Veterans Day, and Bill of Rights Day, but we don't generally celebrate them during the warm-weather months.) Recently our family had a going-away party for my grandson who went off to boot camp, and I served red, white, and blue food for the occasion. One of the favorite desserts which can be served on any patriotic holiday is Patriotic Brownies. These brownies are not only delicious, but are festive and colorful. If you prefer thicker brownies, you can bake these in a 9"x 13" baking dish rather than the 11" x 17"sheet pan; baking time will be a little longer.

These easy brownies start with Mom's Brownie Mix and have an easy cream cheese topping. Make sure you have plenty of gel paste food coloring on hand - the liquid kind makes the filling too runny. Gel paste food coloring is readily available at specialty stores, craft stores and even at some stores like Walmart on the cake decorating aisle. These moist, yummy brownies keep several days and are great for a backyard barbecue, or they transport easily to a picnic or pot luck gathering.

48 Brownies

Brownie Base:
5 cups Mom's Brownie Mix
4 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla

Topping:
2 8 oz. packages cream cheese, softened
2/3 cup sugar
2 eggs

Red Paste Food Coloring
Blue paste food coloring

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Spray an 11" x 17" jelly roll pan with non-stick spray.
3. Mix the brownie mix, eggs, and vanilla; spread evenly into the prepared baking pan.
4. For the topping, beat the cream cheese, sugar, and eggs until smooth.
5. Place 1/3 of the mixture into a small bowl, and half of the remaining mixture into another small bowl.
6. Squeeze red food coloring in one and blue food coloring in the other; stir well adding more if necessary, to make bright colors.
7. Drop spoonfuls of the white, red, and blue mixtures over the brownie batter; swirl slightly with a knife, being careful not to get any of the chocolate into the topping.
8. Bake 15-20 minutes or until just set.
9. Cool before cutting into squares.

Amount Per Serving
Calories 135 Calories from Fat 66
Percent Total Calories From: Fat 49% Protein 6% Carb. 45%

Nutrient Amount per Serving
Total Fat 7 g
Saturated Fat 3 g
Cholesterol 37 mg
Sodium 99 mg
Total Carbohydrate 15 g
Dietary Fiber 0 g
Sugars 3 g
Protein 2 g

Vitamin A 3% Vitamin C 0% Calcium 0% Iron 1%