Hey guys! I hope everyone is enjoying the day. @dksart and I made another trek down to the farm to pick more strawberries today, so I'm a happy gal. They were doing buy 2 get 1 gallon free, so we loaded up big time! It's amazing what one week's difference in time can have on not only the amount of strawberries ripe, but also the taste. Last weeks were delicious, however this weeks are absolutely heavenly! Now I just have to work my way through all of them since this lot will turn faster if I don't put them to good use soon!
Speaking of good use, I rarely make desserts when my family gets together but with all of the strawberries I offered to put one on the table for Easter dinner. The good thing about making one myself is that I can keep it vegan and a bit healthier. I don't mind indulging on occasion, but it is nice when you can make something that tastes absolutely divine without any junk added to it! Between comments and ideas from all my pals on here, a trifle sounded like a fun and show-stopping finisher to the meal. I think this one is a fantastic item to bring to @qurator's Tasty Tuesday party, as well.
I decided to use a recipe from one of my favorite bloggers as a base. Vegan Richa has some amazing Indian recipes in her cookbooks and blog, however I also tend to have really good luck using her baking recipes, as well. I had made this vegan lemon pound cake of hers previously, so I knew it would come out perfectly! I just omitted the berries in the loaf since I was loading up the final product with both fresh and macerated strawberries. I figured two would do the trick!
Another component that totally made the dish was this cashew cream from our very own queen of #fruitsandveggiesmonday, @lenasveganliving. Oh my goodness Lena, I could have just about eaten the whole batch! From just soaked cashews, coconut milk, a splash of vanilla and maple syrup came the most creamy, decadent layer that perfectly complemented the tart berries and dense pound cake. Yes, I licked the spoon when I was done. Don't worry @nickyhavey, I promise I didn't share my spit with my family. 😉
To put it all together I layered half of the pound cake after chopping it in cubes, half of my macerated strawberries (chopped and left in the refrigerator overnight with just a few tablespoons of coconut sugar and a drizzled of blackberry balsamic vinegar), and half of the cream. Then I repeated the layers once more. I tried to make a coconut whipped cream to add on top, but it didn't quite work out how I wanted it to. Instead I sliced some fresh berries, which topped it off quite nicely if I do say so myself. Did you notice how pretty this dish that my friend Julie let me borrow is, as well?
Everyone enjoyed a scoop, but luckily there was plenty leftover for us to savor for a few days, as well. It's just about gone, which is a good thing since I have plenty more strawberry goodies to make in the days ahead! As an aside, that table cloth in the picture below was made by my grandmother for my dad at least 50 years ago! That thing has seen so many family meals that I couldn't even begin to count them.
Of course the sweetest thing of Easter was my little niece. Each holiday is more fun than the previous one as she has finally gotten old enough to start to get excited for the festivities at hand! I don't know who has more fun, though--her hunting plastic eggs and other holiday traditions, or us watching her with love. 💓
