Recipe : Strawberry Summer Trifle

Have you ever made something on a whim, just to see how it turns out? That's what I did yesterday! I made Strawberry Trifles. The whole process felt like a science experiment as I wasn't quite sure what I was doing really. But hey, the dessert turned out splendid! I've even had requests from my family to make more.

This recipe is fantastic for a Summer dessert as zero heat is required. It's creamy, refreshing, light and just a little bit of indulgence. Plus, cleanup is also a breeze! 

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You Will Need

• 1 box of Jell-O Instant Vanilla Pudding & Pie Filling
• 2 1/2 Cup Cold Milk
• 1 1/2 Cup Whipping Cream
• 2 Tbsp Sugar
• 1 Tsp Vanilla Extract
• Strawberries
• 5 Cookies, Crumbled

Instructions

This recipe makes 5-6 portions

To Make Whipped Cream

Combine 1 1/2 Cup Whipping Cream,2 Tbsp Sugar & 1 Tsp Vanilla Extract in a large bowl. Stir enough to gently marry everything. That's it for now, but ensuring everything is cold is super important. Next, put the beaters from a hand mixer in the bowl and cover with saran wrap.
Place bowl, in the fridge for 30 minutes.

Once chilled, beat with hand mixer until stiff peaks form. To see what this looks like, have a look at my recipe for Easy Black Forrest Cake .

Vanilla Pudding

Now, you will need to prepare the Jell-O Instant Pudding. This is super simple. Just follow the directions on the box. It's literally combining the mix with milk and allowing it to set for a few moments.

Strawberries

Wash and slice up the strawberries any way you like. I personally prefer to cut them into quarters.

The Cookies

Store bought cookies will do just fine here. I had some homemade ones on hand so that is what I used. You don't need to smash the cookies to dust or anything like that. We're going for a chunky crumble. Place cookies in a big Ziplock bag and crush. A rolling pin or even your hands will work just fine.

Some Assembly Required

1. Place a layer of the cookie crumble on the bottom of dish or dishes
2. Next, add some of the pudding 
3. Place a layer of cut strawberries on top of pudding
4. Top with our homemade whipped cream
5. Repeat steps 2,3 &4
6. Finish with a final layer of pudding
7. Spoon a dollop of whipped cream on top
8. Place a halved strawberry on the whipped cream
9. Let chill in fridge for one hour

What is your favourite Summer dessert?!

The Gluten-Free Sunscreen List

Using a gluten-free sunscreen is a personal choice. Not everyone is going to want to and that's okay. I prefer to ensure gluten is nowhere to be found when it comes to skin, hair, and lip products. Call me old fashioned but, better safe than sorry is a term I happily roll with.

If It's On Your Face Or Hands, It's In Your Mouth

Think about those hot and sticky days where sweat is constant and unavoidable. That sunscreen is going to be sliding everywhere. How many times will your sunscreen coated hands wind up near your mouth without you noticing? Likely more than you think, meaning accidental ingestion is pretty darn probable. Not something that sounds appealing to me. 

This is why I prefer to stick with gluten-free protection. Some of the brands below are easily found in stores and others can be purchased online. I'm happy to see not only a decent choice in variety but, varying price points as well.

• Kiss My Face

• The Green Beaver Company

• Coppertone

• Blue Lizard

• Banana Boat

• Goddess Garden

• KINeSYS performance sunscreens

*Always confirm that sunscreen is gluten-free

The Gluten-Free Move

We all know that traveling takes some research and preparation when you have Celiac. Did you know that selling your home requires the very same detail? I sure didn't!

I listed my home for sale, sold it and bought a new place all in two short months. Talk about stressful! I wasn't prepared for was the amount of time I would have to be out of my home. Or the lack of safe on the fly, gluten-free options available to me. I was one hungry and grumpy lady for  a little while there.

In retrospect, there is quite a bit I could have done in advance to make things easier on myself. I've created the list below to help you avoid having a hungry meltdown.

Make a list of safe places to eat

This is super important. Otherwise, you will end up hangry and not one wants that. More than a few times, I watched as my family ate a lovely meal somewhere that could not accommodate me. You should also research what menu options are available for you. I cannot tell you how tired I am of french fries, baked potato, & hash browns. 

Prepare picnic lunches

Bento-style containers, like the ones below, make for an easy on the go meal. I suggest preparing a few days worth of meals ahead of time. You will thank yourself for this in the long run. Trust me.

Lunchbox friendly ideas include: 
bagels, sandwiches, fruit, vegetables with dip, yogurt, and muffins. Just make sure you have a cold icepack ready to go.

Have prepackaged, shelf-stable food on hand

Some great example include :

• Justin's Hazelnut Butter & Pretzels snack packs
• Popcorn and M&M mixture
• Dehydrated fruit such as raisins, cranberries, and apples
• Plain cereal, like Cinnamon Chex, makes a great snack
• Rice Cereal treats
• Jerky

Check out my post-Easy Eats For A Gluten Free Trip for more great snacks to have on hand.

Kitchen's are the heart of the home

We looked at several houses before we found "the one". The winning home had everything we wanted, especially a fantastic kitchen, which is bright, big and has a lot of counter space. This was a big deal for me as my current kitchen is tiny and poorly laid out. Having a larger kitchen=safety. There's room to store my gluten-free food (on its own) and a separate area in which I can prepare it.

Whether you're entertaining friends or playing board games with the kiddos, kitchens have become more than just a spot to cook and eat. They are the social heart of the home, a family space where everyone ends up. If you are looking for a new home, make sure you love the kitchen!