Valentine berries and cream

Valentine berries and cream the chocolate heart with rich chocolate cream inside is not hard to make, yet it steals the show when it’s served. Valentine berries and cream is a grand Winning recipe.

Ingredients:

8 squares (1 ounce each) semisweet chocolate

1 tablespoon shortening

2 packages (3 ounces each) cream cheese,

softened

1/4 cup butter, softened

1-1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar

1/3 cup baking cocoa

2 tablespoons milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2-1/2 cups heavy whipping cream, whipped,

divided

1-1/2 cups fresh strawberries, halved

Method - Valentine berries and cream

Line a 9-in. heart-shaped or square baking pan with foil; set aside. In a large heavy saucepan over low heat, melt chocolate and shortening; stir until smooth.

Pour into prepared pan, swirling to coat the bottom and 1-1/2 in. up the sides.

Refrigerate for 1 minute, then swirl the chocolate to reinforce sides of heart or box.

Refrigerate for 30 minutes or until firm. Using foil, lift from pan; remove foil and place chocolate heart on a serving plate.

In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese and butter until smooth. Combine confectioners’ sugar and cocoa; add to creamed mixture with milk and vanilla. Beat until smooth.

Gently fold two-thirds of the whipped cream into cream cheese mixture.

Spoon into heart. Insert star tip #32 into a pastry or plastic bag; fill with the remaining whipped cream.

Pipe around the edge of heart. Garnish with strawberries. Yield: 8-10 servings.