Couer a la Creme with Strawberries  Strawberries, sugar and cream... the perfect dessert for lovers  I am fortunate to have a flourishing strawberry patch that produces sweet, flavoursome fruit  Couer a la Creme looks romantic, to my mind, even before it is served  'Thou shalt not wash dishes, nor yet feed the swine... [but] feast upon strawberries, sugar and cream'. Curly Locks! Curly Locks! wilt thou be mine?
Thou shalt not wash dishes, nor yet feed the swine, But sit on a cushion and sew a fine seam, And feast upon strawberries, sugar and cream. Curly Locks! Curly Locks! wilt thou be mine? The throb of my heart is in every line... Curly Locks -James Whitcomb Riley 1949-1916 Flicking through the chapter on Strawberries in Jane Grigson's 1971 classic Good Things, I am reminded of how fortunate I am to 'live near a strawberry field and ... pick the best strawberries available'. Indeed, Peter and I have a flourishing strawberry patch and we have been picking a bowlful of sweet, flavoursome fruit daily. And with James Whitcomb Riley's poem in mind, we will feast upon strawberries, sugar and cream on Valentine's Day, the perfect dessert for lovers. Mwah! COUER A LA CREME* 1 cup cream 1/3 cup vanilla infused caster sugar 250g smooth low fat ricotta cheese strawberries, to serve strawberry coulis, to serve Whip the cream and sugar together until peaks form and the cream is thick. Fold in the ricotta and mix until smooth. Line the ceramic moulds with damp muslin. Spoon the cream mixture into the moulds and smooth the tops. Place the moulds on a tray and refrigerate overnight, allowing the cream to drain. To serve, turn out the cream and scatter with strawberries and a drizzle of coulis. Serves 4. Note: * My own original recipe. Muslin and ceramic moulds are available from kitchenware stores, I note that Herbie's also sells muslin. The muslin squares can be hand washed and used again.  'Little white china hearts... make a good summer birthday present'. Jane Grigson, Good Things, 1971  A few simple ingredients: cream, vanilla-infused caster sugar and low fat smooth ricotta  Whip the cream and sugar together until peaks form. Fold in the ricotta and mix until smooth.  Spoon the cream mixture into the lined moulds and smooth the tops, refrigerate overnight  'If you live near a strawberry field, you will be able to buy the best strawberries available, freshly picked...'. Jane Grigson on Strawberries, Good Things 1971  Happy Valentine's Day dear readers xox 
40 Comments
11/2/2012 09:49:38 pm
What a lovely dessert indeed! I have a big strawberry patch too, and although the seasonal flush is over I still get a few berries every couple of days.
Lizzy
11/2/2012 10:08:12 pm
It's great having a strawberry patch, isn't it. I always wanted a good one and now I have : ) 11/2/2012 10:47:31 pm
Awwh, beautiful Lizzy!! I love it, such a perfect dish for Valentine's Day and I love the heart moulds - way to cute!!
Lizzy
12/2/2012 05:53:34 am
Thank you, Mrs M!
Lizzy
12/2/2012 01:36:48 pm
Thanks Lisa, and so simple too! 12/2/2012 09:20:14 am
What a lovely dessert. The heart dishes make a wonderful nostalgic touch. I remember singing the Curly Locks song as a child and had forgotten all about it until now. Thanks for the memory. GG
Lizzy
12/2/2012 01:37:48 pm
Thank you, GG! I love my little heart moulds.. they are not all exactly the same, either, which adds to the charm. Curly Locks is a fun song. You are welcome xo 12/2/2012 11:45:11 am
Gorgeous dessert, Lizzy. A perfect way to enjoy all the luscious strawberries around at the moment.
Lizzy
12/2/2012 01:38:21 pm
Hi Christina, thank you. Strawberries and cream, is there a better match?! 12/2/2012 11:51:23 am
Aww it looks gorgeous. I am so jealous that you have a strawberry patch. I've tried to grow them so many times with no luck.
