A yummy dessert for Dad...

Happy Father's Day to all the wonderful fathers out there!! Here's what we're ending our Father's Day dinner with tonight. It's a great recipe to keep in mind when you want a quick and easy dessert in your freezer - on hand for when you need it... Great to make ahead when things get busy... This is a family favourite for us at any time of year!! My Dad loved strawberries.. I'd give anything to be able to serve him dinner tonight... Cherish your fathers, they are too long gone...

Strawberry Freeze

Crumb Base:
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup melted margarine
3/4 cup finely chopped nuts (I use walnuts or pecans)

Combine flour and brown sugar, stir until well mixed and no lumps. Add melted margarine and then nuts, stir to combine. Pat into bottom of 9x13 pan. Bake at 375F for 15-20 minutes, until golden brown. Remove from oven. Crumble in pan with a fork and remove 2/3 cup of crumbs, reserving for topping. Pat remaining crumbs down to form base. Let cool.

Filling:
2 egg whites
3/4 cup white sugar
2 Tblsp. lemon juice
15 oz. pkg. frozen sliced strawberries, thawed**
1 envelope Dream Whip (prepare as directed)
OR I cup whipping cream

In your largest mixing bowl, beat egg whites, sugar, lemon juice and strawberries on high speed, until slightly thickened and volume has greatly increased, 8-10 minutes. Prepare Dream Whip or beat whipping cream. Fold into strawberry mixture. Pour into pan over base, sprinkle with reserved crumbs. Cover with foil, sealing well, and freeze. (Make the day before you need it - I once tried making it first thing in the morning, to serve at suppertime, and it was not frozen enough.) Remove from freezer about a half hour before you plan to serve it. I like making this when strawberries are in season, and garnishing with fresh whole or sliced berries.

** Rather than buying frozen berries, I freeze my own in June/July when they are plentiful and local. I mash or puree them (specifically for this dessert)and freeze in icecream or yogurt tubs- roughly 3 cups of puree). That's probably considerably more than the recipe calls for, but it sure tastes yummy. Lots of Vitamin C too!!