Strawberries & Blackberries with Limoncello

Strawberries & Blackberries with Limoncello

I adapted this recipe from one of my favorite Food Network buddies, Ina Garten.  Oh yes, I consider her a friend, she's on my TV, therefore in my house more than most people or even my husband for that matter.  Yeah, we go way back.

I have made several versions of her original recipe many times and it always has rave reviews!  Don't think for a second that it's a girly kind of dish, the men all love it too.  I can't decide if it's the macerated fruit in the Limoncello or the amazing sauce with the lemon curd in it, you will have to decide for yourself.  It looks so wonderful if you can serve it in a clear dessert dish of some kind.  Come to think of it, the last time I made it and served it in wine glasses.  This time I used plain white coffee cups, just as good, but not as pretty, oh well.

Strawberries & Blackberries with Limoncello (adapted from Ina's Fruit Salad with Limoncello)

7 ounces Greek yogurt

1/3 C good bottled lemon curd

1 T honey

1/4 tsp pure vanilla extract

1 tsp grated lemon rind

2 C sliced strawberries

1-1/2 C fresh blackberries

2 T sugar

3 T limoncello liqueur

Fresh mint (optional for garnish)

For the lemon yogurt topping, whisk together the yogurt, lemon curd, honey, vanilla and grated lemon rind and set aside at room temperature.

For the fruit salad, carefully toss together the berries, sugar and limoncello.  Allow them to stand at room temperature for about 5 minutes to let the berries macerate with the sugar and liqueur.

Serve the bowl of berries with a dollop of lemon yogurt on top.  Top each with a sprig of fresh mint.

Note:  I have prepared the berries and the sauce separately the day before and kept in the refrigerator until about an hour before serving.  Turns out great every time!

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Fresh Blackberry Gelato & Peach with Grand Marnier Gelato

Gorgeous Blackberries!!

My sweet and amazing sister Claire, and my precious angels (my nephew and niece) Jackson and Sydney are visiting us from Greensboro, NC.  We have been having a great time playing with the chickens, going on adventures, rides with Uncle Jess in the sports car, and  on this particular day, we took the kids to pick peaches and blackberries.  We went to a farm just on the edge of Fredericksburg at a place called Psencik Farm.  We were blessed with a beautiful cloudy day and a nice breeze.  We picked a bunch of peaches and a ton of blackberries.  I have never had a blackberry pulled from the plant and straight into my mouth, so sweet, so juicy and warmed by the sun.  Nothing better!!

Sydney and Jackson

We haven't done anything with the peaches yet, but the blackberries, that's a different story.  Blackberry cobbler is my husband's favorite, so that is what I made first.  Sadly it was devoured before I could get a photo for you :-(   Today I was perusing though the blogs and ran across Tasty Eats At Home where she made a Strawberry Gelato, it sounded too easy and too tasty to pass up.  I swapped the strawberries for my fabulous blackberries and voila! 

Fresh Blackberry Gelato

12 oz fresh blackberries

1 1/2 c heavy cream
1 c milk
3/4 c white sugar (can substitute agave nectar if desired, just use a bit less – like 1/2 cup)
1 t vanilla extract
1 t fresh lemon juice

Place all of the ingredients in a food processor and process until no large blackberry chunks remain. Pour into the bowl of an ice cream maker and process according to the directions on the ice cream maker. Freeze for 3-4 hours or until firm.

Blackberry Gelato

Peach with Grand Marnier Gelato

I also made Peach with Grand Marnier Gelato, one of my all-time favorite flavors!  The peaches were ripe and delicious.  I scored the skin on the end of the peaches and dropped them into boiling water to loosen the skins.  They came right off!  Pulled the pit out and followed the same recipe for the blackberries but added about 1-1/2 T. of the Grand Marnier.

YUM!

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