As a child, Edwin's mom told him, "If you want to eat, you should cook it yourself." And that's exactly what he's been doing ever since.

Marriage of Summer Fruits with Cream Cheese

Here's a quick and easy frozen dessert that is perfect for the summertime. It combines fresh bananas, strawberries, and canned pineapples. I learned how to make this from my sister-in-law, who originally got the recipe from a friend of hers when she used to live in the Chicago area. This dessert has become a favorite in my sister-in-law's family; every time there's a family gathering, she makes it. I liked it so much when I tried it, I asked for the recipe.

When I returned home to California, I decided to give the recipe a try. I ran into difficulty during my first attempt because the cream cheese was lumpy. That's when I learned you have to let the cream cheese reach room temperature first. I also had to buy a food scale to weigh the ingredients. Although the original recipe did not call for garnishes, I added sliced strawberries and bananas to make it look more attractive.

Every time I make it, I intend to try variations to make it a little different each time. Try it out, and make it your own! I hope you enjoy it.

Preparation Time

Prep Time: 40 minutes Ready In: The next morning Serves: 16–20 people

Ingredients

• 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
• 3/4 cup white granulated sugar
• 1 (20-ounce) can crushed pineapple
• 10 ounces frozen sliced strawberries
• 2 bananas
• 1/3 cup chopped nuts (any type)
• 18 ounces Cool Whip

Instructions

1. Take the cream cheese out of the refrigerator to allow it to reach room temperature (about 1 hour).
2. Drain the liquid from the canned pineapple in a strainer.
3. Fold all ingredients together, except the bananas and Cool Whip.
4. Slice the bananas and add to the mixture. (Do not do this step too early in the process or the bananas will turn brown.)
5. Fold the Cool Whip into the mixture.
6. Pour the mixture into a 9" x 13" x 2" rectangular pan.
7. Place the pan into the freezer overnight.
8. Remove the pan from the freezer 1 hour before serving.
9. Garnish with sliced fresh bananas and fresh or frozen sliced strawberries, if desired.

© 2019 Edwin Alcantara