With the 4th of July fast approaching, I thought it’s be fun to take a classic summer classic dessert, like Strawberry Shortcake, and give it a little red white & blue twist.

This is a very easy-to-make recipe that can be made a day ahead. I think the simplicity of this dessert is quite elegant and is great for impressing dinner guests. Dust each serving with a little cocoa powder for that extra little “oomph”.

After making a trifle, I decided to have a go at making a parfait, since I had a recipe for mascarpone cream that I hadn’t used yet. This seemed like the perfect choice to not only incorporate the cream, but to make use of fall fruit and flavors. Apple Compote: 4 apples (Pink Lady, Granny [...]