Simply Summer Sweet
August 6, 2012 § 1 Comment
Ahhh. the heat of summer in Richmond.
It’s a bit like being in an oven, a steamy sticky oven. So I’ll be damned if I’m actually going to turn my oven on.
Pizza on the grill, summer salads, and lots of hummus have been dominating our plates since mid July. So what’s for dessert? Something cool. Something Creamy. Something delicious. Something inspired by a wonderful greek dessert that traditionally uses cherries, pistachios and of course cream. I made this in early spring and used strawberries I picked that day. Not much is better than a strawberry right of the plant. There are countless variations of this dish so PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE experiment and use what’s in season in your neck of the woods.
Ingredients:
Berries
2 Cans Coconut Milk (whole fat)
3/4 cup Whipping Cream
(preferably from your local farmer or your cow if you have one:)
Whipped Raw Honey
(This is important!!!! Liquid honey will make the cream runny)
Pecans
(Walnuts or any other nuts would work as well)
Mint (optional)
Small Mason Jars (also optional)
Refrigerate coconut milk for 4 hours or overnight.
Chop and muttle strawberries or other fruit until berries are mashed. I added a few mint leaves to the muttled mixture but you could also add vanilla bean, basil or any other spice you might like. (Cardamom perhaps?) If you do not have a mortar and pestle use a food processor. If you do not have a food processor, a fork and a good bowl with a bit of elbow grease will do the trick.
Roast your pecans or other nuts in a cast iron pan until just browned. When cool, chop nuts coarsely.
Whip 3/4 cup whipping cream until stiff. Take coconut milk out of the refigerator and scoop off only the thickened milk from the top half of the cans. Add to whipping cream. Continue to whip while you add 1 tablespoon of honey. You could also use creamed dates here if you prefer. The amount of sweetener is of course going to be a personal choice so taste as you go but remember the rule that it is easier to add more than take away…so add little by little and taste often! Once everything is combined and whipped to a creamy consistancy begin to build your layers!
VARIATIONS:
If you are cutting out cholesterol and fat from your diet, greek yogurt can replace the cream altogether. I would recommend buying an unsweetened greek style yogurt, dumping it in a cheese cloth and allowing it to strain in the refrigerator overnight. Whip it up the same way you would the cream and then add the coconut milk solids and honey as usual.
If you are allergic to nuts take out the coconut milk altogether and use a combination of greek yogurt and whipped cream.
The strawberries can be replaced with ANY fruit!!!!! Peaches and pecans, cherries and pistachios, plums and walnuts!
The nuts of course can be replaced with any nut and if you are allergic simply swap the nuts for some oats roasted in honey.
Simple as pie…only easier. (and with a lot less sugar:)
yummy! and delicious! and no pie crust to roll out!