Strawberry-Cream Cheese Stuffed French Toast

Ingredients
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar
8 ounces cream cheese
12 slices white bread
1 cup sliced fresh strawberries
Butter, for cooking
Maple syrup, for serving
Strawberry Syrup, for serving, recipe follows
Confectioners' sugar, for serving


Directions
In a small bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, and granulated sugar. Spread the cream cheese on half of the bread slices and top with strawberries. Top with the remaining 6 bread slices and press around the edges to seal.


Melt butter on a griddle over medium-low heat. Dip the sandwiches in the egg mixture for a few seconds on each side. Cook the sandwiches until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Serve with maple syrup, Strawberry Syrup, or confectioners' sugar.


Strawberry Syrup:
3 cups sliced strawberries
1 cup granulated sugar
Zest and juice of 1 lemon
In a medium saucepan, combine all the ingredients and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer until the strawberries are soft and the syrup is thickened and reduced by 1/3 to 1/2 in volume, 15 to 18 minutes.


Remove from the heat and let cool to room temperature before serving.


Cook's Note: If a thinner syrup is desired, strain the hot syrup through a fine mesh strainer into a clean container and let cool.


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Fruit Salad with Cream Cheese-Pecan Topping

Ingredients
2 cups fresh blueberries
1 cup fresh blackberries
2 cups cubed cantaloupe
2 cups halved green grapes
2 cups sliced fresh strawberries
1 starfruit, sliced
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
1/2 cup chopped pecans


Directions
In a serving bowl, combine the blueberries, blackberries, cantaloupe, grapes, strawberries, and starfruit.


In a medium bowl, beat the cream cheese and lemon juice at medium-low speed with an electric mixer until smooth.


In a separate medium bowl, beat the heavy cream at medium-high speed with an electric mixer until slightly thickened. Gradually add the confectioners' sugar, beating until soft peaks form. Gently fold into the cream cheese mixture; spread over the fruit. Sprinkle with chopped pecans. Serve immediately.


SOURCE

Mocha Fondue

Ingredients
3/4 cup heavy whipping cream
1 pound semisweet chocolate, chopped
1/4 cup coffee-flavored liqueur


Directions
Dippers: Biscotti, strawberries, pineapple chunks, bananas


In a heavy saucepan, bring whipping cream to a boil. Remove from heat and add chocolate, stirring until smooth. Stir into a fondue pot, add liqueur, and keep warm over low heat. Serve with desired dippers.


SOURCE

Tropical Fruit Smoothie

Ingredients
1 (16-ounce) package frozen strawberries, mangoes, and peaches
1 (8-ounce) can guava nectar
Fresh strawberries, for garnish


Directions
In the container of a blender, combine the frozen fruit and guava nectar; process until smooth. Garnish each serving with a fresh strawberry.

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Strawberry Smoothies

Fresh Fruit Tart

Ingredients

Crust:

• 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, softened and sliced

Filling:

• 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Topping:

• Fresh strawberries, kiwi slices, blueberries, raspberries

Glaze:

• 1 (6-ounce) can frozen limeade concentrate, thawed
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• Whipped cream, for garnish

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

For the crust: In a food processor, combine the confectioners' sugar, flour, and butter, and process until the mixture forms a ball. With your fingers, press the dough into a 12-inch tart pan with a removable bottom, taking care to push the crust into the indentations in the sides. Pat until the crust is even. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until very lightly browned. Set aside to cool.

For the filling and topping: Beat the cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla together until smooth. Spread over the cooled crust. Cut the strawberries into 1/4-inch slices and arrange around the edge of the crust. For the next circle, use kiwi slices. Add another circle of strawberries, filling in any spaces with blueberries. Cluster the raspberries in the center of the tart.

For the glaze: Combine the limeade, cornstarch, lime juice, and sugar in a small saucepan and cook over medium heat until clear and thick, about 2 minutes. Let cool. With a pastry brush, glaze the entire tart. You will not use all of the glaze.

Keep the tart in the refrigerator. Remove about 15 minutes before serving. Slice into 8 wedges and serve with a dollop of whipped cream.

SOURCE

Tarts

Fresh Fruit Salad with Creamy Custard

Ingredients

• 6 kiwis, peeled and chopped
• 2 ripe mangoes, peeled, cored, and sliced
• 1 melon, peeled, cored, and chopped
• 1 quart strawberries, hulled and quartered
• 1 quart blackberries
• 1/2 quart blueberries

Custard:

• 1 1/2 cups whole milk
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 6 large egg yolks
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the fruit:

• Place fruit into a large bowl and toss together.

For the custard:

Directions

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, whisk milk and sugar constantly.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the egg yolks. Slowly incorporate the hot milk into the egg mixture. Return the mixture to the saucepan. Heat the custard over low heat about 5 minutes or until thickened slightly, stirring constantly. (It should be thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. Do not let the mixture come to a simmer or the eggs will curdle.)

Remove from heat and melt the butter into custard. Add vanilla. Immediately strain the custard into a small bowl. Place in refrigerator to cool.

Drizzle over fruit and serve.

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Custard

Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon cocoa powder
• 1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
• 1 cup buttermilk, room temperature
• 2 large eggs, room temperature
• 2 tablespoons red food coloring
• 1 teaspoon white distilled vinegar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Cream Cheese Frosting:

• 1 pound cream cheese, softened
• 2 sticks butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 4 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
• Chopped pecans and fresh raspberries or strawberries, for garnish

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 (12-cup) muffin pans with cupcake papers.

In a medium mixing bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder. In a large bowl gently beat together the oil, buttermilk, eggs, food coloring, vinegar, and vanilla with a handheld electric mixer. Add the sifted dry ingredients to the wet and mix until smooth and thoroughly combined.

Divide the batter evenly among the cupcake tins about 2/3 filled. Bake in oven for about 20 to 22 minutes, turning the pans once, half way through. Test the cupcakes with a toothpick for doneness. Remove from oven and cool completely before frosting.

For the Cream Cheese Frosting:

In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, butter and vanilla together until smooth. Add the sugar and on low speed, beat until incorporated. Increase the speed to high and mix until very light and fluffy.

Garnish with chopped pecans and a fresh raspberry or strawberry.

Cook's Note: Frost the cupcakes with a butter knife or pipe it on with a big star tip.

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Cupcake