CELEBRATION A STAR-SPANGLED

Dale Debolt, Dml -

Star crisps and cherry salsa, front, and chicken orzo salad.

Light up the day with picnic foods that cheer us with their silliness and good flavor. Take a tip from the past and go over-the-top with the holiday theme.

By LEE SVITAK DEAN, Star Tribune

Last update: July 1, 2009 - 1:49 PM

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So the economy has gone from the frying pan into the fire. Your once-fat 401k now looks like pan drippings. Your gravy-train job has imploded like a sunken soufflé. We need to celebrate. Really. What better way to get through a tough time than with your family and friends around the picnic table -- or the campfire? And because, for cooks, any time is right for new food, let's have a little fun. Cooks have always gotten carried away when it comes to holidays and the shapes that represent the events. So let's follow that historical precedent: Cherry salsa with star-shaped pita crisps. A chicken orzo salad (shaped like a star, if you wish). A star-shaped cake of watermelon. (We've got a theme going.) Or let's move on to the blues, as in blueberry-lemon bars. We all have favorite dishes that can't be left off the picnic table. But let's try something new to surprise the guests: bruschetta dressed up with sun-dried tomatoes and ricotta. Wow! You get the drift. When times get tough, cooks get tougher. Let's head to the kitchen.