STRAWBERRY SLUSHY – NON ALCOHOLIC DAIQUIRI

INGREDIENTS:

1 ¼ cups strawberry puree (about 12 oz. strawberries, hulled and pureed)

3 cups crushed ice

6 tablespoons sugar

2 tablespoons light corn syrup

Whipping cream for garnish

DIRECTIONS:

Wash and hull strawberries.  In a large bowl, hand mash or in a food processor, puree the strawberries.  In a blender combine the crushed ice, strawberry puree, corn syrup and sugar.  Blend until it is smooth and slushy.  Serve with a straw or a spoon/straw.   Garnish with whipping cream.

Ingredients

strawberries

STRAWBERRY BUTTER

INGREDIENTS:

¾ cup fresh strawberries, hulled

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter (brought to room temperature and cubed – DO NOT LET GET TOO SOFT)

4 tablespoons sugar (I used extra fine baker’s sugar)

1 teaspoon powdered vanilla (Cook’s Vanilla Powder)

1/8 teaspoon salt

DIRECTIONS:

In a food processor, electric food chopper or blender, gently puree strawberries.  Add the sugar and mix into the puree. In a food processor or blender, cream the butter.  Add the salt and vanilla powder and mix into the creamed butter.  Slowly add the pureed strawberries to the creamed butter.  Mix until well blended. Remove from food processor and put into a tightly covered container.    If you would like to make it look elegant, pipe it into your serving container.  Store in the refrigerator…but let it soften for about 30 minutes before serving.  Serve with biscuits, bread, toast, Easy Sweet Rolls and Bread Dough , or anything else that sounds divine.

Makes about 1 ¼ cups strawberry butter

Ingredients

Strawberries

Strawberries - Puree

Butter, ready to cream

Creamed Butter

Mixing Puree In

Ready to put in a Ramekin

Ready to Serve

STRAWBERRY & CHOCOLATE NACHOS

Ingredients: (all ingredients are approximate)

3 Tortillas (I use the ones that are refrigerated and that I fry up myself)

1 cup granulated sugar

1 tablespoon cinnamon

¼ cup butter, melted

1 cup strawberries, diced*

¼ cup granulated sugar, optional

½ cup milk chocolate chips

3 tablespoons heavy whipping cream

1 cup whipping cream, whipped (for garnish)

Directions:

Mix the cinnamon and sugar together. Set mixture aside. Dice the strawberries and let them sit (macerate) in ¼ cup sugar.  Set strawberries aside. If you are using the homemade tortillas or the ones you fry yourself, fry your tortillas.  Place tortillas on a baking sheet and brush them with the melted butter. Sprinkle with the cinnamon and sugar mixture. Using a Fork, puncture the tortillas to keep them from bubbling during baking. Bake in a 400 degree Fahrenheit oven for 8 – 10 minutes  or until the edges begin to turn up.  Whip the Whipping Cream. Melt the chocolate and 3 tablespoons whipping cream in a heavy saucepan or double boiler on low heat, stirring constantly.  When the chocolate is nearly melted, remove from heat and continue stirring (it will finish melting on its own).  Set chocolate aside. When the tortillas are baked, remove from the oven and carefully cut into wedges.  Put the strawberries on the chips, drizzle with chocolate and garnish with whipping cream.  Enjoy!

*Raspberries could be substituted for the strawberries

Adapted From http://www.ourbestbites.com/2011/06/strawberry-chocolate-nachos/

PRETZEL JELLO

Ingredients:

2 2/3 cups chopped pretzels (I used a food processor to create my pretzel crumbs.  A ziplock bag and a rolling pin will work also)
1 ½ cubes (3/4 cup) melted butter
½  cup milk
¾ cup to 1 ¼  cups sugar  (I use ¾ cup extra fine baker’s sugar)

16 oz. (two 8 oz. packages) cream cheese
1 package (16 oz.) frozen strawberries, sweetened
1 pint (2 cups) heavy whipping cream, whipped
1 large (or 2 small packages) package Strawberry Jello
1 ¾  cups pineapple juice, hot

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 Degrees F.  Mix pretzel crumbs with butter and press in 9” x13” baking dish.  Bake at 400 degrees F. for 10 minutes.  Let Cool.
Mix cream cheese, milk and sugar until smooth.  Spread on warm pretzels. Place in refrigerator.
Whip whipping cream. Remove 9” X 13” baking pan from the refrigerator. Spread whipping cream over cream cheese layer and place back in the refrigerator to chill.
Heat pineapple juice in the microwave.  Dissolve Jello in hot pineapple juice, add frozen strawberries and allow to partially gel.
Remove 9” X 13” baking pan from the refrigerator. Pour carefully over the whipped cream layer and allow to set in the refrigerator.
Prepare ahead for this dessert.  It is best when it has set in the refrigerator at least 8 hours.
Garnish with whipping cream and Wilton's jumbo rainbow nonpareils (if desired)

Ingredients

Pretzel Crumbs mixed with Melted Butter

Pretzel Crust

Cream Cheese, Sugar and Milk

Cream Cheese Mixture

Cream Cheese Layer

Whipping Cream

Whipped Cream Layer

Gelatin and Pineapple Juice

Frozen Strawberries Melting in Gelatin

Partially gelled Gelatin

Gelatin Layer

4 Layers of Pretzel Jello - Crust, Cream Cheese, Whipped Cream, and Jello

Set and Ready to Garnish

Garnished with Whipping Cream

Garnished with Whipping Cream and Wilton's Jumbo Rainbow Nonpareils

FROZEN SMOOTHIE POPS

Berries, Berries, Berries Smoothie Pops

½ cup fresh (or frozen) blueberries

½ cup fresh (or frozen) raspberries

½ cup fresh (or frozen) strawberries

½ cup blueberry pomegranate juice (or True Blue – blueberry/blackberry juice)

1 6 oz. container blueberry Greek yogurt

2 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt

1/8 cup sugar (if desired)

Mix all ingredients in a blender until well combined.  Freeze in popsicle molds overnight.  To remove from molds, put under warm water for a minute or two, then removed from mold.

Ingredients

All mixed up

Ready to Freeze

Ready to Serve

Pina Colada Smoothie Pops

1 cup frozen pineapple tidbits (or chunks)

¾ cup plain Greek yogurt

½ cup pineapple coconut juice

3 Tablespoons Silk Pure Coconut Vanilla Milk

½ Tablespoon Coconut Flakes

1/8 cup sugar (if desired)

Mix all ingredients in a blender until well combined.  Freeze in popsicle molds overnight.  To remove from molds, put under warm water for a minute or two, then removed from mold.

Ingredients without the plain Greek yogurt

All mixed up

Ready to Freeze

Ready to Serve