Red, White, and Blue Cheesecake Mousse Parfaits
2/3 cup heavy cream
3/4 cup powdered sugar ,divided
8 oz. package cream cheese ,softened
1 t vanilla
2 T milk
1 cup strawberries ,diced
1 1/2 cups blueberries
[how to make]
*In a large bowl, beat heavy cream with an electric mixer until it starts to thicken; slowly add in 1/4 cup of the powdered sugar.
*Continue to mix until thickened and stiff peaks form. (Do not overheat or it will become overly thick and clumpy.) *Pour into a bowl; set aside.
*In the same bowl (no need to rinse out), beat the cream cheese until smooth.
*Continue mixing and add in the remaining powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk. Beat until well combined.
*With a spatula, gently fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture, until just combined.
*Alternate blueberries, mousse, and strawberries in tumbler glasses.
*Continue layering depending on the size of your glasses.
*Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.
-serves 4-
Note: I found this recipe in bellyful.net.
Labels: fruit parfait recipe, Independence Day dessert recipe
Fresh Cherry Crostata
2 cups plus 1 T all-purpose flour
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 t salt
1 1/2 sticks (6 ounces) cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/4" dice, plus 1 T melted butter
1/2 cup ice water
2 T slivered blanched almonds, very finely chopped
3 lbs fresh cherries, pitted
[How to Make]
*In a bowl, mix 2 cups of the flour with 1 tablespoon of the sugar and the salt.
* Add the cold butter and cut it in briefly using a pastry blender.
*Add the water and stir just until the dough begins to come together.
*Gather up the dough and transfer it to a lightly floured surface.
*Knead briefly until it forms a smooth, cohesive mass.
*Pat the dough into a disk, wrap in plastic and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before rolling out.
*Mix the almonds with the remaining 1 tablespoon flour and 1 tablespoon of the sugar.
*Preheat the oven to 400F.
*On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to a 15-inch round; transfer to a baking sheet. *Sprinkle the almond mixture all over the dough to within 1 1/2 inches of the edge.
*Arrange the cherries on top. Fold the edge of the dough up and over the fruit.
*Brush the melted butter over the pastry border and sprinkle the remaining 2 tablespoons sugar over the whole crostata.
*Bake for 50 minutes to 1 hour, or until the crostata is deeply browned.
*Let cool on a rack for 10 minutes.
*Dip a brush into the crostata and glaze the cherries with some of their juices. Serve warm.
-serves 8-
Note: I used the recipe from "Food and Wine".
Labels: cherry crostata recipe, crostata recipe