For Now, For Summer
We walked to the library last week and I had a strange realization standing in line watching Sam check out his usual massive stack of books: Will I ever have the time to read stacks of books again? I used to be much more of a reader than I am today — a fact I’m not at all proud of. But when evening rolls around and the more formal workday ends, I find emails and other odds and ends creep in. Walking home from the library, I began obsessing over free time for reading, asking Sam if we’d ever be those two old people who study bird manuals and can recognize birds on walks. I want to have the time to read bird manuals someday. For now though, we’re young and we’re working a lot. We did sneak away on that one-night camping trip I told you about, and cooked some interesting, haphazard meals which I hope to share with you soon. For now though, for summer: a strawberry dessert recipe.
I had the pleasure of working with Attune Foods for these delightful (and portable) No-Bake Strawberry Cheesecakes. It was part of their Honey Bee Project, which aims to spread awareness about the importance of honeybees in communities. I made these cheesecakes in the afternoon and Sam and I each had one for a snack. Then we were meeting a friend for drinks downtown and decided to bring her two — they’re that good (I was scared to have them around). I love how you can just put a lid on them and tote them to the beach or the park for a picnic. And that you never have to crank on the oven. I love that there’s whipped cream folded into the cream cheese “filling” so they feel both decadent but utterly light at the same time. Most of all, I love that they’re perfect for young hard-working folks and older bird-watchers alike.
See you back here soon with photos, recipes, and (I hope) a big ol’ celebration of summer (it’s getting warm in Seattle! Hooray!)
No-Bake Strawberry Cheesecakes
- Yield: Serves 6
- Prep time: 25 mins
- Inactive time: 1 hr
- Total time: 1 hr 25 mins
Ingredients
For the Crust:
For the Cheesecake Filling:
Instructions
Make the crust: In the bowl of a food processor, pulse the graham crackers, roasted almonds, brown sugar and salt until fine crumbs form. Scoop the mixture into a medium bowl. Add the melted butter and stir until crumbs are thoroughly moistened.
Make the filling: In a mixing bowl, beat the heavy cream and confectioners’ sugar until soft peaks form. Set aside. In a small bowl, combine the diced strawberries and sugar in a small bowl and allow to macerate while you mix up the filling.
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment (or using hand beaters), beat cream cheese and sour cream until smooth, scraping down the sides as needed. Add the honey and vanilla extract and beat to combine. Using a spatula, gently fold in the whipped cream topping.
To assemble: Select 6 of your favorite 8-ounce jars (or pretty glass cups). Press 3 tablespoons of graham crumbs into the bottom of each jar. Spoon 1/3 cup of the cheesecake mixture onto the top of the graham layer, followed by 2 tablespoons strawberries and 1 tablespoon remaining graham crumble. Divide remaining cheesecake mixture, strawberries and graham crumbs on top of each parfait.
Chill cheesecakes in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour before serving.
Healthy Comfort Food
Thai Carrot, Coconut and Cauliflower Soup
People describe raising young kids as a particular season in life. I hadn't heard this until we had a baby, but it brought me a lot of comfort when I'd start to let my mind wander, late at night between feedings, to fears that we'd never travel internationally again or have a sit-down meal in our dining room. Would I ever eat a cardamom bun in Sweden? Soak in Iceland? I loved the heck out of our tiny Oliver, but man what had we done?! Friends would swoop in and reassure us that this was just a season, a blip in the big picture of it all. They promised we'd likely not even remember walking around the house in circles singing made-up songs while eating freezer burritos at odd hours of the day (or night). And it's true.
Oliver is turning two next month, and those all-encompassing baby days feel like a different time, a different Us. In many ways, dare I say it, Toddlerhood actually feels a bit harder. Lately Oliver has become extremely opinionated about what he will and will not wear -- and he enforces these opinions with fervor. Don't get near the kid with a button-down shirt. This week at least. He's obsessed with his rain boots and if it were up to him, he'd keep them on at all times, especially during meals. He insists on ketchup with everything (I created a damn monster), has learned the word "trash" and insists on throwing found items away on his own that really, truly are not trash. I came to pick him up from daycare the other day and he was randomly wearing a bike helmet -- his teacher mentioned he'd had it on most of the day and really, really didn't want to take it off. The kid has FEELINGS. I love that about him, and wouldn't want it any other way. But, man it's also exhausting.
Cheesy Quinoa Cauliflower Bake
I just finished washing out Oliver's lunchbox and laying it out to dry for the weekend. My favorite time of day is (finally) here: the quiet of the evening when I can actually talk to Sam about our day or sit and reflect on my own thoughts after the inevitable dance party or band practice that precedes the bedtime routine lately. Before becoming pregnant for the second time, I'd have had a glass of wine with the back door propped open right about now -- these days though, I have sparkling water or occasionally take a sip from one of Sam's hard ciders. Except now the back door's closed and we even turned on the heat for the first time yesterday. The racing to water the lawn and clean the grill have been replaced by cozier dinners at home and longer baths in the evening. You blink and it's the first day of fall.
