Parfaits.

 
"You know what else everybody likes? Parfaits. Have you ever met someone, you say, "Let's go get some parfait" they say "Hell no, I don't like no parfaits"? Parfaits are delicious."


I made some desserts for my dear Lindsey's wedding shower this weekend. I wanted to make some light and spring-like things, and was inspired by this month's food club theme (spring) to make some lime parfaits. For food club, I made this recipe, and while they were good, I wasn't too thrilled with the lime mousse layer.

For Lindsey's shower, I made my standby strawberry cupcakes (so good) and changed the mousse to a version I had been given by a friend. I found it much less punch-in-the-face sweet, and a nice light texture. Piped into the little mugs I bought at Dollarama, I was rather impressed with myself.

Lime Parfaits:

1/4 C butter
2 T brown sugar
1 C graham cracker crumbs

1 container Cool Whip
1 can sweetened condensed milk
3/4 C lime juice
zest from 2 limes
(I added a little bit of food coloring to make it look "limey")

Melt butter in a sauce pan over medium heat. Add brown sugar, and stir until bubbly. Mix in graham cracker crumbs, and stir for a few minutes. Transfer to a bowl to cool, breaking large chunks into a fine powder.

Combine Cool Whip, sweetened condensed, and lime juice. Chill until ready to use.

Using a large piping bag, fill all containers (this filled 18 2 oz glasses really nicely, with a little leftover. Each cup was about a half portion) a third full of lime mousse. Add a spoonful of graham cracker crumbs, and top with another layer of mousse.

Chill until ready to serve.

I love that the lighting makes this picture look retro.

Melt butter in heavy small skillet over medium heat. Mix in brown sugar and stir until bubbling, about 1 minute or less. Mix in crumbs; stir until color deepens, about 3 minutes. Turn out onto plate and cool. - See more at: http://foodfashionandflow.blogspot.ca/2012/09/key-lime-parfaits.html#sthash.zVnXRqtD.dpuf

Melt butter in heavy small skillet over medium heat. Mix in brown sugar and stir until bubbling, about 1 minute or less. Mix in crumbs; stir until color deepens, about 3 minutes. Turn out onto plate and cool. - See more at: http://foodfashionandflow.blogspot.ca/2012/09/key-lime-parfaits.html#sthash.zVnXRqtD.dpuf

3 tablespoons unsalted butter

2 tablespoons white sugar

1/4 cup powdered sugar

1 tablespoon light brown sugar

1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs

1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk

1/2 cup fresh lime juice

1 tablespoon grated lime peel

1-2 cups chilled whipping cream 

Pure Vanilla Extract

- See more at: http://foodfashionandflow.blogspot.ca/2012/09/key-lime-parfaits.html#sthash.zVnXRqtD.dpuf

• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 tablespoons white sugar
• 1/4 cup powdered sugar
• 1 tablespoon light brown sugar
• 1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs
• 1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
• 1/2 cup fresh lime juice
• 1 tablespoon grated lime peel
• 1-2 cups chilled whipping cream 
• Pure Vanilla Extract

Directions

Melt butter in heavy small skillet over medium heat. Mix in brown sugar and stir until bubbling, about 1 minute or less. Mix in crumbs; stir until color deepens, about 3 minutes. Turn out onto plate and cool. 

Stir condensed milk, lime juice and lime peel in large bowl to blend (mixture will thicken). Set aside while you make whipped topping.

- See more at: http://foodfashionandflow.blogspot.ca/2012/09/key-lime-parfaits.html#sthash.zVnXRqtD.dpuf

• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 tablespoons white sugar
• 1/4 cup powdered sugar
• 1 tablespoon light brown sugar
• 1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs
• 1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
• 1/2 cup fresh lime juice
• 1 tablespoon grated lime peel
• 1-2 cups chilled whipping cream 
• Pure Vanilla Extract

Directions

Melt butter in heavy small skillet over medium heat. Mix in brown sugar and stir until bubbling, about 1 minute or less. Mix in crumbs; stir until color deepens, about 3 minutes. Turn out onto plate and cool. 

Stir condensed milk, lime juice and lime peel in large bowl to blend (mixture will thicken). Set aside while you make whipped topping.

- See more at: http://foodfashionandflow.blogspot.ca/2012/09/key-lime-parfaits.html#sthash.zVnXRqtD.dpuf

• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 tablespoons white sugar
• 1/4 cup powdered sugar
• 1 tablespoon light brown sugar
• 1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs
• 1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
• 1/2 cup fresh lime juice
• 1 tablespoon grated lime peel
• 1-2 cups chilled whipping cream 
• Pure Vanilla Extract

Directions

Melt butter in heavy small skillet over medium heat. Mix in brown sugar and stir until bubbling, about 1 minute or less. Mix in crumbs; stir until color deepens, about 3 minutes. Turn out onto plate and cool. 

Stir condensed milk, lime juice and lime peel in large bowl to blend (mixture will thicken). Set aside while you make whipped topping.

- See more at: http://foodfashionandflow.blogspot.ca/2012/09/key-lime-parfaits.html#sthash.zVnXRqtD.dpuf

Endings.

Well, yesterday was the last day of school (now just two weeks of exams) and I am bushed. Lots of fun surprises though.

The AP students threw a surprise going away party for myself and a coworker after school, which was super sweet! Can't post any of the pictures with students in them, but we had some fun. 

I am in serious need of some mental decompressing, as evidenced by this borderline too-saucy comment I wrote on  one of my students projects...

 

Almost summer...

Grad 2013.

Oh lordy. It's June! Holy cats.

Well, this past weekend was grad. And it was an excellent time. The students were so well behaved and so excited. It was so much fun pinning caps and gowns, and talking them through their nerves of walking across the stage. ("I'm gonna fall. I'm totally gonna trip and fall" ) 

The dresses were stunning, suits dapper, and I wish I could share pics!

Instead, this. Missed the cap throwing by about 30 seconds.