Sweet Strawberries

It's January. In most places, the berries in the store are pretty bland. But you can do better! Try defrosting a bag of frozen berries and using them in your desserts. My favorite is a strawberry semifreddo, which is an Italian frozen mousse. A semifreddo is similar to ice cream, but with a firmer texture and much less work required. Whipped cream is folded into the fruit puree to give it the creamy texture and air.

Want a recipe that is even simpler? Try making strawberry granita. If you have a blender and a strainer, you can put together this recipe, which is a shaved ice that has a refreshing texture. The strawberry puree is frozen slowly and scraped into small crystals while it freezes. Skip the ice cream maker, buy frozen berries, and enjoy the flavor of summer, no matter what season it is.