Spring Tea Dessert: Strawberry Squares

The perfect Spring tea party deserves the perfect Spring dessert. So, today, we are introducing you to one of our all-time favourites. Strawberry Squares.

This delightful dessert is a breeze to make. So quick, so easy! You likely have most of the ingredients in your home. It is absolutely sweet, delicious and will be a hit with any of your house guests during the Easter season and will make a nice surprise for Mom on Mother's Day.

The recipe that we will be sharing is from our dear late mother's cookbook. She had many requests to make this (even our grandmother, Mom's mother-in-law, asked her to make it every year for her birthday). Everyone loved it when Mom would make Strawberry Squares and they still speak about this incredible dessert to this day.  

This dessert has a lovely shortbread cookie base, a sweet and pleasant strawberry center and a fluffy whipped topping. The taste and smell brings back happy memories of yesteryear for us! So, if you're looking for a feel-good dessert for Spring.... look no further. You've found it.

So, let's get started.

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Strawberry Squares

Bottom:

1 cup flour

2 tbsp. confectioner's sugar (icing sugar)

1/2 cup butter (softened or melted)

Mix well. Pack in bottom of 8x8 pan. Bake in 375° oven until golden brown. Cool well.

Strawberry center:

1 pkg. frozen strawberries

1 large pkg. strawberry Jello (or 2 85g pkgs.)

2 tbsp. sugar (optional: add extra 1/2 cup of sugar, if you desire more sweetness)

Boil strawberries and sugar for 3-4 minutes. (Make sure to use a spoon or knife to cut whole strawberries into smaller pieces once they've softened). Add strawberry Jello. Stir well and remove from stove. Cool well. Pour over base. Put in fridge until set well. Add whipped topping (2 packets of Dream Whip) and spread over strawberry layer. 

You can double this recipe for a bigger pan, if needed. Make sure to keep the Strawberry Squares refrigerated and serve chilled. 

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There you have it. The perfect Spring dessert! Now, pour yourself a cup of tea, sit back with a letter from Lovely Victoriana Letters and Love Stories (our story subscription business) and enjoy your Strawberry Squares. 

Happy Spring!

Lemon tarts and tea time

Whether you make them with a recipe handed down through the generations or you simply make them using frozen mini pie shells and a boxed lemon pie filling, these little lemon tarts are a sure way to impress guests during tea time.

Topped with a bit of meringue or a fresh (or candied) lemon slice, lemon tarts are a delight to the senses and a sunny, cheerful little pick-me-up.

We prefer to go the easy route (boxed lemon pie filling and frozen mini pie shells). It is absolutely delicious! We use Shirriff brand filling and all you have to do is follow the directions on the back of the box. (You can use any brand and it'll work great). 

We love having our lemon tarts with a nice Lady Grey tea. Will you join us for this sunny treat?

Teacups, roses and cleaning

This first Saturday in March is a good time to begin some light, pre-Spring cleaning. Cleaning, dusting and freshening up the china cabinet and making sure that the tea service and all of those pretty little teacups have a sparkling display.

A quick trip to the market for some roses gives a chance to enjoy some scenery and these slightly milder temperatures. We like to arrange roses in floral patterned pitchers or vases. This adds such prettiness to the china cabinet and pantry. 

When do you begin Spring cleaning in your home? Do you like to decorate with fresh roses?