It's that time of year again. The grill is coming out for the summer, fresh iced tea and lemonade are being prepared, family is gathering, and bathing suits are being reluctantly pulled out from the far depths of the closet. The 4th of July is a perfect time for good food, great friends, and outdoor fun. That means you need a dessert that pleases both adults and children, is easy to make, and is easy to transport. These Fourth of July Rice Krispy Treats are perfect for the occassion.

What You'll Need:

• One large box of Rice Kripy cereal
• One bag of large marshmallows
• 2 sticks of margarine or butter
• Star shaped cookie cutter
• White Chocolate - the kind that is meant for dipping and hardening onto foods
• Red and Blue sprinkles
• Skewers
• 3 flower foam bricks (found in the arts and crafts section by the flowers in walmart)

What You'll Need To Do:

• Prepare the Rice Krispy Treats according to the direction on the back of the box. Or go to : http://www.ricekrispies.com/Display.aspx?recipe_id=1605&kic=true
• Once the treats are ready to be cut, use your star shaped cookie cutter to cut out as many stars as you can (recipe should yield 6 to 8 stars)
• Dip one side of the star shape into the white dipping chocolate
• Add red and blue sprinkles on top of the white chocolate
• Leave to harden (do not refrigerate yet)
• Once the white chocolate and sprinkles have hardened, place each star on a skewer
• Tie a red, white, or blue ribbon around each stick
• Place the skewers, sprinkle side up, in the fridge for atleast 2 hours before serving
• Before serving, place the skewers standing upward in the flower foam. This creates a great table display and allows people to choose the treat they want.
• Optional : you may spray paint the foam red, white, or blue, if you want it to have a more festive look.

This is fun to do with kids of all ages. You can decorate the stars all the same or let each person decorate their own. The sticks make this treat very easy to eat, fun, and virtually mess free. You can't go wrong with the timeless rice krispy treat! Have a great 4th of July! Happy Snacking!