Red Velvet Berry Parfaits

It's time to celebrate once again, the last summer hurrah.   Labor Day weekend is almost here and boy do I have a wonderful dessert for you!

I saw a recipe on Rattlebridge Farm  for a Red Velvet Berry Crumble and was so wowed by it that I new I was going to do a variation of my own...parfait style.  It's the perfect red, white, and blue dessert to go along with many holidays such as Memorial Day, 4th of July (Independence Day) and especially Labor Day.

Since I only wanted to make a few of these parfaits, I took some help from my grocery store and bought 2 slices of red velvet cake and deconstructed them for my parfaits.  You could use red velvet cupcakes, brownies, or pound cake.  I've seen most of these in our local Ralphs market.  Add some vanilla or cheesecake flavored pudding, some berries, and a scoop of vanilla ice cream all layered in pretty dishes and you are set.  Easy as pie!

The taste is unbelievable too.  I mean, who doesn't love red velvet cake?  There are whole books just on the stuff.  It's the bomb, and is highlighted in this dish!

So if you are planning a get together, BBQ, or any family gathering for the weekend, this is the perfect dessert.  Hope you enjoy it...we gobbled it up!



Red Velvet Berry Parfaits

serves 4

1 pkg. sugar-free vanilla pudding (or cheesecake flavored)
2 c 2% milk
2 store bought red velvet cake slices (or cupcakes, brownies, pound cake, etc.)
handful of fresh blueberries
handful of fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
handful of fresh raspberries

vanilla ice cream 

Make the vanilla pudding according to package directions using the milk.  Allow to set up in the refrigerator for 5 minutes before using.  

Cube the red velvet cakes and place several in the bottom of 4 dishes or glasses.  Top with a large dollop of pudding.  Add a few more pieces of red velvet cake and divide all the berries among all the glasses.  Top each with a large scoop of vanilla ice cream.  Place a blueberry on top.  Serve.

Strawberry Angel Cake

Did everyone have a wonderful 4th of July?

We had a beautiful one, but I'm tired now.  Who thought of putting a holiday in the middle of the week anyway?  Don't get me wrong.  I love the work 2 days of 1 day and work 2 days.  I think I could get used to that...but not when that one day off is a late nighter....watching fireworks and all!  We had a nice time grilling and swimming, then going over to one of the studio back-lots for a fireworks show.  Lots of fun!  How did you all celebrate?  I'd love you to share your stories.

On to today's post.  This one is for all those that are experiencing HOT HOT weather right now.  During the summer months I try to keep the oven off as much as possible.  But we still want to have dessert on occasion.  One that is light, tasty, and uses fresh ingredients such as seasonal fruit.  This Strawberry Angel Cake is just perfect for that!

I had in mind to make a favorite cake of mine called Angel Lush Cake from Kraftrecipes.com which takes a angel food cake, cut into 3 layers, and filled in with vanilla pudding and pineapple and topped with strawberries..yum!

Then I was looking around on Cookinglight.com and found a similar idea for a Strawberry Angel Cake  which uses a strawberry and cream cheese mixture as the filling.  It was beautiful because it was actually "iced" with non-dairy whipped topping!  This stuck in my head.  It was so simple, but just beautiful looking.  The very next day, I got a post from Robyn of  Add a Pinch and it was her version of the Cooking Light Strawberry Angel Cake!  Robyn has a gorgeous site!!  You should all take a trip over there and say "hi!"  Anyway, Robyn made this even simpler  and I was overcome by the need to make this.

This is a no bake recipe, that you can put together in under 20 minutes.  Taking some help from a store bought angel food cake, you are halfway there!  Don't you just love those types of recipes? 

I went a step further with her version and modified it a bit by making it a little more carb friendly.  I bought a sugar-free angel food cake.  Tastes just as good as the sugar version, however, the carb count is dramatically reduced which helps with the diet you know!  

This turned out so light and refreshing, just perfect for a summer dessert.  A no-bake dessert, that would be perfect for the a holiday, or any other nice occasion.  It looks so pretty too!  Like you spent a lot of time, when in reality, you didn't!

