As the heat intensifies this summer, eating or drinking something cool really hits the spot. Here’s how to make it elegant and sweet without much effort: strawberry parfait. The following recipe serves four people.
Ingredients
4 cups of sliced strawberries, divided
1/4 cup of granulated sugar
1 cup of ricotta cheese
1/2 cup (4 ounces) of cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup of powdered sugar
1 tablespoon of water
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
1 cup of amaretto cookie crumbs (about eight cookies)
1/2 cup of frozen whipped topping, thawed
2 tablespoons of slivered almonds, toasted
Optional: chocolate syrup
Directions
1. First make the puree. Put the strawberry slices and granulated sugar into a blender or food processor, and process it until it’s smooth. Set it aside.
2. Combine the ricotta, cream cheese, powdered sugar and vanilla extract in a medium bowl; stir well with a whisk.
3. Spoon two tablespoons cookie crumbs into each of four parfait glasses. Top each portion with two tablespoons of strawberry puree, 1/4 cup of strawberry slices, and three tablespoons of ricotta mixture. Then repeat the layers.
4. Drizzle the remaining strawberry puree over each serving. Chill for two hours.
5. Top each parfait with two tablespoons of whipped topping and 1 1/2 teaspoons almonds.
6. If you decide to include chocolate syrup in the recipe, drizzle it on top of each parfait.
6. Serve chilled and enjoy.
Quick tips: If you don’t like the texture of the ricotta cheese, you can substitute cream cheese and you will get a fuller taste of the parfait. Also, if you don’t have amaretto cookies, you can substitute graham crackers or shortbread cookies.
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Maria Emilce Rodriguez, or Em, as her friends and colleagues know her, has been a Staff Blogger/ Media Communications Specialist with District Media Finance Inc. since 2014. She never knew how to cook growing up, however, when she reached her 20s she developed a passion focusing on baking and even took short courses offered at Chocolate Lover Inc. She also used to sell her baked goods and bring in the food she cooked for her co-workers at her former corporate job. Nowadays, during her free time, she still hones her cooking and baking skills, testing out new recipes for her friends and family members to try.
