I've had my share (and loads of it) of baking and creating strawberry-based desserts during my run at the pastry school, but the overexposure did nothing to desensitize my distaste for it. I'd have a taste or two, for comparison and knowledge sake of course, and I tried so hard to remain objective about the strawberry dishes we made in class.
Strawberry cheesecake made during class
So much for that though. I still keep getting requests from my friends and certain people to bake something strawberry-based. Oh the life of a baker.
But I chanced upon this lovely breakfast bruschetta recipe from Yummy magazine, and I simply had to make it. Of course, the catch is that, well you probably guessed it - it's a strawberry bruschetta. But that's not going to stop me. Well, that and considering that strawberries are rare, if not extinct, here in Iligan City.
I love bruschetta with the usual savory stuff, so it was refreshing for me to actually do a sweet version of it. For those who do not know, bruschetta is an Italian hard bread that is often served with olive oil, tomatoes, and basil. These are served as appetizers or a simple light snack. You can basically use any hard bread available, the most common being a baguette or a French bread.
Luckily, all the ingredients I used for my bruschetta were leftovers so I was pleased not to have gone all the way to the grocery store to shop for them.
Initially, I though of replacing the strawberry part with bananas, but seeing that my Dad ate the last piece, I had to resort to something equally yummy and healthy - dried winter berries. I bought a pack of dried raisins, cranberries, blueberries, and cherries from a sale and I was glad not to have consumed them all at once at the time I first opened the pack.
Dried Berries Breakfast Bruschetta
1 cup dried fruits (really, you can use any fruit you want - fresh or dried)
1 cup all purpose cream, chilled
1/2 cup cream cheese
1/2 cup walnuts or cashew nuts, chopped and roasted
Honey
6-8 pcs. French bread, toasted and sliced diagonally
In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and all purpose cream until at spreading consistency. Fold in the nuts and fruits.
Scoop a generous layer of the cream cheese onto the toasted bread. Spread evenly. Sprinkle with more fruit and drizzle with honey.
Dried berries are a good source of vitamin C, anti-oxidants, and fiber.
What do you think? :)
