Recipes of the Month

Cupid's Strawberry Float for Valentines Day inspired by Frugal Coupon Living

Ingredients:

• Vanilla Ice Cream
• Strawberry Soda
• Whipped Cream
• Maraschino Cherries (optional)

Directions:

1. Place 2 scoops of vanilla ice cream in a glass.
2. Slowly add strawberry soda  – it will foam a lot!
3. Optionally you can add whipped cream and a cherry to the top.
4. Serve with long spoon and straw.

Fruit Salad Cutouts inspired by Shari's Berries

"We all know that fruit should be cut into bite-sized pieces. But who wants to spend all day slicing apples? Grab the right tools for the job and make quick work of the task: an apple corer, a strawberry huller and a melon baller. Small cookie cutters work great for melons and also add a decorative element to the salad.

Ideally, all your fruit will be perfectly ripe. After all, no one wants a mouthful of mushy melon and tart strawberries. If you do end up with a basket of less-than-ripe fruit you can fix it with sugar. Sugar breaks down unripe fruit making it softer and sweeter. Take this hack to another level by using mint- or vanilla-infused sugar.

Keep it fresher in a salad spinner. Fruit salad gets juicier the longer it sits. The basket of a salad spinner will let the extra liquid drain and help the fruit stay crisp when stored overnight. Toss some of the juice back into the salad just before serving for extra sweetness or save it and make vinaigrette the next day."- Shari's Berries

Healthy Fruit Heart for Valentines Day Treat 

inspired by Sassy Dealz

"I came across this beautiful fruit platter that looks like a heart for Valentine’s Day! If you or your spouse aren’t chocolate lovers, this is the perfect alternative! All you need are fresh pomegranate seeds, strawberries, and blackberries. Fill the middle with the pomegranate seeds then cut strawberries in half. Surround the outside with those lovely blackberries! Mmm it looks so good doesn’t it?! “Heart healthy” is what love is about " - Sassy Dealz

For more recipes and inspiration check out our Pinterest 

Something Sweet for Your Sweet Heart

Strawberries have become a romantic an iconic treat for Valentines day, so if you want a treat for yourself or for your sweetie here are some delicious recipes to lend some inspiration.

Strawberry Shortcake with lemon cream sauce

For the strawberry filling:

1 quart strawberries, sliced

½ cup sugar

For the shortcakes:

⅓ cup shortening

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 tbsp. sugar

3 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. salt

¾ cup milk

Additional sugar, for topping (if desired)

For the lemon cream:

½ cup lemon curd

½ cup heavy whipping cream

Mix strawberries and with the ½ cup of sugar. Let stand for at least an hour.

Preheat oven to 450°F. 

In a medium bowl, cut the shortening into the flour, 2 tbsp. sugar, baking powder and salt until the mixture looks like fine crumbs. Stir in milk just until blended.

Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Gently knead 20-25 times. Roll out into ½-in. thickness. Cut with a 3-in. floured biscuit cutter. Place shortcakes about 1-inch apart on an ungreased baking sheet. Sprinkle tops with additional sugar, if desired. Bake 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.

Place the lemon curd and heavy whipping cream in a medium bowl. Beat with an electric mixer on high speed until thickened, about 3-5 minutes.

Split shortcakes horizontally. Place shortcake bottoms on serving plates. Top with lemon cream sauce and strawberries. Replace tops. Serve immediately.

From Love Bakes Good Cakes

Strawberry Cannoli Parfaits with Pistachios

Ingredients

           1 pound of strawberries, hulled and sliced

• 3 Satsuma Oranges, freshly squeezed
• 1 cup heavy cream
• ½ cup confectioners sugar
• 1 cup ricotta
• ? cup pistachios, chopped roughly
• 1 package Amaretto D’Italia cookies (200g/7.05oz Matilde Vicenzi), crushed

Instructions

• Cut up your strawberries. Slice oranges in half and squeeze the juice over the berries. If your oranges are large you could cut this down to 2.
• Place the berries in a glass container and stick in the fridge for about 2 to 4 hours. Give it a shake every hour if you can.
• Now in a mixer combine your heavy cream and confectioners sugar. Whip until peaks form.
• Place your ricotta in a large bowl. Stir in ½ the whipped cream and mix a bit. Then add other ½ and fold it in.
• Place a layer of crushed cookies in the bottom of your glasses.
• Add a layer of strawberries.
• Add a light layer of pistachios.
• Add a layer of cannoli cream.
• Repeat steps for a second layer.
• Top with chopped pistachios.
• Add a strawberry garnish on top.
• Refrigerate for about an hour or more.
• Serve with a big old strawberry, cannoli-y, pistachio smile

from Cravings of A Lunatic 

STRAWBERRY LEMON CHEESECAKE PARFAITS

PREP TIME: 10 
Buy these simple ingredients, mix together in a large bowl, fill parfait glasses, refrigerate, and serve! You can buy a pre-made angel food cake, too!

INGREDIENTS:

2 cups heavy whipping cream
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
8 oz. container mascarpone cheese
1/2 cup lemon curd
1 lb. or more of strawberries
1 whole angel food cake

DIRECTIONS:

Whip the heavy cream on high, adding in the powdered sugar and vanilla. Add the mascarpone cheese and lightly mix.

Fold in the lemon curd.

Cut the angel food cake into pieces.

Slice the strawberries (I use an egg slicer.)

Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl. Top with more berries.

Serve cold.

Heart Healthy Articles

February is National Heart month! Here are SVO's top 5 favorite articles about having a healthy hear or helping your heart.

• Heart Disease Prevention

• Heart Healthy Foods: Recipies

• Our Top 15 Heart- Healthy Foods

• 5 Heart-Healthy Foods

• Strawberries, blueberries can boost a woman's heart health