JENNIFER ALEXANDER RUPLE

Celebrate Memorial Day in style and kick off summer with dishes that are as festive as they are delicious. Whether you’re hosting a backyard barbecue or enjoying a cozy family gathering, these patriotic recipes will bring smiles and a touch of red, white, and blue to your table. Start the party with Firecracker Dogs with Spicy Everything Seasoning. When it’s time for dessert, cool off with creamy Cherry and Blueberry Cheesecake Jars, no-bake treats perfect for warmer weather.

Firecracker Dogs with Spicy Everything Seasoning
8 servings
14-ounce package refrigerated pizza dough, cut into eight 1-inch wide strips
8 bun length hot dogs
8 ounce block of Monterey Jack cheese
2 tablespoons spicy everything seasoning
8 wooden skewers

Heat oven to 400 F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Soak wooden skewers in a dish of water for 30 minutes.

Push skewers through hot dogs lengthwise, leaving an inch or so open at the top of each skewer. Wrap each hot dog with a strip of pizza dough.

Roll each dog in seasoning, pushing down lightly so the seasoning sticks to the dough.

Using a small star-shaped cookie cutter, cut 8 stars out of the cheese.

Lay the skewered hot dogs on the baking pan and bake them for 12 minutes or until the dough is cooked through.

Once baked, add a cheese star to the top of each skewer.

Serve Firecracker Dogs with ketchup, mustard and dill pickle relish.

Cherry and Blueberry Cheesecake Jars
8 servings
Eight 8-ounce canning jars
Two 3.4 ounce boxes of cheesecake flavored pudding
2 cups cold milk
⅔ cup graham cracker crumbs
⅛ cup sugar
4 tablespoons butter, melted
Cherry and blueberry pie filling

In a medium bowl, whisk pudding mix and milk together for two minutes. Refrigerate for 15 minutes to set.

Combine graham cracker crumbs, sugar and butter. Spoon even amounts of crumb mixture into canning jars.

Divide pudding among canning jars. Top with cherry and blueberry pie filling.