I'm not much known for having a sweet tooth, but sometimes it's fun to put something a little dessert-like together.
A few years ago I watched in queasy astonishment as one of our better-known food bloggers created a fruit pie that used two entire sticks of butter. I knew then I could whip up a treat that would be just as pleasing, just as appealing, but without all that cow grease. In fact, it would be more pleasing, at least to me.
Well, it took me this long to get around to trying my version. And I'm really happy with it.
'Tis the season, folks. Get those strawberries while you can. Rinse a couple of handfuls, pat dry, stem them, and then slice them in half lengthwise. Sprinkle them with a teaspoon or two of sugar, refrigerate, and wait. (We waited a day or two, but sooner is fine.) Grab some Greek yogurt (we always use the whole-fat kind, so, yeah, there's a bit of cow grease) and stir in a judicious (skimpy, but meaningful) amount of agave syrup or honey. Just a touch, knowing that your strawberries have been macerating and getting sweet.
OK, now, home stretch. What the heck is strawberry shortcake? Promise me you don't buy those ugly, spongy, yellow disks wrapped in cellophane at the supermarket. If you make your own biscuits for strawberry shortcake, you have my admiration. But I keep getting stuck on the word "short."
Shortbread! You know, those Lorna Doone type cookies, but superior, Scottish ones. Crumble a few and line the bottom of your parfait glasses with some crumbs. (We used juice glasses.) Now spoon in some of your yogurt, and top it with some of your berries. Repeat these layers one more time, and you have dessert.
It's bombtacular! Twerkdiculous! Reallynicetastic.
I would do this again. I AM doing it again; there are strawberries melting with a spoonful of sugar in the fridge.
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16 comments:
Ohmahgah CC, do I need to tell you how much butter is actually *in* real, homemade shortbread? The ratio is something like 1:1:1 (the other :1s being sugar and flour). [Tom made a couple of batches once: one was supposed to be a class snack for our daughter's school but--uh--most of it got eaten right after it cooled in the pan. So out came the ingredients again.] So...you simply have a sneaky love of cow grease, unless store-bought is dairy-free...
that looks sooo tasty. You are going to try to make Greek yogurt next right? hehheh
Fast an' stuff: I know, I've made shortbread. In this case, each cookie only has 100 calories, and we used three cookies for both parfaits. (One and a half each.) Yeah, there's butter in it. You can taste it. :) But a manageable amount.
Homemade Greek yogurt? Nothing to it! ~wink~
I make strawberry shortcake for PMB once a year, he's on a bit of a health kick right now, so perhaps this can replace it :D
Mouse: Oh, it's an enjoyable, easy confection. As my friend says above, it is free neither of butter nor sugar, but it's a sensible concoction. PMB might like it; if not, blame the Yank.
PS, the biscuits I mentioned are an American thing, fluffy, not sweet. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biscuit
Use the cookies.
Health kick Good.
Leave it to Cookie to cook up a delicious dessert without crazy amounts of fat. Nothin' wrong with a little richness from time to time.
And speaking of puppies, how about a Bartlett update? I've been missing hearing about that girl...
This note is from Zoomie, but it came through garbled, so I edited.
"Leave it to Cookie to cook up a delicious dessert without crazy amounts of fat. Nothin' wrong with a little richness from time to time."
Zoomie: Yeah, I'm allowed to eat a little butter now and then. :)
I am eating strawberries right now.
Chilebrown: You ever tried grilling strawberries? Sounds good, doesn't it.
Makes me think of a drink recipe I saw. Maybe a little balsamic vinegar and basil? I imagine it would make it less like dessert for a person who isn't really into sweets.
Tell ya what, Kailyn. I'm totally into balsamic vinegar with strawberries. It's sugar that bothers me (even though there's some in this parfait). But I adore the fructose in fruit. <3
A couple of years ago I did a month of pure Paleo. Now I see desserts and mostly think they are nice in theory. Usually satisfy whatever sweet tooth with fruit. And sometimes some gummi bears.
Kailyn: Wow, you did Paleo?! You must have recalibrated your taste buds.
Yes, there is a bag of gummy bears in the house. Just not an urgent thing anymore. I think I ate a pound of cherries last night. :)
When I was reentering your world the other day, I saw this pic and filed it away. Sunday night at the restaurant (I'm the chef/owner of one of those newfangledy farm-to-table-to-fork-etc kinda places), we had strawberry shortcake on as a special: Old fashioned-like, buttered toasted biscuit, good cream, berries.
Couple came in, was a special night, but they were light eaters. Comped strawberry shortcake parfait to the rescue! Toasted biscuit bits instead of shortbread cookies. They ate it all and toddled off into the night. Thanks!
Sunday Cook: Wow! Wahoo, etc.! That is such a nice story, and I'm so flattered. xxx
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