Stuffed Shells with Fennel and Radicchio
I'd heard from many friends that buying a house wasn't for the faint of heart. But I always shrugged it off, figuring I probably kept better files or was more organized and, really, how hard could it be? Well, I've started (and stopped) writing this post a good fifteen times which may indicate something. BUT! First thing's first: we bought a house! I think! I'm pretty sure! We're still waiting for some tax transcripts to come through and barring any hiccough with that, we'll be moving out of our beloved craftsman in a few weeks and down the block to a great, brick Tudor house that we wanted the second we laid eyes on it. The only problem: it seemed everyone else in Seattle had also laid eyes on it, and wanted it equally as much. I'm not really sure why the homeowner chose us in the end. Our offer actually wasn't the highest, but apparently there were some issues with a few of them. We wrote a letter introducing ourselves and describing why we'd be the best candidates and why we were so drawn to the house; we have a really wonderful broker who pulled out all the stops, and after sifting through 10 offers and spending a number of hours deliberating, they ended up going with ours. We were at a friend's book event at the time when Sam showed me the text from our broker and I kind of just collapsed into his arms. We were both in ecstatic denial (wait, is this real?! Did we just buy a house?) and celebrated by getting chicken salad and potato salad from the neighborhood grocery store and eating it, dazed, on our living room floor. Potato salad never tasted so good.
Smoky Butternut Squash and Three Bean Chili
If your house is anything like ours, last week wasn't our most inspired in terms of cooking. We're all suffering from the post-election blues -- the sole upside being Oliver's decision to sleep-in until 7 am for the first time in many, many months; I think he's trying to tell us that pulling the covers over our heads and hibernating for awhile is ok. It's half-convincing. For much of the week, instead of cooking, there'd been takeout pizza and canned soup before, at week's end, I decided it was time to pour a glass of wine and get back into the kitchen. I was craving something hearty and comforting that we could eat for a few days. Something that wouldn't remind me too much of Thanksgiving because, frankly, I can't quite gather the steam to start planning for that yet. It was time for a big bowl of chili.
To Talk Porridge
Porridge is not the sexiest of breakfasts, it's true. It doesn't have a stylish name like strata or shakshuka, and it doesn't have perfectly domed tops like your favorite fruity muffin. It doesn't crumble into delightful bits like a good scone nor does it fall into buttery shards like a well-made croissant. But when you wake up and it's 17 degrees outside (as it has been, give or take a few, for the last week), there's nothing that satisfies like a bowl of porridge or oatmeal. It's warm and hearty and can be made sweet or savory with any number of toppings. The problem? Over the years, it's gotten a bad rap as gluey or gummy or just downright boring or dutiful -- and it's because not everyone knows the secrets to making a great pot of warm morning cereal. So let's talk porridge (also: my cookbook comes out this month! So let's take a peek inside, shall we?)
Jocelyn (Grandbaby Cakes)
Gosh those are so incredibly gorgeous! I think I'm in love!
Lindsey @ Pas de Deux
Oh Megan, I completely know how you feel about not having enough time to read!! I have an every growing stack of books that I am really excited about, but I'm averaging one every 3 months or so... But at least there is time for perfect strawberry desserts :-)
megang
Lindsay: There's always time for desserts! Thanks for your sweet comment, mg
Ashley
I too long for the days of leisurely reading and what I've learned is that I just have to grab the 5, 10 maybe 20 minutes here and there and read in those moments. Also, audio books, love them. The funny thing is though that Gabe threatens me that he is going to get into bird watching. I'm not sure I'll ever get there but I imagine the three of you old folks would have fun with your binoculars and bird whistles.
megang
Hah, Ashley! I can just see Gabe out there with his stylish coat and coffee cup! Yes, I miss our Monday chats, too. I was feeling a bit sad this past Monday as I headed to the new kitchen; Delancey we such a good home for what feels like so long. But now: the extra storage is really, really nice, too! Hope you're well my friend. And: AUDIO BOOKS! I need to get with this.
Annie @ ciaochowbambina
I'm sure they're as delicious as they are pretty! Can't wait to try them...thank you!
Casey@Good. Food. Stories.
Raising my hand in shame as a fellow non-reader here - and my sister's a librarian, for pete's sake!
molly
too funny. we've been using your buttermilk yogurt recipe, plus graham crust crumbles (oh. yum.) to top barely-sugared berries, since last summer.
similar. wonderful. ridiculously dangerously easy.
happy summer to you, megan.
m
megang
Happy summer to you too, Molly! Can you believe it's already that time? I hope you find a few good chunks of downtime + sun within it. We get almost a week in July at my mom's cabin with very little internet, no TV, and lots of books. I'm counting down the days! xox
Jeb
Re: "I want to have the time to read bird manuals someday." My manfriend introduced me to birding (people who are serious about birds don't use "birdwatching" apparently), and it is *so* much fun. I'm still learning, but learning along the way has been a rewarding experience. Bonus: birding combines flawlessly with picnics!
megang
Let's here it for birding + picnics (and man friends)!!
Natasha Minocha
These are lovely ! We have tons of beautiful mangoes here in India these days, thinking of mango no-bake cheesecake parfaits!