Creamy Cheesy Berry Delight Pie

Blackberries, Blueberries & Pitted Bing Cherries

Strawberries & Blueberries

Ingredients

1-1/4 c graham crumbs

1/4 c granulated sugar

5 T butter, softened

1 8 oz. pkg. cream cheese, room temperature

1 14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk

Juice of 1 fresh lemon

Berries of your choice, approx. 1 cup

For the crust, combine the first 3 ingredients thoroughly until the crumbs are moist and mostly hold its shape when squeezed together.  Add to a 9" pie dish and press in bottom and up sides.

In a large bowl of an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese until fluffy, about 2 minutes.  Reduce speed to low and add the sweetened condensed milk scraping down the sides of the bowl.  Increase speed to medium-high and beat until smooth.  Add the lemon juice and mix until incorporated.  Add fresh berries and mix in my hand.  Pour into graham crust and chill about 4 hours before slicing and serving.

Yummy!!

Merinques Chantilly with Roasted Berries

This is a recipe offered by Ina Garden, the Barefoot Contessa.  When baking the merinques, check them at 1-1/2 hours and if they feel crisp to the touch, turn off your oven at that point.  Mine looked great at 1-1/2 hours, but 20 minutes later they started to turn color. They still looked and tasted great.  All ovens are different.  I also left them overnight as the recipe suggests.  The crisp shells became tacky, I assume due to humidity.  I would only do 4 hours next time, then refrigerate them until ready for use.

Ingredients

4 extra-large egg whites, at room temperature
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
Pinch of kosher salt
1 cup granulated sugar, divided
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 pint fresh strawberries
2 half-pints fresh raspberries
2 half-pints fresh blueberries
2 half-pints fresh blackberries
¼ cup sugar
Vanilla Bean, split and seeds removed 

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Using a small glass and a pencil, draw four 3 1/2-inch circles on each piece of paper. Turn the paper face-down on the baking sheets.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat the egg whites, cream of tartar, and salt on high speed until frothy. Add 2/3 cup of the sugar and continue beating on high speed until the egg whites form very stiff peaks. Whisk in the vanilla. Carefully fold the remaining 1/3 cup sugar into the meringue. With a large star-shaped pastry tip, pipe a disc of meringue inside each circle. Pipe another layer around the edge to form the sides of the shells.

Bake for 2 hours, or until the meringues are dry and crisp but not browned. Turn off the heat and allow the meringues to sit in the oven for 4 hours or overnight*.

For serving, place each meringue on a separate plate and top the shell with berries.
*See my note above

Roasted Berries 
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.

Place the strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries on a sheet pan and toss with the sugar and vanilla bean seeds. Roast in the oven for 20 minutes. Cool to room temperature before serving. 

Snowy Pine Branch, Bird & Berries Swag

Simple to make and looks like you brought the outside in after a snow storm.  I saw a similar swag in a retail store for $30.00.  With my coupon, I went to Michaels and was able to get all the supplies I needed for under $20.00.  The snow was purchased from Wal-Mart.

Supplies:

2-4 pine branches, depending on how full you want the swag

Christmas picks with pine cones, icy branches and berries.

A bird of choice.  I used a Cardinal to coordinate with the berries.

Wire

Hot glue gun & glue sticks

1 can of snow

Cut the ends of the branches, if necessary, to eliminate the bulk.

Gather together and secure it with wire.  

Trim and wire all picks, if necessary.  Use the glue gun for smaller pieces.  Make a look with the wire and attach to the back for hanging.

When you have the swag assembled to please you, spray with snow, following directions on the can.  Spray heavier on the ends.  Let dry in between layers.

Hang over a doorway or a window and enjoy!

Don't forget to use your coupons for further savings!

Happy Holidays!