Lizzy
12/2/2012 01:41:55 pm
Hi Claire... I had sooooooo wanted to have a good patch for years, decades in fact. The spot we have faces north, so it is warm and sunny... and we have good compost and worms in the garden, and mulch. I also bought GOOD plants from a chappie at our local Farmer's Market. All this combined seems to have ended well. There is some good info here http://www.cogs.asn.au/growing-guides/growing-strawberries/ though it may not be relevant, dependant on your area.
Lizzy
12/2/2012 01:43:21 pm
Hiya Skinny Chick! I co-owned a cookware store for almost a decade, so had the perfect opportunity... and I have a 'thing' for white China... I can't help myself, especially antique stuff. You must indulge in one. 12/2/2012 03:39:28 pm
Aww nothing beats strawberries and cream for a romantic dessert! Beautiful hearts Lizzy! :D
Lizzy
12/2/2012 05:36:32 pm
Hello there Lorraine... thanks so much... delicious too!
Lizzy
12/2/2012 05:37:45 pm
Hi Celia, thank you. Aren't they so sweet?!
Lizzy
12/2/2012 06:08:16 pm
Thank you, lovely! Happy Valentine's Day to you and Maurie too. Love and hugs xox 12/2/2012 07:06:38 pm
These look amazing!! And you are so lucky to live near a strawberry patch :-)
Lizzy
12/2/2012 07:14:57 pm
Indeed, Katherine. I think our strawberry patch is lucky to live near us... imagine being served with this couer a la creme! Divine! 12/2/2012 08:02:41 pm
What a delicate and romantic dessert! I have always wanted to make this. Those strawbs are perfection :)
Lizzy
12/2/2012 08:17:11 pm
Anna, thank you! I hope I have inspired you to give my recipe a try!
Lizzy
13/2/2012 08:09:16 pm
Hi Jen, I do feel very blessed in so many ways!
Lizzy
13/2/2012 08:08:51 pm
Hi Amanda, oh, perish those lizards. What a pity. 13/2/2012 07:26:11 pm
Nicely done. I don't own anything heart shaped!
Lizzy
13/2/2012 08:08:29 pm
Hi Mandy... thank you!! I seem to own a few heart shaped objects, they come in handy and look very pretty too!
Lizzy
13/2/2012 08:32:39 pm
Well hey there! Not a lot of equipment needed really. True, not dissimilar. 14/2/2012 03:15:07 am
Looks glorious! So simple yet so decadent looking. Sweet wee moulds too. I will try this once our strawberries are up. If the hens don't get them first...
Lizzy
14/2/2012 06:13:43 am
Hi Kellie... oh, you have chickens too! How wonderful. Fresh eggs, delicious! 15/2/2012 10:03:29 am
Dear Lizzy,
Lizzy
16/2/2012 06:18:50 am
Dear Chopinand 16/2/2012 06:28:52 am
How wonderful to be able to pick fresh strawberries. They must be so much sweeter and tastier than the bland ones on offer at the supermarkets. Very pretty looking dessert.
Lizzy
16/2/2012 06:37:19 am
Thanks so much... it is pretty, isn't it... and pretty tasty too! Yes, the strawberries that are home grown are much tastier... and they range in size from teensy to the one shown in the pic that is almost as big as my hand, all sweet and yummy!
Andrea
11/2/2017 08:25:35 pm
How absolutely delightful Liz, I have a pot with strawberries but nothing like your gorgeous plot of those beautiful, red jewels! Happy Valentines Day to you and all of your readers too! Andrea ❤️Ps I must buy some of those heart shaped molds
Lizzy
11/2/2017 08:31:11 pm
Hi lovely! Happy Valentines to you also... if you'd like a couple, I can post them to you! Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
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Photo Jay Cranon, The Canberra Times
Hello. I'm Liz, a writer, cook and traveller based in Canberra, Australia.
Join me as I share with you my favourite recipes, postcards and morsels from my adventures, conversations with cookery writers and chefs, and news on food and cooking.  Search by topicNB: I use Australian standard measuring cups and spoons in my recipes.
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