Fourth of July

I've been watching a lot of Food Network lately. I think it's so interesting that there is an entire television channel devoted to food. One of my favorite shows has become The Next Food Network Star. It's really remarkable what people can do with food. It's even more amazing to me that there are so many foods I've never heard of, let alone eaten! It makes me want to venture out to the nearest Whole Foods Market (which incidentally is in HOUSTON) and buy the ingredients for something like Pancetta and Pesto Souffle. Have you ever cooked with pesto? It's very exciting.

I wouldn't go so far as to call myself a food snob, but I do enjoy imagining what it would be like to create something delicious off-the-top-of-my-head. I perused the grocery store for some ideas to make something in honor of Independence Day- I found frozen berry medley. Feeling a little creative, I bought 2 bags (1 lb each) along with some cool whip, bananas and vanilla wafers. Today I decided to throw it all together myself, and not follow a recipe :0 I realize it's not totally original, but I think it turned out beautifully!

I apologize for my less-than decorative serving bowl :(

For any food critics out there, I'll understand if you leave a comment with suggestions ;)

It's currently chilling in the fridge. I'll let you know how the family likes it later. Here's how I made it:

First I mixed together:
12 oz Cool Whip
20 oz (estimate) cream cheese, or neufchatel
1/4 c. sugar

Next, I layered the bottom of the bowl with vanilla wafers and sliced bananas. I topped that with the cream cheese mixture. Using a slotted spoon, I added some of the thawed fruit. *You can use fresh fruit- which would minimize the juice spilling into the dessert. On the next layer, rather than line it with cookies, I outlined it and scattered several throughout the middle and continued to layer the bananas, cream cheese and fruit. There were 3 layers total.

I am going to top each serving with a dollop of cool whip. Bon appetit!