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Great Friends and Great Food
Posted on June 30, 2012 by Tara in Recipes.
Oh how I love this woman!
This is a picture of my good friend Denise and me at a NAA (National Apartment Association) convention oh 7 years or so ago. I first met Denise when I applied for an Assistant Manager position at a local apartment community at the ripe age of 20.
Our friendship is a lifelong relationship; one that no matter how much time passes we can meet up and it’s as if we just saw one another yesterday. We have laughed, oh my goodness LAUGHED, we have cried, we’ve fought, we’ve disagreed and our love for one another has never waivered.
I tease her and tell her she is my 2nd Mother and people have been known to ask “Mother and daughter??” when we are together which doesn’t have to do so much with our age difference I think as much as our comfort around each other. I’ve always looked up to her, still do, and she has been there for me through many phases of my life and always, always provided wonderful wisdom.
Having said that she is completely, and utterly one of the funnest and silliest people I know! If you are in her presence for more than 10 minutes she will have you smiling and laughing. During the course of our work career together she and I were known to disrupt many a meeting and work gathering because of our giggling and laughter. She is one of those people that if something funny happens, and it’s in a situation where it would be impolite to laugh, I CAN NOT look at her and in fact have to studiously avoid any sight of her because all it takes is one look. We both know what we are thinking and laughter usually follows. Or peeing. I won’t say which one of us peed our pants. It only happened once. Okay twice but it wasn’t at a meeting thank goodness.
Next to my own family she is one person that I’m completely comfortable around. Which means that when we were travel mates (many a business trip) and bunked together it made for a much more relaxing trip… stomach wise. Need I say more??
Now that I have um discussed bodily functions who’s ready for food???
Denise first introduced me to this great recipe at my own bridal shower that she and another co-worked hosted together. That was over 12 years ago and I still think they are one of the most elegant and flavorful party foods. Not your typical Strawberry for finger food entertaining. Denise is an AMAZING cook and this is just one of the recipes that I love of hers.
Citrus Mascarpone and Pistachio covered Strawberries: Appetiser::Lemon zest and juice lighten the sweetened mascarpone. Pairing with the salty taste of the Pistachios, this Strawberry is a great combination of flavors.Ingredients- 1/c cup. Mascarpone cream
- ¼ cup. Powdered sugar
- zest and juice of one lemon
- ½ – ¾ cup chopped Pistachios
- 1 lb. fresh Strawberries, leaving the stems on.
Instructions- Whisk the first three ingredients together in a medium bowl. set aside. Place chopped Pistachios in separate bowl.
- Take a Strawberry and spread the Mascarpone cream around the berry roughly ¾ of the way to the top. Don’t cover all of the berry. You still want to see some of the red. Next roll in the crushed Pistachios. Repeat!
Makes for a wonderful date night food! Serve it with an inexpensive bottle of Prosecco and you are all set!
Better yet, I need to have Denise over and make some of these for her! And of course have a bottle of Prosecco or Riesling chilled… or two.
Tara
Lovely post! Oh, and I pinned those amazing-looking berries
You are the best Justine! Thank you Thank you! xoxoxo
Sweet, Sweet Tara,
You cannot know how much your words mean to me, especially right now.
I would call you right now, but I can’t stop crying!
I like the “extra” touch you added to these! You are right, a bottle of wine and VERY, VERY soon.
Love, You know who.
Well that’s a good thing because I cried while writing it.
There are so many more things I could say about our friendship but I know I don’t have to… You know what they are and you know how I feel about you. I’m coming to your house soon! so get ready! 
Love you!