The Berry Boxes

We are BIG berry eaters in my house, the fridge is always stocked with them.  Blueberries and blackberries are jam packed with antioxidants. Blueberries, blackberries and strawberries are  rich sources of fiber, potassium, vitamin C and are low in fat and calories. Funny thing about berries though is you have to keep them fresh and from drying out. On a trip to the grocery store, while I was in the produce section, I spotted these cool little baskets.  They were very inexpensive, considering the money I would be saving by not throwing berries in the trash can after having them for 2-3 days.  My berries are lasting about 2 weeks in these containers, that's a long life for fresh berries.  Check them out!

I found them in four different colors, red, green and yellow in the square size.  The boxes are BPA free and dishwasher safe.

 (I recommend top rack)

They are three compartment containers that come taped together.

They consist of a bottom container, a basket and a lid for storing the berries and keeping them fresh. Put your berries in the basket, rinse, drain excess water off, drop basket into the bottom container, put on the lid and "burp" it, store in the refrigerator.

Take the three pieces apart, and they go back together for storing your berries.

This purple container is the other size basket.  It's rectangle shape is perfect for storing strawberries.

Tastes Like Summer!

The groundhog came out of his hole on February 2nd and declared an early Spring.  Sure he did, we have had snow just about everyday since Ground Hog Day!  WHY do we put so much trust, in a furry little animal, that doesn't use any kind of weather predicting devices?  I am tired, tired, tired of this cold, frosty weather, do ya feel my pain? I need some sunshine, please!

So, after a long bout of a flu like sickness last week, I'm back in the kitchen.  I gotta keep moving, trying to keep warm.  I made an after dinner dessert last night, hopefully to remind me of the warmer weather that will soon be in our forecast.  I needed a little of my own sunshine, and to refresh me a little, I made a Strawberry Tiramisu with a hint of lemon, that I know will get me thinking of Summer, the hot sun, being outside without a parka on, or bundled up with gloves, a blanket, scarf, boots, a hat........you get the picture, uh huh.

Recipe below.

To print recipe, click on it, highlight and print.

To view photos in a larger format, click on them.

A few of my ingredients.

 I used an 8 oz container of mascarpone cheese and 4 ounces of regular cream cheese.  Chopped a few strawberries for the cheese mixture.

 Made my own whipped cream, it's cheaper and you can flavor it anyway you like.  Used vanilla bean paste to flavor mine.

It only takes a few minutes, so be careful you don't want to churn it into butter by over mixing it.

 PERFECT!

 Gently fold half into the cream cheese mixture and reserve half for topping.

 Split the ladyfingers and layer in the bottom of a baking pan.  I used a palette knife to spread the cheese mixture it's much easier than a spatula.

 First layer of ladyfingers and cheese mixture.

I sliced up about 8 large strawberries to top the cheese mixture.  Another layer of ladyfingers, more cheese and any remaining strawberries.

 Used a pastry bag with a fitted tip and went all around the edges and in between all the berries, to top the whole tiramisu with whipped cream.  Garnished with a large sliced berry on top, as well as some grated lemon zest.

A slice of Summer, I feel better now!

 Strawberry Tiramisu

Ingredients

8 oz. container mascarpone cheese, room temp

4 ounces regular cream cheese, room temp
3/4 cup confectioner's sugar

1 teaspoon lemon juice

1/4 teaspoon lemon zest

1/2 cup chopped strawberries

2 - 3 oz packages ladyfingers

2 cups heavy whipping cream

1/2 teaspoon vanilla bean paste or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 cup confectioner's sugar

8 large strawberries, sliced (see note)

1/2 teaspoon lemon zest

1 large strawberry for garnish

Directions

In a large mixing bowl, beat the mascarpone cheese and cream cheese until well combined.  Add the 3/4 cup of confectioner's sugar, 1 teaspoon of lemon juice, 1/4 teaspoon of zest, blend.  Fold in the chopped strawberries, set aside.

Split the ladyfingers in half, and make one layer of them in the bottom of an 8 x 8 baking pan, set aside. Reserve the other ladyfingers to complete the tiramisu. 

