Strawberry and Cream Trifle

Now that summer is on its way, the cravings for fresh, light desserts are also on the rise. We all go to many a BBQ during the summer, and it’s always great to have a few easy, quick (and delicious) dessert recipes on hand.

I recently found a tasty recipe for a Strawberry and Cream trifle, courtesy of Wendy Paul (you should totally check out her website– I spent lots of time looking at all the fantastic recipes). Wendy’s book, 101 Gourmet No-Bake Desserts in a Jar—is packed full of yummy creations just perfect for the summer season. I am happy to share with you her Strawberry and Cream Trifle recipe, which I made for a Memorial Day cook-out.

strawberry trifle

Ingredients:

4 cups strawberries, rinsed (about 2 cartons)

1 quart heavy whipping cream

1 Angel Food cake

1 Tablespoon sugar     (I only used ¾ T because my berries were so sweet)

2 cups confectioner’s sugar   (again I only used 1 ½ c due to the sweetness of the berries)

 

Step 1:

Mash 1 cup of strawberries in a bowl. Sprinkle 1 Tablespoon of sugar on top, mix and refrigerate.

strawberry trifle 2

 Step 2:

Whip the cream in a mixer until stiff peaks form. Fold in 2 cups of confectioner’s sugar.

strawberry trifle 3

Step 3:

Scoop half of the cream mixture into a separate bowl. Add the mashed strawberries and mix until incorporated.

 strawberry trifle 4It was a challenge not to eat this whole thing by itself.

Step 4:

Slice up 3 cups of strawberries and add to a bowl. If you would like, sprinkle with a little sugar/toss.

 

Step 5:

Cut up the angel food cake into 1 inch cubes. I used ¾ of an angel food cake I found at the food store [yes, we New Yorkers call it food store, not grocery store :) ].

strawberry trifle 5

Step 6:

Begin to layer the trifle as follows:

Layer 1: angel food cake,

Layer 2: strawberry cream,

Layer 3: sliced strawberries,

Layer 4: plain whipped cream,

I repeated the layers a second time. Top the final whipped cream layer with a strawberry design of your liking.

Refrigerate until you are ready to serve. I had ¼ of the angel food cake leftover, in addition to some strawberries, and a small tupperware of the plain whipped cream. A nice little snack for the next night!

strawberry trifle 6People commented on how pretty the dessert was, and there was just a meager scoop left over at the end of the night!

 

 

 

 

Moss Covered Letter

Here’s another craft that I made for the bride-to-be at her shower. After the vintage garden theme was settled, I knew right away that I had to make a moss covered letter. It was the perfect fit for the theme of the shower and could also serve as home décor for the bride and groom in their new house!

Moss Covered Letter

What you need:

  • 1/4” plywood—I used leftover from my Berry T Wreath and Moss Shamrock crafts
  • Letter on paper (font of your choice)
  • Jigsaw
  • Sandpaper
  • Spray Paint- optional
  • Moss—I used sheet moss found at any craft store
  • Glue Gun
  • Burlap/ribbon

Step 1:

Choose a font for your letter. Again, since we have access to the LCD projectors at school, I used that to trace my letter onto paper. No LCD projector? Print out your letter on two pieces of paper and tape them together. Trace your letter onto your wood.

Note- I was working with a remnant piece of wood, so it was already cut into a square shape that was close to the border of my letter. You don’t want too much excess wood getting in your way as you cut.

 

Step 2:

Cut out your letter using the jigsaw. Use some sandpaper to smooth out the edges.

 

Step 3:

As with my other wood crafts, I decided to spray paint my letter in green. The moss won’t cover the sides of the letter and I wanted the wood to match.

Moss Covered Letter

Step 4:

Trace your letter onto the back of your moss sheet and carefully cut it out.

Moss Covered Letter3

Step 5:

Using your glue gun, apply your moss. Make sure you have newspaper or toweling down to catch the many pieces of shedding moss.

moss covered letter

Step 6:

Tie burlap or whatever ribbon you choose around the letter and it’s ready to hang. I think this looked just awesome on a mirror at the bridal shower.

Moss Covered LetterThis is a great craft for yourself or even as a gift!

 

 

Outfit Ideas: Food for Thought

It’s hot out, yo! Wasn’t it just a few weeks ago I shared some spring color palettes? Around here spring is very short-lived. Sneeze and you might miss it. One of my favorite things about summer is going to local farmer’s markets. I love the vibrant colors of fresh produce and the smell of perfectly ripened fruits. Sometimes a trip to the market not only provides bounty for dinner but ideas for my wardrobe as well. Here are a few of my favorite summer time eats inspired outfits.

Watermelon and mint: classic and refreshing. Who doesn’t like a tall glass of cold mint watermelon spritzer? Translate it into an outfit that is both appropriate for work and fun for a casual summer wedding. I’m a fan of cap sleeves in the summer for some arm coverage and to stay cool.

DSC01941

dress: BP old (similar, similar), sandals: Ralph Lauren old (similar, similar), necklace and belt: H&M old, bag: Target

Berry and citrus: sweet and unexpected. Orange berry popsicle anyone? I’ve had both of these pieces for a while but never thought to wear them together till recently. This outfit is comfortable for sightseeing and cute for date night.

DSC01951

top: H&M old (new colors available, similar), skirt: Loft old (similar, similar), shoes: TJ Maxx old (similar), hat:H&M, belt: H&M old (came with a dress)

Mango and cucumber: crisp and simple. Mmmmmm… mango salsa. I like to wear easy outfits on hot days. A T-shirt and an a-line skirt seem to be my summer uniform. This color combination is just so happy to look at.

DSC01947

t-shirt: Gap old (similar, similar), skirt: Boden old (similar, similar), shoes: Zara old (similar, similar), necklace: J-Crew old

What are you looking forward to now that summer is here? Do you get outfit ideas from random places like me?

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