Along with the Superbowl, the Oscars are a uniquely American Event. Some years we tune in for the films, cheering on our favorite movie just as we cheer on our favorite team during the Superbowl. Other years we tune in for the fashion and the jewels (ok, and truth be told I tune in to see my favorite male stars decked out in tuxedos!!). Well, this year I’ll be watching because of the films and will be cheering on my favorite - “The King’s Speech”. So, in honor of the movie, I’ll be making a british inspired menu for the event – which includes Trifle for dessert.
Oscar Watching Menu
Lentil and Wild Mushroom Shepard’s Pie
Grilled Pear Salad with Honey and Blue Cheese
Strawberry and Lemon Trifle
Trifle is a quintessential and traditional British dessert. This one is not traditional.
Rather, it borrows from Italy by incorporating Marscapone cheese with the whipped cream but also draws upon a traditional British ingredient – lemon curd. It also does not contain any sherry (as most traditional trifles do) but if you wished to add a little alcohol go for it! Sherry or Grand Marnier would both work. Drizzle a little over the Angel food cake or brush it on with a pastry brush. Combined with some of the fresh strawberries that are just starting to appear at road side stands (sorry East coast) ! and paired with a little Angel Food cake, this is an easy dessert that comes together in minutes – leaving you free to sit back and enjoy the show!!!
Other trifle recipes you might like:
Two Peas and Their Pod – Berry Brownie Trifle
Recipe Girl – Red Velvet Cake Trifle
Yum Sugar – Chocolate Cherry Trifle
Strawberry and Lemon Trifle
I’ve made this with both homemade lemon curd and jarred lemon curd. I found the jarred lemon curd was not as tart as homemade. So depending upon which you use (and your own taste!) you may want to add a little fresh lemon juice to the whipped cream mixture.
(serves 4)
- 1 loaf Angel Food Cake (or 1/2 traditional Angel food cake)
- 8 oz. marscapone cheese
- 1/2 whipping cream
- 2 Tbsp. sugar
- 1/2 tsp. vanilla
- 1/2 cup lemon curd
- 1 fresh lemon
- 1 1/2 pints fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced into 1/2 inch slices
Directions:
- Using a zester, remove the zest from the lemon into long strands. Set aside.
- In the bowl of a mixer, place the cream and mix on high speed. Slowly add the sugar and vanilla. Continue to whip until the cream forms stiff peaks. Set aside.
- Place the mascapone in a large bowl. Stir to loosen. Mix in the lemon curd and 3/4 of the lemon zest. Fold in the whipped cream. Depending upon the lemon curd you use, it may not be tart enough. Taste and add a little fresh lemon juice if needed.
- Slice and cut the angel food cake into 3/4 inch pieces. In a 2 qrt. bowl or 4 – 1 cup bowls place 1 layer of angel food cake pieces. Spoon about 1/3 of the cream mixture on top. Top with a layer of the strawberries. Continue to repeat the layers until you reach the top of your container, making sure to end with a layer of the whipped cream mixture.
- Garnish with whipped cream, sliced strawberries and the remaining lemon zest.
- Dessert can be made 1 day in advance – store in refrigerator and remove 30 minutes before serving.
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{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
What a stunning picture! And really.. I have to tell you… it totally made my mouth water. The cake looks SO moist and delicious and those berries… yum!! Great job!
Thank you so much Amanda – have to say that is my reaction to seeing your posts!!!
Nancy, I’m nervous about this dessert. First, because it looks so good. Second, because it looks incredibly easy to make and lastly, because it comes in a big bowl and I might be tempted to eat the whole thing in one sitting with a really big spoon.
Can I be trusted with such goodness?
LOL!!! THAT is precisely why I don’t make it too often – it is way to tempting when it is sitting there in the refrigerator!!
This looks sweet and refreshing. Yum!
It definitely is good – total ETF (estimated time to finish) was a record – son accomplished it in 5 minutes flat!
My dad was English so we grew up with trifle – I adore it !
I do to – in all it’s variations!
I’m making a couple of things to take to an Oscar party, but I failed to follow any sort of theme this year. A British theme is a great idea, and that’s a great-looking trifle! The lemon and mascarpone in it sounds so good.
Have to admit it’s pretty decadent but since there are strawberries in it and it’s made with angel food cake, I tell myself it all balances out:-)!
hi Nancy
you really outdid yourself with that lovely trifle, homemade lemon curd was definitely the right way to go and the fact that you use Marscapone really took it over wonderful thanks for sharing such a lovely dessert with us.
Cheers
Dennis
He Chef Dennis!
So glad you were able to stop by – glad you liked the trifle!!
Your trifle is gorgeous as is your menu…how I wish I had been there for dinner
Oh how I adore trifles, it has been too long since I have made one and you just reminded me of that! I love that yours are individual-sized, are those trifle cups from crate and barrel?
Beautiful dessert Nancy, and I could see serving it for a spring party coming up!
Yum! When strawberries from the patch down the road go into full swing, I’m making the trifle. How nice of you to root on the King’s Speech with one of these?! Awesome.
[K]