A New Way to Pick Berries and some Patriotic Strawberries

We always look forward to seeing Bob from UTM come by many times during the season.  He brings his dogs, and....his boat???  Last year, it was truly apropos when he showed up with his boat - 2011 was the year of the floods - rain, rain, and more rain.  Naturally, I took a picture of him with his berries in his boat - and then I lost it.  But, thank goodness, he showed up with his boat again this year!  Glad he didn't bring the floods with him this year :)

Bob, his boat, and berries

File this beautiful strawberry recipe for use on the Fourth of July - they're sure to be a hit!

Red, White and Blue Chocolate Dipped Strawberries 

1 pint fresh strawberries (approx 12 oz)
4-oz white chocolate
Blue sanding sugar or sprinkles

Line a baking sheet or cutting board with wax paper or parchment paper. Chop up the chocolate roughly with a knife if it is in block form. In a medium-sized, microwave safe bowl, melt the chocolate in the microwave. Heat it in 45 or 60-second intervals, stirring between each time to ensure that the chocolate is melting evenly and not burning. Meanwhile, place blue sanding sugar into a small bowl and set it aside. When chocolate is smooth, dip the berries 3/4 of the way into the chocolate, dip the tips into the blue sprinkles, and place on wax paper. Berries can set at room temperature if you live somewhere cool, otherwise refrigerate them until ready to serve to allow the chocolate to set up.

Here's Hope! (but no change) AND something special for Moms

Nope, this is NOT a political blog (except for the title)!  We just thought this was a very pretty picture of Hope - who picks BEAUTIFUL strawberries - and her buckets.   Lovely symmetry, isn't it? 

There's Hope at the end of her row  - she picked a zillion more berries than I ever could :)

Wouldn't these be wonderfully yummy for Mother's Day?  You can check out her blog for more pictures.  Just cut off the top and hollow out the strawberry a tiny bit. 

 

Chocolate Cream Filling (from Taste of Home)

• 1-1/2 ounces semisweet chocolate, grated, divided
• 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup whipped topping

Directions

• Set aside 2 tablespoons chocolate. In a microwave, melt remaining chocolate; stir until smooth. Cool to room temperature.
• In a small bowl, beat cream cheese and vanilla until smooth. Beat in melted chocolate. Fold in whipped topping and 1 tablespoon reserved chocolate. Cut a small hole in the corner of pastry or plastic bag; insert #21 star pastry tip. Fill the bag with cream cheese mixture.
•  Pipe cream cheese mixture into strawberries. (Star #21 tip makes them really pretty)

This recipe will make over 3 dozen strawberries.

Top with whipped cream.   You can slice off a bit of the tip so they will stand upright on a fancy plate.   Enjoy them for me (still trying to get to my next 10% weight loss)!