Guest Blogger-Strawberry Mousse from Basilmomma

Good Monday Morning to all of you! I hope you had a fabulous weekend. Today we're docking in Dubrovnik, Croatia for the day where we will be taking a cable car ride to the top of Srdj Hill then walking through Old Town..that is if I survive the ride up. You see, I'm deathly afraid of heights, but if I could take the cable car from the top of Santorini to the bottom, I think I can do it here. Wish me luck! 


Today, I have a special guest for you. Please join me in welcoming Heather from Basilmomma: A Busy Mom Who Likes To Cook and boy is she busy! Not only does she take care of her hubby and two boys, she also writes her food blog, she works full-time as a teacher, she is a food writer and columnist in a local Indiana newspaper AND she recently started her live internet talk show, Around the Kitchen Sink. Take it away Heather! 

Heather Tallman is the writer and creator of www.basilmomma.com a cooking and family life blog. Heather writes about all of her culinary hits and misses and all of the life that goes along with it.

Along with running a very successful cooking website, Heather is also a food writer and columnist with The Greenwood Daily Journal and a food blogger for www.EarthEats.com .

Food is her passion, but so is writing about her adventures in the kitchen and surviving a busy family life.

Heather strives to share with her foodie friends that fast, healthy and, family-friendly food is easier to pull off than you think. Using the knowledge she learned in her own families kitchen she entertains her listeners and readers with her tried and true family feeding tips.

Listen to Heather every Thursday night LIVE on Around the Kitchen Sink Radio here:

http://toginet.com/shows/aroundthekitchensink or Itunes http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/around-the-kitchen-sink/id527242800

Now is a really good time to make this Strawberry Mousse especially since strawberries are in season and oh so good! So live a little and try something new! The recipe may sound complicated cut really, it's not. As long as you can follow directions you should be fine! This mousse is really a superstar and your family will love it. It's light, fluffy and refreshing and the perfect end to a beautiful summer day.

Strawberry Mousse

Cooking Light

1 C finely chopped strawberries

1/2 C sugar, divided

5 TB water, divided

3/4 tsp unflavored gelatin

dash of salt

2 lg egg whites

1/4 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 heavy whipping cream

Combine chopped strawberries and 1 TB sugar in the bowl of a mini food processor and toss gently.  Let stand for 10 minutes. Process until smooth.

Pour 2 Tb water in a large bowl and sprinkle with the gelatin.  Let sit for 5 minutes.

Place 6 TB sugar, the remaining 3 TB water, and a dash of salt in a small saucepan over medium-high heat.  Bring to a boil, stirring just until the sugar dissolves.  Cook, without stirring, until a candy thermometer registers 240 degrees (about 4 minutes).

Add the egg whites to the gelatin mixture and beat with a mixer until foamy.  Gradually add remaining 1 TB sugar, beating at high speed until soft peaks form.  Gradually add hot sugar syrup to egg whites, beating at medium speed until stiff peaks form.  Add vanilla.

Place cream in a bowl and beat with the mixer until stiff peaks form.  Gently fold this into the egg white mixture. Fold in the strawberries. Spoon into individual serving dishes, if desired.  Chill for 2 hours or until set.

You can also find Heather on Facebook and Twitter !