~Adlai Stevenson

The concept of political and personal freedom that Independence Day represents is easy to understand.  But have you ever considered the multitudes of individuals that contribute to your daily freedom from hunger?  We buy meat in a package, greens in a bag and milk in a wax-lined carton, rarely giving even a single thought to the unseen lives, time and energy those items of convenience represent.

Many of us are looking forward to enjoying a nice, juicy hamburger at an upcoming 4th of July picnic.  Let's take a closer look at what goes into that burger.  The beef or turkey was once a living, breathing animal.  Was that animal healthy and well-cared-for during its lifetime?  Even a veggie burger is made of plants that were once very much alive.  Did they grow in healthy, nutrient-rich soil, free of chemicals?  The tasty cheese melting on your burger came from the milk of dairy cows and the eggs in your mayonnaise were laid by chickens. Did they spend their days grazing in a pasture or confined inside a factory farm? 

Don't forget the farmers and farm workers who planted, tended and harvested the lettuce and tomatoes; the factory workers who packaged each item for shipment and the drivers who delivered the food to your local market.  Once your food reached the supermarket, a stock person priced it and put it on the shelf, a cashier rang up your purchase, and a box person packed it all in a bag.

We are dependent on countless individuals to keep us free from hunger.  They, in turn, are dependent on each of us for their livelihood and their freedom from want.   Each of us owes a debt of gratitude to others for our daily independence.

As you celebrate this weekend with fireworks and picnics, take a moment to give thanks to the many plants, animals and people who give their lives, time and energy each and every day to keep you free from hunger.

This Independence Day, let freedom and gratitude ring!

Here is a delicious recipe for Raspberry Tiramisù, made with LOFT Organic Raspberry Liqueur (see link at right). 

 

1 and 1/4 cups raspberry preserves

1/3 cup LOFT Organic Raspberry Liqueur, plus an additional 4 tablespoons, divided.

1/3 cup orange juice

16 oz mascarpone cheese, at room temperature

1 and 1/3 cups whipping cream, chilled

1/3 cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 and 1/2 pounds fresh raspberries, divided (or a combination of raspberries and blueberries)

About 52 crisp ladyfingers (Savoiardi)

Chocolate shavings, if desired

Whisk preserves, 1/3 cup liqueur and the orange juice in a small bowl and set aside. Place mascarpone cheese and 2 tablespoons of the remaining liqueur in a large bowl and fold just enough to blend.  In another large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the cream, sugar, vanilla and final 2 tablespoons of the liqueur to soft peaks.  Stir 1/4 of the whipped cream mixture into mascarpone mixture to lighten it, then fold in the remaining whipped cream mixture.

Spread 1/2 cup preserve mixture over the bottom of a 13 x 9 x 2-inch glass baking dish.  Arrange enough ladyfingers over the preserve mixture to cover the bottom of dish.  Spoon 3/4 cup more of preserve mixture over ladyfingers, then spread 2 and 1/2 cups mascarpone cheese mixture over that.  Arrange half the berries over mascarpone mixture.  Repeat layering with remaining ladyfingers, preserve mixture, and mascarpone mixture.  Cover tiramisù with plastic wrap and chill 12 hours or overnight.  

To serve: 

Arrange remaining berries over tiramisù and decorate with chocolate shavings, if desired. 

Makes 8 servings