Strawberries and Cream Ice Cream

I made some Strawberries and Cream ice cream in honor of Wimbledon.

Ingredients:

1 cup heavy whipping cream - cold

2 tablespoon granulated sugar

14 ounces sweetened condensed milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cups fresh strawberries - diced

Directions:

Chill metal mixing bowl and whisk from your stand mixer in the freezer for 15 minutes.

Combine sugar and cold whipping cream in the mixing bowl and mix on medium-high until soft peaks form.

Shut the mixer off and gently fold in the sweetened condensed milk, vanilla and chopped fresh strawberries.

Pour the mixture into a glass or metal loaf pan. Cover the pan tightly with plastic wrap.

Place in the freezer for at least 6 hours or overnight.

Enjoy while watching Wimbledon. I hope that Rodger wins!

Mini Heart Strawberry Pies

Today I made some miniature strawberry heart pies.  I love them - they scream Happy Valentine's Day!


They were super easy to make because I used store-bought pie dough.

Ingredients:

store-bought pie dough 

strawberry jam

1 egg

tablespoon of milk

granulated sugar

Directions:

The store-bought pie-dough comes with two rolls of pie dough in each box.  Bring the pie dough to room temperature and roll the dough a little thinner on a lightly floured surface. Cut out 12 hearts.

Put a tablespoon of strawberry jam in the middle of each heart. Note: in the above picture I used a Silpat but parchment paper would also work in a pinch.

Roll out the second piece of pie dough with the rolling pin and cut out 12 more hearts. Place them on top of the jam hearts. Using the blunt end of a skewer punch little holes around the hearts.

Put the cookie sheet with the hearts into the refrigerator. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Meanwhile combine and egg with milk in a small bowl.

Once the oven is ready take the cookie sheet out of the fridge and brush the egg mixture over each heart. Sprinkle with a small amount of sugar.

Bake for 10-12 minutes until the hearts are golden brown.

Serve with a little vanilla ice cream! Happy Valentine's Day!

Strawberry Tart

This is one of the easiest tarts that I make and it always turns out perfect. You literally can't mess up this simple tart.

Ingredients:

Crust:

1 1/2 cups of flour

3/4 cup powdered sugar

3/4 cup butter, room temperature

1 teaspoon vanilla

Topping:

8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature

3/4 cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

3 large containers of fresh strawberries, thinly sliced

1/4 cup shelled pistachios

whipped cream

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Combine the crust ingredients in a medium sized bowl until a dough ball  forms. Press the dough into a 12-inch tart pan. Bake for 10 - 12 minutes.

Let the crust cool completely. Meanwhile mix the cream cheese, sugar and vanilla until they are completely combined and spread the mixture over the cooled crust.

Wash and hull the strawberries. Start thinly slicing the strawberries.

Starting from the outside start layering the strawberries.

Keep layering the strawberries until the tart is complete. Add a few small whole strawberries into the tart

Berfore serving sprinkle with the shelled pistachios. Add a small dollop of whipped cream next to the tart slice. I have used homemade whipped cream and whipped cream from a can. It just depends!

This is such an easy tart to make and fresh strawberries always scream summer!

Homemade Strawberry Pie

I made a Strawberry Pie! Many steps but very simple. I found this recipe on http://www.thecasualcraftlete.com and I decided to make this recipe because the crust was homemade.

Many Strawberry Pie recipes that I looked up used a store bought pie crust. I love making homemade pie crust.

Technically summer is not really over! And nothing says summer like fresh Strawberry Pie!

Pie Crust:

1 1/4 cup flour

/4 teaspoon salt

1 stick of butter, chilled and diced

4 to 6 tablespoons of ice water

Egg Wash:

1 egg

1 tablespoon milk

Strawberry Filling:

1 1/2 cup water

1 cup sugar

3 tablespoons cornstarch

3 ounce box strawberry jello

4 cups strawberries (cut in half)

Directions:

Begin by making the pie crust. In a large mixing bowl combine the flour and salt. Add the diced butter and cut into the flour using a pastry cutter or two forks. I used a pastry cutter. Keep pressing, cutting and combining until the mixture looks like little peas. Add the ice water one tablespoon at a time until the dough starts to form a ball. 

Flatten the dough into a disk and cover with plastic wrap and place into the refrigerator for at least two hours or overnight. I made my dough the day before I made the pie and it chilled overnight.

The next morning I set the dough on my countertop for 5 minutes or so and started rolling it out on a lightly floured surface.

