Sensational Strawberries

With strawberries popping up all over the city in droves (and at excellent prices), why not try making stuffed strawberries for your next function. Each one is like a mini-strawberry cheesecake and sure to be enjoyed by your guests. The recipe first appeared in Martha Stewart a few years back but this is a timeless dessert perfect for the dessert buffet.

Stuffed Strawberries
- Whip 6 ounces of room-temperature cream cheese on medium speed until slightly fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes.
- Add 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract and 1 1/2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar.
- Trim tops and bottoms of 12 strawberries to level.
- Use a small melon baller to scoop out tops.
- Fill a pastry bag fitted with a 1/2-inch star tip with cream cheese mixture; pipe into berries until it brims over tops.
- Toast 1/4 cup sliced almonds in a 350 degrees oven until golden-brown, 3 to 6 minutes; arrange slices over filling.

For A Stylish Easter

Looking for the perfect Easter décor that says Spring but with a stylish twist? Then revert back to your childhood crafting days and dip some eggs to create pretty pastel votive candles. These make a great centerpiece all clustered together or a lovely hostess gift.

Material:
- Egg shells as many as you would like
- Egg cups to use as the base
- Food coloring
- Egg carton
- Warm and hot wax or tealight candles

Instructions:
- Make a hole in the top of each egg with a pin; enlarge the holes, and pour out the yolks;
- Clean shells;
- Then dye them with food coloring (follow package directions).
- Nestle shells in a carton.
- Cut wire-core wicks to 4 inches long, flatten one end, and fasten in shell with warm wax.
- Using a funnel, fill shells with hot wax (tinted with dye pellets). Let the wax cool. Trim the wicks, and light.

An alternative is to use tealight candles instead of using pure wax. You would need to make the egg holes large enough so that you can insert the tealight candles.

Enjoy!