Mascarpone Filled Fresh Strawberries Food

STRAWBERRIES FILLED WITH "CLOTTED" CREAM

Steps:

• Combine the mascarpone, heavy cream, sugar, vanilla extract and vanilla seeds in the bowl of a stand mixer and whip until soft peaks form. Using a rubber spatula, scrape the mixture into a pastry bag fitted with a star tip.
• Stand the strawberries upright on a platter. If the bottoms are too wobbly to stand, slice off the green stems. With a small sharp knife, cut an "X" in each strawberry, cutting almost to the bottom. (The cut should be such that the strawberry will open up but not fall apart.) With your fingertips, gently spread each strawberry apart to make "petals."
• With a spoon, carefully fill each strawberry with a dollop of cream. Serve immediately.

BALSAMIC STRAWBERRIES WITH WHIPPED MASCARPONE CHEESE

Steps:

• Combine vinegar, 2 teaspoons sugar, and lemon juice in heavy small saucepan. Stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves. Boil until syrup is reduced to scant 1/4 cup, about 3 minutes. Transfer to small bowl; cool completely. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)
• Combine mascarpone, cream, vanilla, and 2 tablespoons sugar in medium bowl. Whisk until thick soft peaks form. Cover and refrigerate up to 4 hours.
• Combine berries and remaining 2 tablespoons sugar in large bowl; drizzle with balsamic syrup and toss to blend. Let stand 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Divide berries and syrup among 6 goblets. Top with mascarpone mixture.
• *Italian cream cheese, available at Italian markets and many supermarkets.

MASCARPONE-FILLED FRESH STRAWBERRIES

Steps:

• Using larger strawberries, trim tops and bottoms of strawberries to level. Using small melon baller, scoop out center of each strawberry.
• In medium bowl, mix cheese, powdered sugar, milk and extract until smooth. Spoon cheese mixture into small resealable food freezer plastic bag or pastry bag fitted with star tip; seal bag. Cut small hole in bottom corner of plastic bag. Squeeze bag to pipe cheese mixture into strawberries; top with almonds.

STRAWBERRY AND MASCARPONE FILLED CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Special equipment: 1 muffin tin
• Make the cupcakes according to package instructions. Lightly grease the muffin tin and fill the batter almost to the rim of each muffin cup. Bake according to package directions and let cool.
• In a food processor combine the mascarpone cheese, strawberries, 1/4 cup sugar, and lemon juice. Process the mixture until smooth. Transfer the strawberry mixture to a pastry bag fitted with a small tip. Push the tip gently into the bottom of a cupcake and squeeze in the strawberry mixture until the cupcake plumps. Continue with the remaining cupcakes.
• In a small saucepan bring the 1/2 cup sugar, water, and vanilla extract to a simmer over medium heat. Simmer until the sugar is dissolved. In a medium bowl combine the vanilla syrup with the confectioner's sugar. Stir until smooth. Working quickly, use a rubber spatula spread the icing on the top of the cupcakes. If the icing begins to firm up, place in the microwave for a few seconds to warm up again.

STRAWBERRY MASCARPONE TART WITH PORT GLAZE

Steps:

• Make tart shell:
• Blend together flour, sugar, salt, and butter in a bowl with your fingertips or a pastry blender (or pulse in a food processor) just until mixture resembles coarse meal with some roughly pea-size butter lumps. Beat together yolk, vanilla, lemon juice, and water with a fork, then drizzle over flour mixture and stir with fork (or pulse) until mixture comes together.
• Gently knead with floured hands on a lightly floured surface until a dough forms, then gently knead 4 or 5 times. Press into a 5-inch disk. Place in center of tart pan and cover with plastic wrap. Using your fingers and bottom of a flat-bottomed measuring cup, spread and push dough to evenly cover bottom and side of pan. Prick bottom of tart shell all over with a fork and freeze until firm, about 10 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 375°F with rack in middle.
• Line tart shell with foil and fill with pie weights. Bake until side is set and edge is pale golden, about 20 minutes. Carefully remove foil and weights and continue to bake until shell is deep golden all over, about 20 minutes more. Cool in pan, about 45 minutes.
• Make filling while tart shell cools:
• Stir together strawberries and granulated sugar in a bowl and let stand, stirring occasionally, 30 minutes. Strain in a sieve set over a small saucepan, reserving berries. Add Port to liquid in saucepan and boil until reduced to about 1/4 cup, 10 to 15 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl to cool slightly.
• Meanwhile, whisk together mascarpone, confectioners sugar, lemon juice, zest, vanilla, and a pinch of salt until stiff.
• Assemble tart:
• Spread mascarpone mixture evenly in cooled tart shell, then top with strawberries. Drizzle Port glaze all over tart.

STRAWBERRY MASCARPONE CREPES

Steps:

• In a blender, combine the batter ingredients; cover and process until smooth. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour., Meanwhile, for filling, in a small bowl, combine the cheese, confectioners' sugar, basil and lemon juice. Gently fold in strawberries. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. , For topping, in a small bowl, combine the strawberries, sugar, orange juice, extract and salt. Let stand for 30 minutes. , Melt 1 teaspoon butter in an 8-in. nonstick skillet over medium heat; pour about 1/4 cup batter into the center of skillet. Lift and tilt pan to coat bottom evenly. Cook until top appears dry; turn and cook 15-20 seconds longer. Remove to a wire rack. Repeat with remaining batter, greasing skillet as needed. When cool, stack crepes with waxed paper or paper towels in between., Spoon filling over crepes; roll up. Serve with strawberry topping.