Carefully transfer the pie dough to a 9-inch pie pan and press the dough up against the sides. Crimp the edges with a fork and prick the bottom of the dough with a fork-  this prevents the dough from rising.

Cover the dough and pie plate with two pieces of foil - pressing against the sides. Then add some dried beans to weight it down. Refrigerate for 20 minutes.

Bake the pie crust at 400 degrees for 25 minutes.  Take the crust out of the oven - remove the foil and beans. Careful the foil and beans are very hot. Brush the dough with the egg wash - egg and milk. Place the pie dough back into the 400 degree oven for 5 minutes without the foil and beans.

Set the baked pie crust aside to cool.

Isn't this a beautiful pie crust? The pie crust is the most difficult step - I can't stand really brown or burn't pie edges. 

For the strawberry filling - wash and slice four cups of strawberries. Set aside.

In a medium saucepan combine the water, sugar and cornstarch over medium heat until the mixture is really thick. Stirring constantly for 5 minutes.

Remove the thickened  mixture from the heat and add the strawberry jello. Stir until everything is combined and the jello is completely dissolved. Let the mixture sit for a few minutes to cool and add the strawberries. Toss until everything is combined. Pour the strawberry mixture into the cooled pie crust.

Chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours before serving.

I love fresh pie!

We had this wonderful pie for dessert last night. It was delicious! 

Fruit Salad

Now that it is Springtime - I almost always have fresh fruit and fruit salads in the fridge. This fruit salad came out so pretty and colorful.

I used strawberries, blueberries, grapes, kiwi and pineapple. 

I also added the juice of two limes and a couple tablespoons of honey. This is a perfect salad to serve with morning eggs or lunchtime sandwich.

Fresh Strawberry Muffins

I made some Fresh Strawberry Muffins for  Breakfast at Wimbledon. Although these muffins would also be a wonderful afternoon snack with a spot of tea.


Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter, room temperature

3/4 cup sugar

1 tablespoon fresh lemon zest

1 egg

2 cups flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 cup milk

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups fresh strawberries, finely chopped

1/2 cup melted butter

3 teaspoons cinnamon 

1/2 cup sugar


Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray your muffin tin with a baking spray.


Cream the butter and sugar in your stand mixer. Add the egg and vanilla and mix until it is incorporated.

In a small bowl whisk the flour, baking powder and salt together.

Alternate adding the flour mixture and milk to the butter mixture while the mixer is on the lowest speed. You don't want to over mix.

Remove the bowl from the mixer and gently stir the strawberries in with a wooden spoon.

Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin pan and bake for 20 minutes.

While the muffins are baking - clean up and melt the butter in a shallow bowl and combine the sugar and cinnamon in another shallow bowl.

Once the muffins have cooled roll the top in the melted butter and cinnamon/sugar mixture.

Yum! Perfect for your Breakfast at Wimbledon! I am sad that Maria lost today. I but am still able to root for Roger!

Fresh Fruit, Dried Fig and Goat Cheese Salad

I had this fantastic salad at the Nordstrom Cafe last week and decided to recreate the recipe at home. 

This was so simple to make and would make a terrific lunch to serve to your ladies who lunch or after a tennis match.  I made this salad just for myself - so you would need to adjust the ingredients accordingly to the number of guests that you are serving.

Ingredients:

4 cups of  a salad Spring mix

3 tablespoons of goat cheese, cut into small chunks

4 large strawberries, cut into quarters

4 dried figs, cut into thirds

15 raspberries

15 blueberries

15 candied pecans

Fruit themed vinaigrette

Instructions:

Toss spring mix with two tablespoons of dressing. Or you might want to serve the dressing on the side.

Place the lettuce on the plate and sprinkle with the goat cheese, sliced strawberries, dried figs, raspberries, blueberries and candied pecans.

I bought the candied pecans at Trader Joe's.

I bought the dried figs and salad dressing at Sprouts.

My husband doesn't like figs - he was looking for something to eat yesterday and saw the dried figs and said, "Figs! Gross!"

The Pear White Balsamic Vinaigrette that I bought is calorie free! 

Let me know if you make this salad. I think your guests would be impressed.

Creamy Strawberry Pie

This week strawberries were on sale at my local grocery store for .88! I bought four containers!  What to make? So I Googled Strawberry Pies and found this recipe on the Philadelphia Cheese website. Best of all it is a "no bake" treat!


Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs

2 tablespoons sugar

1/3 cup butter, melted

3/4 cup boiling water

1 package (3 ounces) Jell-o strawberry flavor

4 ounces (1/2 of 8 ounce package) cream cheese, softened

4 cups fresh strawberries, cut into small pieces

1 1/2 cups of Cool Whip, room temperature

4 large strawberries

2 cups heavy whipping cream

Directions:

Mix the graham cracker crumbs, sugar and butter. Press the crumb mixture into a 9-inch pie pan. Press the crumbs tightly of the bottom and the sides of the pie pan.

Add the boiling water to Jell-o stir for 2 minutes until the Jell-o is dissolved. Whisk the cream cheese in a large bowl until creamy.

Whisk the gelatin mixture into the cream cheese. Place the bowl in a larger bowl filled with ice water. Let stand for about 5 minutes - whisking occasionally.

Stir strawberries and Cool Whip into the Jell-o mixture. Refrigerate for 20 minutes.

Pour the strawberry mixture into the graham cracker crust. Refrigerate for 3 hours.

Using an immersion blender - whip the heavy whipping cream until it is the consistency of whipped cream. Spread the whipped cream over the strawberry mixture. Cut the large strawberries in half and use them to decorate the top of the pie.

This was a super simple recipe. I served it for dessert tonight and everyone loved it!

Strawberry Scones in Honor of Wimbledon - Tennis Anyone?

I have been watching Wimbledon for the past twelve days! I love it! I can't stop watching. I am excited for the ladies final tomorrow. So I made some scones and in honor of Wimbledon I added some strawberries. And I will be speaking with a British accent until after the men's final.

I was serious - if you want to play a little tennis - call me! And now I must tell you about this easy recipe that you can serve for breakfast or perhaps have with your afternoon cup of tea.

Ingredients:

1 cup strawberries, cut into small pieces

3 tablespoons granulated sugar

2 cups all purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

6 tablespoons butter, cut into cubes, slightly softened

3/4 cup heavy cream

1 tablespoon sugar (for topping)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees and lightly grease a cookie sheets or put a Silpat mat on the cookie sheet.

Add a tablespoon of sugar to the cut up strawberries and set aside.

Combine the sugar, flour, baking powder and salt in a large bowl.  Add the butter using a pastry cutter. Stir in the strawberries. Then stir in the heavy cream.

Use a spatula to gently stir the dough until it holds together. Be gentle don't overwork the dough.

Turn the dough on to a piece of parchment paper and kneed a few times to incorporate all of the ingredients. Add a little extra flour if the dough is sticky.

Press and pat the dough into a circle about 3/4 " thick.

Cut the circle into 8 wedges. I used a pizza cutter - but a sharp knife would work just as well. Transfer the wedges to the cookie sheet. Leave at least 1/2" space between them.

Bake for 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with sugar. Then return to oven for another five minutes. Bake until the tops are lightly browned. Be careful you don't want dry scones.

Let the scones cool on the cookie sheet for about five minutes - then they can be removed to s serving platter.

The scones would look fantastic garnished with some fresh strawberries.

So watch Wimbledon, make some scones, play some tennis!

Strawberry Muffins

Today I made some muffins with fresh strawberries. Yum! I love fresh strawberries. I had to do something different with the strawberries I bought this week. I have been making Strawberry Spinach salad every other day for about two weeks!

Recipe adapted from the Barefoot Contessa

Ingredients:

3 cups all purpose flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon soda

1 1/2 tablespoons ground cinnamon

 1 1/4 cup milk

2 eggs, lightly beaten\

2 sticks unsalted butter, melted2 cups diced fresh strawberries

1 1/4 cup sugar

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line muffin tins with paper liners - this recipe makes 18 muffins.

Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda and cinnamon together in a large bowl. Stir with a whisk to make sure that all of the dry ingredients are combined.

In a 2 cup glass measuring cup combine the milk, eggs, and melted butter.

Make a well in the middle of the dry ingredient bowl - pour the wet ingredients into the well and mix until the ingredients are just combined.

Gently fold in the strawberries and granulated sugar. The batter will be a little lumpy.

Fill each of the muffin cups with batter.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.

Cool the muffins on a wire rack. Then I displayed them on a wire cake plate.

These would be perfect to serve to serve to overnight guests. The house smelled fantastic while they were baking.

I can't wait to have one of these muffins tomorrow morning.

I will be making a few more strawberry recipes when Wimbledon starts in a few weeks. I was sad that Maria lost to Serena this morning.