In a medium mixing bowl, pour in the heavy cream, vanilla and 1/4 cup of confectioner's sugar. Beat on high, until stiff peaks form, do not over beat, it will turn to butter, not good.  This should be light and fluffy with the consistency of whipped cream, not cream cheese. Reserve half of the whipped cream, put into a bowl and refrigerate. With a spatula, lightly fold the other half into the cheese mixture.

Layer half the cheese mixture over the ladyfingers, top with sliced strawberries.  Repeat with the remaining ladyfingers, cheese mixture and strawberries.  Right before serving put the whipped cream into a pastry bag and pipe onto the top of the tiramisu.  Top with the large strawberry and lemon zest to garnish. Makes 6 servings.

NOTE:  You could also use frozen berries, or frozen berries in syrup.  I used fresh berries for a fresher taste.

Abundance of Berries - Fresh Berry Fruit Tart

WOW, the supermarkets are loaded with berries. Strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and raspberries, I love them all.  Put them in desserts, cereal, smoothies, on ice cream, make some jam or put them in salads (yes that's right, I do it all the time and they are fantastic!) They're all "good for you" foods too, so take advantage, because after summer they will disappear or the prices will skyrocket.

  I have to go to the big box stores at least twice a week for berries, because e-v-e-r-y-b-o-d-y in my house eats them.  I bought some extra and made a Fresh Berry Fruit Tart yesterday for dessert.  Warm weather equals cool desserts for me and this ones fits the bill.

Recipe below. To print, click on the recipe, highlight it and print.

Can you believe these few simple ingredients make a delicious dessert?  Well they do!  Use whatever fruit flavored cream cheese and fruit that you like, it doesn't have to be berries.

 Cookie baking and almost done.

 Mixed up the cream cheese and sugar.

Cookie baked and cooling.

 Berries washed and drying on a towel.

Spread the cream cheese mixture on the cooled cookie. 

 Slice up the strawberries and decorate using your own creativity!  Come on, it's easy.

 Lookin' Good!

 Can't wait to cut it up and eat it.

Up close and personal with the fruit tart, it's almost too pretty to cut and eat, naaaaaa.....

Fresh Berry Fruit Tart

Ingredients

Cooking Spray

1 - 16.5 oz. roll of Pillsbury Sugar Cookie Dough

2 - 8 oz. containers of strawberry cream cheese, softened (do not use whipped)

1 cup of confectioner's sugar

2 cups sliced strawberries

1 cup blueberries

1/2 cup blackberries

1/2 cup red raspberries

lemon zest and fresh mint sprigs for garnish (omit if you don't like it)

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray a round pizza pan with cooking spray.  Break the dough into 5 pieces and drop four of the pieces around the sides of the pan and one in the middle of the pan.  Press the dough evenly into the pan with your hands (but not to the edge of the pan), until all of it is flattened and it looks like a big cookie.  Bake until lightly browned.

While the cookie is baking, mix the cream cheese and the sugar with an electric mixer until all is combined. Cover and refrigerate until you are ready to use it (take it out about 15 minutes before spreading on the cookie, so it will be spreadable).  Wash all the berries and lay them to dry on a clean dish towel.  Hull and slice the strawberries, then zest the lemon and set them aside.

When the cookie is baked, take out of the oven and let it cool completely.  When it is cooled, spread the cream cheese mixture evenly over the top of the cookie.  Decorate the top with a pattern of all the berries, sprinkle with lemon zest and garnish with mint sprigs. Makes 8 - 10 servings.

Easy Strawberry Shortcake

Oh my gosh I love Trader Joe's, I'm hooked and I visit the store at least once a week.  So while I was there shopping around the store, I found their version of shortcake biscuits in the bakery section.  I thought I would give them a try and make strawberry shortcakes out of them for me and the hubby.

There are 4 biscuits in the package, I used three of them for my shortcakes. These are light and mildly sweet.

 I toasted them up a bit in the oven. I baked them at 250 degrees for about 10 minutes, and then I split them in half.

 I mixed some strawberries with 1 tablespoon of sugar and 1 tablespoon of water, let them sit for about 1/2 hour until they got syrupy.  Then I started building my shortcake......

 Added whipped cream and more strawberries......

 Another layer of biscuit, whipped cream and berries......

 Then topped it off with some of the syrup and it's ready to eat! Fast, easy, pretty dessert.