Summers Strawberry Rose Food

SUMMER'S STRAWBERRY ROSE

Steps:

• Blend with ice until the consistency is smooth and creamy. The color should be a light pink resembling a strawberry milkshake. If not, add additional Tequila Rose and/or Strawberry Mix.
• Serve in a chilled glass with a thick straw. Garnish with fresh strawberries and whipped cream.
• **Note** Strawberry Mix can be substituted with Fresh or Frozen Strawberries and Sugar Syrup.

STRAWBERRY-ROSE GRANITA

Steps:

• Put the hulled strawberries in a bowl and set aside. Cut off and discard the tops of the 12 large strawberries and trim the bottoms so that they sit upright. Use a small melon baller to scoop out the inside of each strawberry to make a small cup, adding the scooped flesh to the bowl with the hulled strawberries. Wrap and store the berry cups in the refrigerator until ready to assemble.
• Combine the rose, sugar and bowl of strawberries and scooped flesh in a blender and blend on high until smooth. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into an 8-inch square metal pan. Freeze 3 to 4 hours, scraping the mixture with a fork every hour to make it slushy. Wrap and freeze until ready to serve. The granita can be made a day ahead and stored overnight.
• Working in batches, remove the strawberry cups from the refrigerator and fill with a spoonful of the granita, mound some more on top and top with a sprig of mint. Store the assembled granita cups in the freezer while assembling the remaining cups to prevent them from melting.

STRAWBERRY-ROSE AGUA FRESCA

Steps:

• Purée hulled strawberries, mint leaves, lime juice, agave nectar, rose water (if using), and 2 cups cold water in a blender until smooth. Transfer purée to an airtight container, cover, and chill until cold, about 1 hour.
• Skim off any foam from surface and pour purée into four 12-oz. glasses filled with ice (glasses should be about two-thirds full). Top off with club soda and garnish with mint sprigs, lime wheels, and whole strawberries.

STRAWBERRIES IN ROSE CRèME ANGLAISE

Steps:

• Put half-and-half in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to just under a simmer, then turn off heat.
• In a mixing bowl, whisk together sugar, cornstarch and egg yolks. Whisking constantly, slowly drizzle hot half-and-half into the sugar mixture, then pour the mixture back into the saucepan. Cook, whisking, over a very low heat until the mixture coats the back of the spoon, 5 to 10 minutes. (Alternatively, you can do this in a double boiler.) Remove from heat and strain sauce through a fine-mesh sieve. Cool over an ice bath, then stir in rose flower water. Serve immediately, or refrigerate until ready to serve. (Crème anglaise can be made up to 2 days in advance.)
• To serve, place strawberries in a bowl and sprinkle with confectioners' sugar, tasting as you go until the berries are your preferred sweetness. If you like, add 2 or 3 drops of the rose flower water to the berries.
• Pour ½ cup sauce into shallow dessert bowls. Spoon berries over. Garnish with rose petals, if using.