Photo Credit: Leanne Gallaway
One of the great things about college is that “summer” starts a little earlier than ever before. It is likely you will be celebrating Memorial Day after your final exams and you don’t need to tell us twice a double celebration is in order. Take a little time off with friends and family to treat yourself to thesehomemade desserts, adopted from the Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook (2006).
Strawberry Shortcakes
Simple and patriotic, this classy favorite is a guaranteed crowd pleaser.
Ingredients:
• 1 ½ cups flour
• ¼ cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon baking soda
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup cold butter
•1 egg
• ½ cup dairy sour cream
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 5 cups strawberries, sliced
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• Whipped cream, to taste
Directions:
1. Heat oven to 400 °F and lightly grease your baking sheet
2. First, in a medium mixing bowl, combine flour, ¼ cup of the sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
3. Cut in butter until ingredients form coarse crumbs.
4. In a small mixing bowl combine egg, sour cream and milk.
5. Stir egg mixture into flour mixture with a fork until just moistened.
6. Drop dough onto 8 mounds and bake 12-15 minutes or until golden brown
7. While cakes cool, combine 4 cups of strawberries with the remaining sugar. Mash berries slightly and set aside.
8. Split cooled shortcakes in half, fill with strawberry mixture and whipped cream.
9. Finally, top with remaining strawberries, and for a red, white and blue twist, some fresh blueberries or blackberries as well.
Photo Credit: Leanne Gallaway
Chocolate Fondue
If you’re throwing a party, nothing gets people mingling more than chatting around a fountain of melted chocolate.
Ingredients:
• 8 ounces semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
• 1 14-ounce can (1 ¼ cups) sweetened condensed milk
• 1/3 cup milk
• Assorted fruit and marshmallows for dipping
Directions:
1. To begin, melt chocolate over low heat in a medium mixing bowl.
2. Next, stir in sweetened condensed milk and 1/3 cup milk and heat through.
3. Transfer to a fondue pot, making sure to keep the mixture warm.
4. Serve immediately and swirl as you dip. Additional milk can be added if sauce begins to thicken.
Photo Credit: Leanne Gallaway
Meringue Shells with Fruit
If you need a break from heavy, filling desserts, try these sweet and crunchy shells filled with healthy yogurt and tart fruit. Keep with the red, white and blue theme by using strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries or go a more unique route and serve with kiwifruit, peeled and sliced.
Ingredients:
• 2 egg whites
• ½ teaspoon vanilla
• 1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar
• ½ cup sugar
• 1 ½ cups vanilla or lemon yogurt
• Assorted bite-sized fruit of your choice
Directions:
1. First, preheat oven to 300° F. Let egg whites stand at room temperature for half an hour, while you line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or foil. Draw six 3-to-4 inch circles three inches apart on your lining.
2. In a medium mixing bowl, beat egg whites, vanilla, and cream of tartar on medium speed until soft peaks form.
3. Add sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, and beat on high until peaks turn stiff and stand straight. Sugar should be almost dissolved.
4. Spread meringue mixture over circles on paper, building up the sides to form little cups.
5. Bake for 35 minutes. Turn off oven and let meringues dry in oven with door closed for an hour. Then, lift off paper and cool completely on wire rack.
6. Lastly, spoon yogurt into shells and top with the fruit mixture of your choice.
Photo Credit: Leanne Gallaway
Cream Puffs
After all that note-taking this year, give your hands a break and indulge in some finger food. This recipe makes 12 cream puffs, so you can share or keep them all to yourself for later.
Ingredients:
• 1 cup water
• ½ cup butter
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 4 eggs
• 3 cups whipped cream, pudding or ice cream
• Powdered sugar, optional
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 400° F and grease a baking sheet.
2. In a medium saucepan, mix water, butter and salt. Bring to a boil.
3. Next, add flour all at once and stir vigorously. Continue heating and stirring until mixture forms a ball then remove from heat.
4. After cooling for 10 minutes, add eggs one at a time, stirring after each addition until well combined.
5. Drop 12 heaping tablespoons of the dough onto baking sheet and bake for 30-35 minutes or until firm and brown.
6. Once cool, cut tops off from puffs and remove the soft dough from inside. Fill with whipped cream, pudding, or ice cream and replace tops. Sprinkle with powdered sugar if desired.
Homemade Ice Cream
It’s hard to find a co-ed who doesn’t crave a simple scoop of creamy ice cream now and then. Make this recipe your own with Memorial Day sprinkles, fruit pieces, candies, or even edible decorations from a specialty store.
Ingredients:
• 4 cups half-and-half, light cream, or milk
• 1 ½ cups sugar
• 1 tablespoon vanilla
• 2 cups whipping cream
Directions:
1. First, in a large bowl combine half- and- half, sugar and vanilla. Stir until sugar dissolves.
2. Stir in whipping cream and freeze in a 4 or 5-quart ice cream freezer according to package directions.
If you’re not rebellious enough to play hooky but want to walk on the wild side, dissolve 2 tablespoons of instant coffee crystals in the ice cream mixture and enjoy for breakfast!
How do you plan to make these Memorial Desserts your own?
Photo Credit: Leanne Gallaway
