Strawberry Crostata

Happy Mothers Day!!

This is my 100th Post!!

I wanted to make something nice for Mom and for my niece who is having her 16th birthday in a couple of days.  I saw this lovely dessert on Seattle Pastry Girl's blog and I thought it was so beautiful I just had to make it.

The crust is a lemon flavored shortbread with a layer of mascarpone cheese and sliced strawberries arranged to resemble a beautiful flower.  This is super easy to make and everyone loved it!  It is a lovely summertime dessert.

Hope you give it a try!

Strawberry Crostata

LA Times

Total time: About 45 minutes plus 1 hour, 30 minutes chilling

Servings: 8

1 1/4 cups flour

1/4 cup sugar

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1 teaspoon grated lemon zest

10 tablespoons butter

1 1/2 cups imported Italian mascarpone cheese

About 2 pints ripe strawberries, hulled and thinly sliced

1/4 cup red currant jelly

2 tablespoons Cointreau

1. Combine the flour, sugar, salt and lemon zest in a mixing bowl. Cut the butter into half-inch thick slices and add to the bowl. Using the tips of your fingers or a pastry blender, work the ingredients together until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add a scant tablespoon or two of cold water and toss until the mixture just clings together. Gather into a ball. Wrap tightly in plastic film and chill 30 minutes.

2. Transfer the dough to a 9-inch springform pan. Press out evenly across the bottom and about 1 inch up the side. Prick the bottom of the crust all over with a fork. Freeze 30 minutes. Heat the oven to 375 degrees.

3. Bake the crust until it is set and lightly browned, 25 to 30 minutes. Cool completely.

4. Spread the mascarpone evenly over the cooled crust. Arrange the strawberries decoratively over the top in overlapping rows.

5. Combine the jelly and Cointreau in a small saucepan and heat, stirring, until the jelly dissolves. Lightly brush over the strawberries to glaze. Chill 1 hour before cutting.

Each serving: 470 calories; 6 grams protein; 36 grams carbohydrates; 2 grams fiber; 35 grams fat; 20 grams saturated fat; 92 mg. cholesterol; 98 mg. sodium.