Enjoy!!



Strawberry Angel Cake Recipe
adapted from Cooking Light

serves 10

1 pint strawberries 

1 T. sugar

1 prepared sugar-free angel food cake
1 (8-ounce) container lite Cool Whip

Hull and slice strawberries placing them in a bowl. Add 1 Tablespoon of Sugar and mix. Allow to sit for 10 min while you start to prepare the cake. Slice the cake in half and spread a layer of lite Cool Whip on the bottom layer of the cake.  Top with the sliced strawberries, being generous with you layer.  Place the top of the cake back on.  Taking your lite Cool Whip frost the top and sides of the cake.  Lightly cover and place in the refrigerator for about 1 hour to set up.  Slice with a serrated knife and serve.

Labor Day Round Up



Labor Day is just around the corner.  The last long weekend of summer...

How will you celebrate all of us "workers" that make our country a wonderful place to be?

So if you are grilling, having a picnic, or just enjoying a meal this weekend with family and friends, here are some great menu ideas for you to try.

Grilled Santa Fe Burgers

Sweet Onion Salsa

Marinated Heirloom Salad

Grilled Greek Potato Salad

Grilled Chicken and Avocado Pitas

BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Loaded Baked Potato Salad

Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream

Deep Dish Peach Cobbler

Here's a tablescape that would work well for Labor Day...

Memorial Day tablescape

Have a wonderful weekend!!!!

Product Review: Williams-Sonoma The Ultimate Burger Starter

Don't you just love trying new products in search of "GOLD"??

Found it!

With this product I hit the Motherload!

Seriously.

Back in June I was attending a technique class at the Williams-Sonoma store and spotted an item of interest way across the room.  I could hardly stand it not being able to pick it up and read the ingredients as the class was only half way through.  Classes are GREAT there, by the way.  I recommend taking one if have the ability to do so!

So when we finished I scurried right over and nabbed a jar of their "The Ultimate BURGER STARTER".

Click on this link to see the product on their site:  The ultimate burger starter
Here's what Williams - Sonoma says about it:

The world’s best burgers begin with our savory seasoning blend. Quick and easy to use, it’s the simple secret to juicy, succulent meat with incomparable flavor.

• Classic American recipe pairs sweet caramelized onions with a signature medley of herbs and spices.
• Dijon mustard, roasted garlic and aromatic Worcestershire sauce add depth and complexity.
• Perfect for grilling or panfrying ground beef, turkey or pork.
• Also great for meatballs.
• Quick and easy – just combine 2 tsp. Burger Starter per 1/4 lb. of ground beef or turkey and cook as desired.
• 10 oz.
• A Williams-Sonoma exclusive.

Ingredients: Sweet onions, natural roasted onion flavor, kosher salt, dehydrated roasted garlic, dijon mustard (distilled vinegar, mustard seed, salt, water, white wine, citric acid, tartaric acid, spices), extra-virgin olive oil, black pepper, brown sugar, italian flat-leaf parsley, garlic powder, worcestershire concentrate (vinegar, molasses, corn syrup, water, salt, caramel color, garlic powder, sugar, spices, tamarind, natural flavor), dehydrated onions, mustard powder, citric acid



Review:  I don't usually like to add stuff to my burgers.  Boy was I wrong...  Now I'm converted.  This product is the BOMB!  It's depth of flavor from the onion and Worcestershire sauce give it a great beefy flavor.  It just adds a zest to the burger, like a gourmet restaurant style meal.  You only need to use a very small amount per burger, so this will last a long time!  Good cost savings there.  The item prices at $10.00 for 10 oz. 

You can add it to your grilled burgers, or the ones you pan fry on the stove.  It would be excellent in meatloaf, or meatballs!  Try it with Salisbury steak too!

You HAVE to try this....I kid you not.  I'm stocking up on this baby!  I even bought one for my sister, Sue, and my mom in Tennessee.  This product is on my A list of items I use often.

Here's a pic of our 4th of July burgers where I used this.  MGG says MMMMGood!