Strawberry Tiramisu Bites For The Love of Your Life

Tomorrow is Valentine's Day.  A day of chocolates, cards, flowers...and strawberries!

One of my all time favorite love-rom-com movies is Sleepless In Seattle.  One of the classic scenes is known as "The Tiramisu Talk".  Here's how it all goes down...

(1993) follows widow Sam Baldwin (Tom Hanks) as he begrudgingly attempts to re-enter the dating world a year after losing his wife.  It's been a long time since he had to date anyone, so he consults his pal Jay (Rob Reiner) for advice.  Jay explains the way dating dynamics have changed since Sam was last on the scene (Jimmy Carter, 1978) - women ask men out, they have to be friends first, they split the check, and having a cute butt is a requirement.

"I don't think I could let a woman pay for dinner, " Sam says.

"Great, they'll throw a parade in your honor.  You'll be man of the year in Seattle Magazine", Jay replies.

Then, they engage in a discussion about tiramisu....

"Tiramisu," Jay says, randomly.

"What is tiramisu?" Sam asks.

"You'll find out." Jay responds.

"Well, what is it?" Sam questions.

"You'll see!"  Jay says.

"Some woman is gonna want me to do it to her and I'm not gonna know what it is!"  Sam exclaims.

"You'll love it." Jay announces.

If you are planning on staying in tomorrow night, such as ourselves, these are the perfect little sweet treat bite.  If I was being completely honest, I could just eat this mascarpone filling with a spoon right out of the entire bowl, and not apologize for it!

Strawberry Tiramisu Bites
Adapted from Paula Deen

1/2 cup strawberry preserves, at room temperature
1 1/2 (6.3 ounce) packages miniature bite-sized phyllo tart shells
1 (8-ounce) package mascarpone cheese
1/4 cup lemonade
2 Tbl fresh lemon juice
3/4 cup heavy whipping cream
1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
1 tsp. lemon extract
2 quarts fresh strawberries, halved (or quartered, depending on size)

Place about 1/2 teaspoon strawberry preserves in bottom of each tart shell; set aside.

In a medium bowl, combine mascarpone cheese, lemonade and lemon juice.  Beat at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy.

In a medium bowl combine cream, sugar and lemon extract.  Beat at medium-high speed with an electric mixer until medium peaks form.  Fold into mascarpone mixture, stirring until combined.

Spoon about 1 Tbl mascarpone mixture into each tart shell.  Top each with a strawberry half.

One Year Ago: Creamy Penne Pesto Chicken
Two Years Ago: I'm Back
Three Years Ago: The Flirtini
Four Years Ago: Raspberry-Lemon Dump Cake
Five Years Ago: Chocolate Layered Pudding