The Dish
These cream cheese filled strawberries are a crowd pleaser that your guests will not be able put down or stop eating. Everyone loves the flavor inside these strawberries which are quick and easy to make. They have been time tested at countless parties, dinners and special occasions in which Valarie made these. I would say they are slightly addictive, beware.
Why you should make this
Like so many recipes or great dishes, it is usually one “secret” ingredient or one “special” cooking
technique that separates the boys from the men, the girls from women, and the memorable “OMG” dishes from the average dishes. 
The secret to this recipe is obviously fresh quality ingredients, but more importantly for this treat is the Madagascar vanilla. Madagascar vanilla is the second most expense spice in the world behind saffron for good reason.
History
Madgascar and the nearby by Island Reunion off the east coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean produce 75% of the world’s supply of vanilla with the remaining amount produced in Mexico and Tahiti. The vanilla orchid will only grow in the regions between 10 and 20 degrees north and south of equator. The vanilla pods or “beans” coming from Vanilla Planifolia, an orchid that only blooms one day a year, need to be hand pollinated. Once pollinated, it takes another nine months for the bean to grow. The beans are picked as they are green and soaked in hot water and allowed. Currently, the price of Madgascar vanilla is around the same price as silver, resulting in many thefts. Farmers have used a variety of measures to try and control the thefts, but the very labor intensive process to go from hand-pollination to and extract or bean we use in so many recipes.
What inspired us to make these strawberries
Valarie wanted a quick and easy dessert, while I always enjoy the understated quality and taste of vanilla. After finding several recipes in our cookbooks and on Pinterest, Valarie settled on this combination. It works and it is additive. Don’t believe us, give it a try. Share only one with your spouse or dinner guest.
Ingredients
This is the perfect dish to make with your kids or those less inclined to cook. With only 5 ingredients and
the only cooking is melting the chocolate, this recipe produces a high return for minimal effort. Unlike
the lion who does not chase a field mouse, because he spends burns more calories catching it than he
would gain eating it, this recipe provides more taste and enjoyment than the total time of 20 minutes to
make it.
How to cook it
These strawberries are quick and easy. With only a 10 minute prep time, you simply core your
strawberries, mix up the cream cheese mixture, fill the strawberries with melted chocolate and coat
with powdered sugar.
Why we love it
Taste, taste and taste is the reason we love this dish so much. This dessert is always requested ahead of
time, whether we are cooking for an event, party or another special occassion. Do yourself a favor and
reward yourself with one of life’s simple pleasures – great tasting food, compliments of Madagascar
vanilla in this recipe.
Bon Appetite
Dale & Valarie
Ingredients
- 8 ounces of Philadelphia cream cheese
- 1 Tbsp of vanilla extract
- ¼ cup of powdered sugar
- 1 pound of large strawberries
- 10-15 wafers of melting chocolate – milk chocolate variety
Instructions
1. Wash and core the strawberries with a Chef’n StemGem Strawberry Huller or equivalent
(https://www.amazon.com/Chefn-27466-StemGem-Strawberry-Huller/dp/B002XOHZWC). The huller or
corer will remove the stem and core with one push of a button.
2. Place cream cheese and vanilla extract in a mixing bowl and blend and fold together until it is
thoroughly blended.
3. Place cream cheese mixture into piping bag and squeeze into the strawberries with about ½ inch
coming out the tops.
4. Melt chocolate using pyrex measuring cup inside of a pot of boiling water or using a double boiler to
melt the chocolate.
5. Drizzle melted chocolate across the tops of the strawberries as desired.
6. Coat with powdered sugar.
7. Savor each bite!