Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to make fun crafts and enjoy special treats with your kids. When I think Valentine’s day, I think hearts, cupid, and pink and red. Unfortunately, if you a child sensitive to red dye or are simply avoiding food dyes, a lot of recipes are out.

I wanted to think beyond cookies and cupcakes and try new things, so I looked to something that would make tasty, but less indulgent pink, red and Valentine’s inspired treats… strawberries and Strawberry Mousse!

Based on the ingredients and taste/texture of this dessert, I would call this more of a strawberry fluff.  It reminded me a lot of the middle layer of 1-2-3 Jello (any people who remember that from the 80’s?).

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups fresh strawberries
  • 1 packet unflavored gelatin
  • 1/3 cup cold water
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1 tbsp. lemon juice
  • 2 cups heavy cream

Directions:

  • Place 1/3 cup of water in a heatproof cup, like a Pyrex measuring cup. (If you don’t have one, use the top of a real or makeshift double boiler. See my makeshift double boiler in my Suzy Q recipe!)
  • Sprinkle the gelatin on the water, then allow to sit (don’t stir!) for about 5 minutes, until the water is absorbed.
  • While you’re waiting, wash, hull and puree strawberries in a blender or food processor, then place in a medium bowl.
  • Add the sugar and lemon juice and stir.
  • When the gelatin has absorbed the water, place the heatproof cup in a pan of just simmering water (or over simmering water in your double boiler) just until it is completely liquid again.
  • Remove from heat & allow to cool slightly, but don’t allow it to “set.”
  • Stir the gelatin into the strawberry mixture and allow to cool slightly (again, don’t let it cool so much that it gels so you can’t stir it!)
  • Place the heavy cream in a bowl and beat with a hand mixer until stiff peaks are just starting to form (don’t overbeat.)
  • Fold whipped cream into strawberry mixture and refrigerate until set.

Reduce the amount of gelatin to give it more of a whipped cream texture and less of a gelatin texture. This will make it more of a stabilized whipped cream, and it will start to separate if not consumed the same day!

Everyone thought this was yummy! It wasn’t too sweet or too heavy.

 

Maria Bio Pic

Maria wants to live in a world where cloth diapers are the norm and moms can make parenting choices without judgement. When she’s not chasing her 11, 7 and 4 year old kids around, you might find her checking out the latest gadgets, organizing something (again) or exercising in the fresh air. Check out Maria’s blog, Change-Diapers, about cloth diapering, and all things kids, motherhood & going green.