Who doesn't love strawberries? There's just something about a big ripe, juicy strawberry. While it's not really the berry season for most of us in the snow covered north, we can still dream about summer and indulge in those luscious berries anyway. They may come from California or Florida, but they're delicious and available none-the-less!
Shari's Berries
A company called Shari's Berries has been receiving a lot of attention lately. I think it's because of their aggressive advertising and absolutely stunning photographs. They're a little on the pricey side with shipping, but I'm sure your loved one is worth every penny! Their Gourmet Chocolate Covered Strawberries come in dozens and half-dozens just like a bouquet of roses. The strawberries are
hand-dipped and beautifully decorated to perfection. Some are decorated like the cutest little tuxedos and come delivered in a box that looks, well, like a tuxedo! Very striking! Others are dipped and
decorated with white, milk and dark chocolate drizzle. They promise to be delivered fresh to your door in time for Valentine's Day. But don't stop there! Mother's Day is coming up fast too. Check out Shari's Berries if nothing to simply view the beautiful photos! Here's an article I did for Suite101 called "Buy Valentine's Desserts Online" for a few other suggestions.
Cheesecakes
In our previous life as retail and wholesale bakers, we made thousands of cheesecakes! I wish we had kept track of the true count, but it was a staggering amount. All kinds of flavors with different crusts and toppings. Sometimes I miss those days. Being the anal person that I am, I loved to line up all the finished desserts along the counters and just stare at them for a while, always amazed at how we could produce so many in such a short amount of time. More about that in a later post!
If you'd like to make your own Valentine's Cheesecakes, here are some suggestions you can make at home.
New York Style Strawberry Cheesecake with a Graham Cracker Crust
White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake with an Oreo Cookie Crust
Chocolate Zebra Striped Cheesecake with an Oreo Cookie Crust
I've just made myself hungry and craving Strawberry Cheesecake. I'll just have to stop at Antonio's Bakery for a slice. I wonder if I could get back home undetected without strawberry stained lips, or if I should just bring another slice home for my hubby.
Don't forget to visit my Baking & Desserts section at Suite101 for more tempting recipes!
Oh man.....I'm thinking back to those days of the cheesecakes lined up on the counter and drooling. I miss the Oreo Cheesecake. I think I'll make one. :)
Posted by: Erika Martin - Stampin' Mama | February 08, 2008 at 12:42 PM
Where I grew up, in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, we had so many strawberries one summer we filled our bathtub with them. Then we started filling vacant trash cans (they were clean!). Needless to say, we didn't bathe much that summer. And we didn't take a lot of trash out either. Things got pretty smelly. I guess you could say it's a bittersweet memory. :P
Posted by: Senator Gerald Penny | February 09, 2008 at 10:21 AM
Oh I miss the chocolate pb cup cheesecake the most!!! Not sure what I miss more tho....eating it, or having to help cut up the pb cups...."one for the cheesecake, one for me...one for the cheesecake, two for me."
Posted by: Kerri | February 14, 2008 at 02:02 PM