Happy Memorial Day!
I love Memorial Day because to me it really marks the beginning of summer, but apparently mother nature missed the memo this year! When I woke up it was raining. R-A-I-N-I-N-G. In Long Beach. Southern CALIFORNIA. Crazy, huh? That's why, like every year, we're escaping to the hot hot heat (read: 105 degree temperatures) of Lake Havasu, AZ.
And like every year, we will be celebrating my mom's birthday with an annual homemade strawberry dessert. Strawberries just scream summer to me! The last 2 years I had just finished up a job and had the few days leading up to Memorial Day Weekend off, so I had plenty of time to invest in creating a Smitten Kitchen Strawberry Rhubarb Pie and a Smitten Kitchen Strawberry Summer Cake. This year, I had to come in early and stay late to make up the hours for the half day I will be taking today so we can drive to Havasu and get there before 3:30am (which is what time we got there 2 weekends ago). Although, who knows what will happen with leaving LA traffic! So, because of that reason, I will be going a much simpler route - a Strawberry Crostata. And, dare I say it, I'm using pre-made pie dough. I can hear the sounds of all you readers logging off right now, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do to get dessert on the table!
Since I will be making my dessert with my mom over the weekend, I will be leaving you with a round-up of strawberry recipes from around the Internet in honor of Memorial Day!
And like every year, we will be celebrating my mom's birthday with an annual homemade strawberry dessert. Strawberries just scream summer to me! The last 2 years I had just finished up a job and had the few days leading up to Memorial Day Weekend off, so I had plenty of time to invest in creating a Smitten Kitchen Strawberry Rhubarb Pie and a Smitten Kitchen Strawberry Summer Cake. This year, I had to come in early and stay late to make up the hours for the half day I will be taking today so we can drive to Havasu and get there before 3:30am (which is what time we got there 2 weekends ago). Although, who knows what will happen with leaving LA traffic! So, because of that reason, I will be going a much simpler route - a Strawberry Crostata. And, dare I say it, I'm using pre-made pie dough. I can hear the sounds of all you readers logging off right now, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do to get dessert on the table!
Since I will be making my dessert with my mom over the weekend, I will be leaving you with a round-up of strawberry recipes from around the Internet in honor of Memorial Day!
This gorgeous Balsamic Strawberry Crostata with Mascarpone Cream and Pistachios from Yummy Mummy will be what I base my crostata off of this weekend.
{photo from Yummy Mummy}
This would be perfect for the hot hot heat of Havasu - a delicious Frozen Strawberry and Cream Dessert from Pip and Ebby.
{photo from Pip and Ebby}
This cake is a DREAM. And it will be a dream come true if someone makes it for me. Hint. Hint. :) Neapolitan Rose Cake from I am Baker.
{photo from I am Baker}
And if you can't get strawberries off your mind and want to carry your strawberry decadence into breakfast, these Chocolate Covered Strawberry Pancakes from my friend at Desserts For Two look to DIE for.
{photo from Desserts For Two}
Happy Memorial Day! Hope you have a great weekend!
Peace, Love, Strawberries, and Happiness!