Strawberry Almond Cream Cheese Food

HEAVENLY FILLED STRAWBERRIES

Steps:

• Remove stems from strawberries; cut a deep "X" in the tip of each berry. Gently spread berries open., In a small bowl, beat the cream cheese, confectioners' sugar and extract until light and fluffy. Pipe or spoon about 2 teaspoons into each berry; if desired, sprinkle with chocolate. Chill until serving.

STRAWBERRY ALMOND POUND CAKE

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream together the granulated sugar and butter. Add the eggs 1 at a time, mixing after each addition. Add the sour cream and almond extract and mix to combine. Turn the mixer to low and gradually add the flour and salt and mix until well combined, scraping the bowl. Fold in the sliced strawberries.
• For the topping: Combine the brown sugar, flour, butter and salt in a medium bowl and cut together using 2 knives or a pastry cutter until it resembles crumbs. Mix in the almonds.
• Generously butter a 10-inch cast-iron skillet. Pour the batter into the skillet and even out the surface. Press the remaining halved strawberries into the surface of the batter cut-side down, leaving them mostly exposed. Scatter the crumble over the top of the batter. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center does not come out totally clean but isn't wet with batter either, about 1 hour. Let the cake sit in the skillet for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, make the glaze.
• For the glaze: Whisk together the confectioners' sugar and lemon juice. Using a fork or whisk, drizzle over the cake. Serve directly out of the skillet.

STRAWBERRIES WITH CREAM CHEESE FILLING

Steps:

• Cut a thin slice from the stem end of each strawberry, allowing the berries to stand upright on flattened end.
• Place berries, cut side down, on a serving platter.
• Cut each berry carefully into 4 wedges, cutting almost to, but not through, bottoms.
• Fan wedges just slightly, taking care not to break; set berries aside.
• In a mixing bowl, beat together the cream cheese, confectioners' sugar, and almond extract until light and fluffy.
• Gently fold in grated chocolate.
• Spoon mixture into a decorating bag fitted with a large decorative tip.
• Press cream cheese mixture into center of each berry. Cover and chill until ready to serve.

STRAWBERRY ALMOND CREAM CHEESE

Steps:

• Place almond paste in a food processor; process until almond paste is very finely ground.
• Add cream cheese and powdered sugar; process just until blended (do not over-process or mixture will be too thin).
• Add strawberries; process just until blended.
• Cover and chill at least 1 hour.

FRESH STRAWBERRIES WITH ALMOND CREME ANGLAISE

Steps:

• Put chopped almonds in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Cook, shaking pan occasionally, until fragrant and beginning to toast, about 3 minutes.
• Add milk, cream, sugar and egg yolks, and whisk well to combine. Cook, whisking almost constantly, until mixture thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon. Do not let it boil.
• While sauce is still hot, strain it through a sieve and let cool a bit. To serve, put a cup of strawberries in each dish, drizzle with warm sauce and garnish with slivered almonds. Sauce will keep, tightly covered, in refrigerator for up to 3 days.

STRAWBERRY AND ALMOND CREAM PARFAIT

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, whisk together sugar, flour and egg yolks until thick and smooth, 3 to 5 minutes.
• In a medium pot, bring the milk and vanilla bean to a gentle boil. Pour about half of the milk mixture over the eggs whisking constantly. Pour the whole mix back into the pot and place the pot back over low heat, stirring with a wooden spoon, until the mixture thickens, 3 to 5 minutes. Note: you must stir this mixture constantly, scraping the bottom as you stir, so the flour doesn't stick to the bottom and burn.
• Remove the pot from the stove and whisk in the marzipan. Pour the mixture onto a baking sheet lined with plastic wrap and cover it with a coating of plastic wrap. Place the tray in the refrigerator to cool.
• In a medium skillet over low heat, melt the granulated sugar. Spray a tray with a light coating of nonstick spray. Spray the end of a wooden spoon as well. When the sugar turns light brown, add the almonds and stir to coat them with the sugar. Spoon the almonds on to the baking sheet and sprinkle lightly with salt.
• When the almond cream has cooled, remove and discard the vanilla bean and place the pastry cream in a medium bowl. Whisk until it is smooth. In another medium bowl, toss the strawberries and brown sugar together.
• Place 4 to 6 glasses on a flat surface. Begin by spooning a thin layer of almond cream in the bottom of each. Sprinkle with a few almonds. Add a layer of the whipped cream. Top with a layer of strawberries. Repeat the layers until the glasses are full. Refrigerate for a while before serving or enjoy immediately.

STRAWBERRY CREAM CHEESE TART

Steps:

• For Crust: Preheat oven to 325°F.
• Place butter in mixer and beat with paddle until soft and light.
• Gradually beat in sugar.
• Beat 5-10 minutes until the mixture is very light and whitened.
• Mix flour in gradually until completely mixed. Don't over beat.
• Gather dough and wrap in plastic wrap.
• Refrigerate about 30 minutes.
• Roll out dough, place a large spring form pan upside down in the middle of the dough and cut roughly ½ inch out from pan.
• Place cookie dough inside pan and bake for 15 minutes.
• Cream Cheese Filling: With wire whisk attachment beat soften cream cheese at highest speed until completely smooth and fluffy.
• Add sugar and vanilla.
• Beat for about 5 more minutes.
• Spread filling on crust, the crust does not have to be completely cooled.
• I start the filling when I pull the crust out of the oven.
• Now cover the top with sliced strawberries.
• Do not add sugar to the strawberries because it makes it to watery.
• Chill and serve!

STRAWBERRY AND CREAM CHEESE PARFAIT

Steps:

• In a bowl, with an electric mixer, mix cream cheese and 3 tablespoon of sugar for 2 minutes or until it's creamy. Add yogurt and mix until the mixture is homogeneous.
• Put strawberries in a large bowl. Add remaining sugar and stir delicately to coat well. Let rest for 5 minutes at room temperature (stir one time).
• In 6 parfait glasses of a capacity of 1 cup each, distribute half the mixture of cream cheese, half of strawberries and half of almond cookies. Repeat with remaining ingredients. Cover with a plastic wrap and put in the fridge for 2 hours. When ready to serve, garnish with roasted almonds.

STRAWBERRY CREAM CHEESE BREAD

Steps:

• With electric mixer cream butter, sugar and cream cheese until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time. Mix in vanilla.
• In separate bowl, mix flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Blend flour mixture with butter mixture just until blended. Add half 'n half and only stir just to blend -- do not overstir!
• Drain strawberries and blot dry. Carefully just fold in strawberries and nuts. Dough mixture will be thick.
• Grease and flour a 9x5 inch loaf pan. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 50 to 60 minutes. Let bread mellow for one day and then serve.