Okay. This recipe may not be the healthiest most sustainable, seasonal, vegan dessert or even what most people would consider traditional holiday fare. However, it has become a regular christmas staple in our household and like most traditions, it has a story attached to it.
Nothing dramatic really, but about 15 years ago, I was experiencing one of those ‘blue’ christmases that Elvis sang about – all lonely and weepy and not much fun. My friends took turns trying to keep me from total despair and I found myself slumped on a stool in my dear friend Roberta’s kitchen a couple of days before christmas. I was a bit like a dry sack of flour so she put me to work as she was busily preparing her family’s favorite holiday dessert, strawberry squares.
Keep reading to get this delicious recipe . . .
Maybe it was the sugar, but I perked up and my entire holiday spirit shifted to one of good cheer from that moment on and without much discussion or fanfare, we try to get together in her kitchen every year a few days before christmas. Now we make a double batch of these delicious treats and my family has adopted a love for them now too.
Thank you Roberta!
Cheer-Up-Any-Scrooge Strawberry Squares
Ingredients
1 c. flour
1/4 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. chopped walnuts
1/2 c. butter (melted)
1 c. whipping cream
2 egg whites
2/3 c. sugar (1 c. if using fresh strawberries)
10 oz. frozen strawberries (or 2 c. fresh)
2 Tbs. lemon juice
Instructions
Crust & Crumbly Topping
Preheat oven to 350. Combine the first 4 ingredients to a nice semi-dry crumbly consistency (add flour if needed), which is best done by using your hands to mix. Then spread on a large cookie sheet and bake for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally until crumbs are golden brown. Put 2/3s of the crumbs in the bottom of a 9 x 13 baking dish. (my family LOVES the crumbly bits, so I usually increase this part of the recipe so I have a lot more for the top)
Filling
Whip up your cream. In a separate bowl whip egg whites, sugar, strawberries and lemon juice for about 10 minutes till you get stiff peaks. (yes, strawberries can still be frozen – they usually break up)
Fold the whipped cream into the strawberry whip and then put into pan. Even out as best you can and distribute rest of crumbs on top.
Cover and freeze. It keeps nicely for a week or two.
eat. blog. be merry!
PS – No. that is NOT myself or Roberta in the image above!