Spring Entertaining
Southern Socials
Strawberry Shortcake Trifle
Trifle is a classic English dessert with basic components consisting of vanilla custard, sherry soaked sponge cake, fruit, jam & sweetened whipped cream. Southerners made it their own decades ago by using pound cake with variations that include orange liqueur, assorted seasonal fruits, chocolate & coffee infused creations. Although classically prepared in a footed trifle bowl, they can be layered in just about anything large or small. One of the benefits of serving guests Strawberry Shortcake Trifle when entertaining is that the presentation automatically makes it a conversation piece as it is the distinctive layers in the glass that make it so pretty. Macerated Strawberries topped with Vanilla Pastry Cream & tiny cubes of Buttermilk Pound Cake leave enough space to repeat them for an eye-appealing look. Placing the Chantilly Cream in a piping bag finishes the dessert flawlessly when garnished over the surface. Whether it’s two or twenty five, it’s effortless to make as many as needed.
Strawberry Shortcake Trifle
makes 1 serving
1/2 cup Macerated Strawberries
6 Tbsp Vanilla Pastry Cream
1/3 cup Buttermilk Pound Cake, cut into a 1/4-inch dice
Chantilly Cream
Garnish: Fresh mint sprigs
Prepare the Macerated Strawberries, the Vanilla Pastry Cream & the Buttermilk Pound Cake as directed. Layer half of the strawberry mixture in the bottom of an 8-oz glass. Top with half of the pastry cream & all of the pound cake spreading each addition into an even layer. Repeat the procedure with the remaining strawberry mixture & the pastry cream. Prepare as many desserts as desired. Cover the surface directly with plastic wrap. Chill 1 hour or up to one day ahead of time. Prepare the Chantilly Cream as directed. Remove the plastic wrap from the dessert. Top with the sweetened whipped cream & garnish as desired.
Classic Buttermilk Pound Cake
makes 16 servings
1 1/2 cups butter, softened
3 cups sugar
5 eggs, room temperature
2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
2 tsp vanilla extract
3 cups all purpose flour
1 cup whole buttermilk
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Grease & flour 1 {10-inch} tube pan or 2 {9-x 5-inch} loaf pans. Cream the butter & the sugar with an electric stand mixer on Medium speed until light & fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time & mix until well blended. Add the lemon juice & the vanilla. Blend in the flour alternately with the buttermilk, mixing on Low speed. Spoon the batter evenly into the prepared pan. Bake 1 hour & 15 minutes to 1 hour & 25 minutes or until a long wooden pick tests clean when inserted into the center of the cake. Cool the cake in the pan for 10 minutes. Run a small palate knife between the cake & the pan edge. Remove the cake from the pan. Cool completely on a wire rack.
Vanilla Pastry Cream
makes 3 cups
3/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup cornstarch
1/4 tsp kosher salt
2 1/2 cups whole milk
4 egg yolks
1 Tbsp pure vanilla extract
2 Tbsp butter
Whisk together the sugar, the cornstarch & the salt in a 3 1/2-quart saucepan. Whisk in the whole milk. Add the egg yolks & blend well. Cook, stirring with a whisk, over Medium heat about 6 minutes. The mixture will thicken & begin a slow bubble. Reduce the heat to Low & cook an additional 1 minute. Remove from the heat. Add the vanilla & the butter allowing it to melt. Whisk the mixture until smooth & pass through a chinois or fine wire mesh sieve set over a bowl. Discard the solids. Spread the pastry cream over a 13 x 9-inch quarter sheet pan & place plastic wrap directly over the surface. Chill 1 hour. Use as directed in specific recipe applications.
Macerated Strawberries
makes about 2 cups
1 {16-oz} container strawberries, rinsed & hulled
2 1/2 Tbsp sugar
1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
Slice or quarter the strawberries & place in a medium bowl. Sprinkle them with the sugar & add the lemon juice. Toss the strawberries using a spoon to coat well. Let stand 10 minutes. Use as directed.
Chantilly Cream
makes about 2 cups
1 cup whipping cream
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Combine all of the ingredients in a large bowl with tall sides. Beat the mixture starting on Low using a hand mixer. Gradually increase the speed to High. Beat until soft, billowy peaks form. Do not over whip. Use the sweetened whipped cream right away.
FROM THE SOUTHERN HOSTESS OF BUTTERMILK LIPSTICK
{helpful advice}
How To Hull Strawberries
Strawberries are a versatile fruit as they can star in dessert favorites or be used to accent side dishes, salads, beverages, breakfast classics & so much more. When preparing a bowl of fresh fruit, strawberries most certainly brighten the mix by adding comforting taste & texture. Once strawberries have been cleaned & dried, they will need to be hulled.
The Technique
Pick up the strawberry & use a sharp paring knife to remove the stem. Insert the tip at a slight angle & turn the berry whilst you cut around the green portion. Once complete, the stem should be removed as well as a good bit of the sour, white portion of it. Complete this technique for the remaining strawberries. Trim the ends, if desired, then slice them to prepare the Macerated Strawberries.
The Tune
“Here Comes The Sun” Nina Simone
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Be sweet.
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