Strawberries And Cream Panini Sticks Food

STRAWBERRIES ON STICKS

Steps:

• Thread 3 berries on each soaked wooden skewer. Braai (grill) for 3 to 4 minutes, turning until charred and slightly soft.

PARMESAN CHICKEN STICKS

Steps:

• Lay the chicken breasts on a cutting board and slice each diagonally into 4 or 5 large strips.
• Combine the flour, salt, and pepper on a dinner plate. Beat the eggs with 1 tablespoon of water on a second plate. Combine the breadcrumbs and Parmesan on a third plate. Dredge the chicken breasts on both sides in the flour mixture, then dip both sides into the egg mixture and roll in the bread-crumb mixture, pressing lightly to coat.
• Heat 1 tablespoon of butter and 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large saute pan and cook the chicken strips on medium-low heat for about 3 minutes on each side, until just cooked through. Don't crowd the pan. Add more butter and oil and cook the rest of the chicken breasts. Serve each strip on a skewer or stick.
• You can keep the chicken breasts warm for about 15 minutes on a sheet pan in a preheated 200 degree F oven.

STRAWBERRY POCKY STICK CAKE

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Generously butter and flour two 8-inch round cake pans. Line the pans with parchment paper circles, then butter the parchment.
• Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and fine salt in a medium bowl and set aside.
• Beat the butter and granulated sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until pale yellow and fluffy, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition and scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Reduce the mixer speed to low and mix in the buttermilk and vanilla until just combined, about 1 minute. Slowly add the flour mixture and mix until just combined.
• Divide the batter between the prepared cake pans. Bake the cakes until golden on top and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 40 to 45 minutes. Let them cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a cooling rack to cool completely, about 2 hours.
• For the frosting: Meanwhile, beat the confectioners' sugar, butter, milk, kosher salt and strawberry extract if using in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, scraping the sides as needed, about 5 minutes.
• Add 1 cup of frosting to each of 2 different bowls. Use the red gel food coloring to color one bowl of frosting the same color as the strawberry sticks. Color the second bowl of frosting slightly lighter than the first one. Cover all 3 bowls tightly with plastic wrap until ready to use, pressing the wrap against the frosting.
• Assemble the cake: Cut each cake in half widthwise with a serrated knife so that you have 4 cake layers that are the same height. Place one cake layer onto a cake stand and spread with the dark pink frosting, then top with another cake layer. Spread the light pink frosting over the top of that layer and top with a third cake layer. Spread 1 cup of white frosting over the top of that layer and top with the last cake layer. Cover the top and sides of the cake with the remaining white frosting.
• Arrange the biscuit sticks vertically around the cake, side by side so they are touching, with the pink ends facing down. Entirely cover the top of the cake with the sprinkles and serve.

STRAWBERRY (OR ANY BERRY REALLY) PUFF PASTRY BRAID

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Using an electric mixer, whip the cream cheese and sour cream in a small bowl until fluffy. Add the granulated sugar and whip until well combined, making sure there are no lumps. Reserve for later use.
• Beat the egg and 1 tablespoon water in a small bowl with a fork.
• Unfold 1 pastry sheet on a lightly floured flat surface. Roll the pastry into a 14-by-12-inch rectangle. Spoon half of the cream cheese mixture lengthwise down the center of the pastry. Cut slits 1 inch apart from the 2 sides of the pastry rectangle within 1/2 inch of the cream cheese mixture. Arrange half of the strawberries down the center of the pastry on top of the cream cheese mixture. Starting at one end, fold the pastry strips over the strawberries on a diagonal, alternating sides, to cover the strawberries. Repeat the entire process with the remaining pastry sheet, cream cheese filling and strawberries. Brush the pastries very lightly with the egg wash (otherwise they won't rise). Sprinkle with the demerara sugar and top with pistachios.
• Bake until golden brown, 30 minutes. Let cool on a rack for about 20 minutes before serving.