Chef Chuck's Strawberry Risotto

Risotto alle Fragole

A surprisingly delicious strawberry risotto, yes strawberries, and its sweet and savory. The creamy arborio rice and salty parmigiano cheese complemented the sweet juicy strawberries, this is a favorite.
The rice takes on a reddish hue, so it's quite appealing to the eye.

Strawberry Risotto

1 cup arborio rice
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 small red onion, finely chopped
1 cup white wine
4 cups vegetable broth, warm
2 cups organic strawberries, chopped
1 cup parmigiano cheese, grated
-.salt

In order to make a traditional risotto, it takes about 25 minutes to prepare, so pull up a chair and enjoy. Prepare strawberries by washing, removing stems and core and cutting into small pieces, crush with a fork, set aside. In a large frying pan heat butter and olive oil, saute onions till translucent. On medium to low heat add rice and let it toast for a minute or two, stirring occasionally. Pour in wine and let it reduce for approximately 2 minutes. Start adding warm broth one ladle at a time and stir, when it almost dissipates add another ladle. When half the broth is used, add crushed strawberries continue with adding broth till it is finished. Sprinkle on parmigiano and salt, garnish with a strawberry or two and serve.

Chef Chuck's Strawberry Semifreddo with Lady Fingers

Semifreddo alle Fragole


A frozen dessert, Strawberry Semifreddo, is so creamy and sweet. This classic Italian treat is perfect for the summertime, when the strawberries are peaking. Semifreddo, is between an ice cream and a mousse. I used my homemade ladyfingers to layer in my semifreddo, and sliced strawberries too for an added texture.



Strawberry Semifreddo with Lady Fingers
2 cups fresh organic strawberries
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup water
1 teaspoon vanilla
pinch of salt
3 eggs whites
1 cup heavy cream


Line a loaf pan or small ramekins with plastic wrap. Wash and remove stems from strawberries, cut in half, puree in a food processor or a blender, strain, set aside. In a small pot boil sugar, water, vanilla and salt for 2 minutes, stirring. In a mixer beat egg whites till foamy, carefully stream in hot sugar water. Beat on high for about 8 minutes, till mixture is cool and thick. Beat heavy cream till stiff peaks form. Fold strawberries and egg mixture together then fold in heavy cream. Pour into loaf pan or molds, if using the ladyfinger cookies place a layer in between the strawberries. Cover with plastic wrap and freeze for at least 4 hours. Remove from freezer and let sit for 10 minutes then place on serving plate. Garnish with fresh strawberries and whip cream. The recipe for ladyfingers can be found by entering Tiramisu in the search box.
Ricette by Chef Chuck's Cucina

Chef Chuck's Strawberry Roll Cake

Rotolo di Fragole


Celebrate Mother's Day with a refreshing light strawberry dessert. An elegant ending to a great meal, soft sweet sponge cake, fresh juicy strawberries, and whipped creamy cheese filling. Sprinkle in your favorite white chocolate and this becomes something special.
HAPPY MOTHERS DAY TO ALL THE MOMS

Strawberry Roll Cake


Cake
3 eggs
1 cup sugar
3 tablespoons warm water
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
pinch of salt
powdered sugar


Filling
1/2 pound fresh strawberries
1 cup whole milk ricotta
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 ounces white chocolate


Cake
Separate room temperature eggs, in a small bowl, whip whites and a pinch of salt, till stiff peaks form, set aside. In a large bowl beat egg yolks and sugar for 3 minutes, add one teaspoon of warm water at a time. Add vanilla, fold in egg whites a little at a time by hand. Fold in sifted flour and baking powder.
Pour into a 10x15 inch baking pan that is lined with parchment paper and butter. Bake at 375 degrees for 12 minutes. While the cake is baking, lay out a cloth towel, sprinkle a generous amount of powdered sugar. Turn out cake onto towel and while hot roll up cake. Place on a cooling rack for 30 minutes, with cloth over the cake. Unroll, trim edges.
Filling
In a small mixing bowl whip heavy cream till firm peaks appear, set aside. In the same mixing bowl add ricotta cheese, powdered sugar and vanilla beat for about 2 minutes, scraping sides. Fold in whipped cream.
Spread a thin layer of cream on cake, then cut up strawberries and shaved white chocolate. Roll up gently and place on a serving plate seam side down.
Decorate with more cream and a few strawberries and shaved chocolate.

Chef Chuck's Mascarpone Stuffed Strawberry

Mascarpone stuffed strawberries are a refreshing summertime treat. The juicy strawberry is filled generously with sweetened creamy mascarpone cheese and drizzled with a decadent chocolate.


