Food

Looking for a new "cool" dessert for summertime? Perhaps you would like to make a simple parfait using fresh strawberries and blueberries. This would be an excellent dessert for your Independence Day celebration and you can make it ahead which is certainly a bonus.

Although the following recipe calls for instant pudding mix, you could always use your favorite "from scratch" pudding, if desired. My favorite flavor of pudding for this special dessert is white chocolate but French vanilla is also good.

The beauty of this dessert is that you can use almost any fresh or well-drained canned fruit you have on hand or vary the flavors of pudding to make many different versions.

If ice cream is on your 4th of July menu, perhaps you would like to serve it in homemade chocolate cups. To make the cups, melt a good grade of chocolate over warm water. Brush a thin layer of the melted chocolate inside the paper liners used for making cupcakes. Allow to harden. Continue brushing the chocolate until there is a thick layer. When it has hardened, peel away the paper. I like to make white chocolate cups but you must be very careful when melting white chocolate because if just a little water gets into it, the mixture will seize forming a hard glob of chocolate that cannot be melted. When you are ready to serve, fill each chocolate cup with your favorite ice cream.

For a miniature banana split, put a few slices of banana in the bottom of the chocolate cup, fill it with ice cream, and top it with your favorite sauce, a little whipped cream and a cherry.

If you are having a summer party, a "make your own" Sundae bar would be interesting. Let each guest prepare his or her own fantasy ice cream dessert using the chocolate cups and a variety of ice creams and toppings. The cups can also be made from butterscotch morsels, peanut butter morsels, or almond bark.

Red White and Bluebberry Parfait
Serves 10 to 12 people

1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
1 cup granulated sugar
2 beaten eggs
2 cups chopped pecans
Two packages (3 1/2 ounces each) instant white chocolate pudding mix
2 cups milk
2 cups sour cream
1 cup sliced or chopped strawberries
1 cup fresh blueberries
Whipped topping

Preheat the oven to 350. Combine the sugars, eggs, and pecans. Mix well. Line a 10-inch-by-15-inch jelly-roll pan or baking sheet with foil. Grease the foil. Spread the pecan mixture in the pan. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown. As the top begins to brown and becomes crispy, stir with a fork so that the middle will also become crunchy. Remove from oven and allow to cool to room temperature. Coarsely crumble the baked praline mixture. This can be made ahead and sealed in a plastic storage bag until ready to use.In a large bowl combine the pudding mix, milk, and sour cream. Mix well. Layer the parfaits in tall glasses (like ones used for ice cream sundaes) starting with the pecan crunch, pudding, and mixed strawberries and blueberries. Repeat. Chill for several hours. Keep refrigerated until time to serve. Just before serving, top each with a dollop of whipped topping.

How much do you know about strawberries?

True or false?

1. A cup of fresh strawberries has less than 50 calories.

2. Because strawberries are sweet, they are high in carbohydrates.

3. Strawberries are high in fiber.

4. Strawberries are high in vitamins A and C.

5. Strawberries are a good source of potassium.

Answers: 1. True. 2. False. One cup has less than 11 grams of carbohydrate. 3. False. 4. True. 5. True.