Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Blissful Cream Cheese Filled Strawberries

These ridiculously cute things combine all of my favorite ingredients into one little, easy to eat dessert. My mom e-mailed me this recipe from a Martha Stewart Living e-newsletter. I added my own little twists to it – like dipping the bottom in melted semi-sweet chocolate!

Not only are these bite-sized gems foolishly tasty, they look beautiful too.

It’s as easy as this:

  • Whip 6 oz. cream cheese at room temperate on medium-speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes
  • Add ½ tsp. pure vanilla extract
  • Mix in 1 ½ tbs. confectioners’ sugar
  • Trim tops and bottoms of 12 strawberries. (The berries will be standing up, so be sure the bottoms are level.)
  • Use a small knife to carefully hollow out each berry
  • Fill a pastry bag fitted with a star tip with the cream cheese mixture
  • Pipe berries until it brims over the top in a pretty swirl
  • Melt ½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips on a VERY low heat
  • Dip each strawberry into the melted chocolate
  • Toast ¼ cup sliced almonds in a 350 degree oven until golden-brown
  • Arrange slices over filling

Blisssssss.

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

The Garbage Salad (in a good way)

Last night Joe and I had some friends over for dinner and to enjoy the beautiful June weather in Southern California. Since we had a vegetarian in the group, we decided to make a HUGE hearty salad with a choice of salmon or chicken on top.

It turned out pretty sick (again, in a good way).

The Salad:

  • Romaine Hearts
  • Baby Spinach
  • Greek Feta
  • Pine Nuts, toasted
  • Avocado
  • Tomato
  • Persian Cucumber
  • Baby Granny Smith Apple
  • Dried Bing Cherries
  • Capers
  • Fresh Basil, chopped

The Dressing:

  • Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • Pomegranate-Infused Balsamic Vinegar
  • Garlic Salt
  • Fresh Ground Pepper

We also picked up three fresh baguette varieties from Trader Joe’s— kalamata olive, nine-grain and rosemary. Joe sliced ‘em up, brushed each slice with olive oil then crisped them on the grill.

Disclaimer: My big brother, James Edward Ohngren, reserves full rights to the name “Garbage Salad.”