Mascarpone Stuffed Strawberry
12 sweet strawberries
8 ounces mascarpone
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons heavy cream
1/4 cup semi sweet chocolate
3 tablespoons heavy cream


Wash and cut out stem of strawberry and core the berry slightly. In a mixer or use a whisk blend mascarpone, powdered sugar, vanilla and 2 tablespoons heavy cream till all combined. Using a pastry bag with a small tip or a teaspoon fill strawberry with mascarpone mixture. Melt chocolate and 3 tablespoons heavy cream over a double boiler and drizzle over strawberries, put tops back on.

Chef Chuck's Strawberry Mascarpone Cream Torta

Torta di Fragole e Mascarpone


Strawberry mascarpone cream torta is a decadent dessert! Made with fresh organic strawberries, sweet cream, a layer of ganache, and a soft cookie like almond crust.

Strawberry and Chocolate Torta


Crust
1 1/4 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup almonds, finely chopped
8 tablespoons butter, chilled
5-6 tablespoons cold water


Chocolate
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate
1/4 cup heavy cream


Strawberry Cream Filling

1/2 cup heavy cream
2 egg yolks
3 tablespoons sugar
8 ounces mascarpone
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup crushed strawberries
1 cup sliced strawberries


Toast almonds in a small frying pan on low heat for 10 minutes, chop fine. In a food processor combine flour, sugar, salt and almonds. Add butter in small pieces then add 1 tablespoon of water at a time. Knead on a well floured board for a minute wrap in plastic and let rest 20 minutes. Preheat oven to 375 degrees roll out dough to fit a 9 inch pie or torta pan. Grease pan and fit dough in cutting off the excess. Bake on a cookie sheet for 20 minutes, remove and cool on a rack. When crust is completely cooled make the chocolate.
Chocolate
In a double boiler heat chocolate and heavy cream together, stirring. Pour chocolate into crust and smooth out to the edges. Refrigerate for 1/2 hour.
Cream
In a mixer beat egg yolks and 2 tablespoons of sugar together then add mascarpone a little at a time. Scrape down bowl, add vanilla. Fold in crushed strawberries. In a separate bowl whip cream with 1 tablespoon sugar till stiff peaks form. Fold the whipped cream into the mascarpone mixture. Pour onto the chocolate. Add slice strawberries.

Chef Chuck's Strawberry Crepe Torta

Torta di Crepes


Strawberry Crepe Torta, is a layer cake made with soft thin crepes, creamy flavored ricotta, and sweet juicy strawberries. The cream is blended with ricotta, whipped cream, sugar and vanilla, and is delicious. This is the season for fresh organic strawberries so get creative.

Strawberry Crepe Torta
1 cup flour
1 cup milk
3 eggs, slightly beaten
1 tablespoon butter, melted
1 tablespoon sugar
pinch of salt


Filling

1 cup strawberries, sliced
6 ounces whole milk ricotta
1 tablespoon heavy cream
1 cup whipped cream, firm peaks
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 tablespoons sugar
powdered sugar for dusting


Whisk together all ingredients for the crepes, cover and let rest 20 minutes. Meanwhile in a mixer combine ricotta,1 tablespoon heavy cream, vanilla and sugar beat till soft and creamy, about 1 minute. Fold in whipped cream cover and refrigerate. In a 6 inch non stick pan on medium heat pour about 3 tablespoons of batter in center of pan and twirl around to make a round crepe. Cook for about 1 minute then carefully flip and cook another 30 seconds or until golden brown. Cool crepes, lay one in center of plate spread filling lightly then add sliced strawberries. Place another crepe on top and repeat process till the fifth layer. Decorate top layer with whip cream, sliced strawberries and powdered sugar.

Chef Chuck's Strawberries and Chocolate Mascarpone Cream

Fragole

Summer is near and the strawberries are a wonderful sign of the season. Sliced organic strawberries, sweetened with reduced balsamic vinegar and chocolate mascarpone cream, what a refreshing dessert.


Strawberries and Mascarpone Cream
1 pound fresh organic strawberries
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
8 ounces mascarpone cheese
1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa
3/4 cup whipping cream
2 tablespoons powdered sugar


In a small pot on medium heat reduce balsamic vinegar to a 1/4 cup, this takes about 10 minutes. Meanwhile prepare cream in a mixer, beat whipping cream with sugar till firm peaks form. In another bowl whip the mascarpone cheese till soft add cocoa, then fold in whipped cream. Layer in a glass, cream, strawberries and a drizzle of balsamic. If balsamic thickens too much, reheat.