A little Trifle for Dad

For most of the years of my marriage (and there have been many), I have prepared a meal and pie for my dad and/or father-in-law.  My husband's father passed away about three years ago, and my dad is far away in The Philippines this year, so the father of my children had Father's Day all to himself this year.  Since everything else was different about the holiday this time, I went all the way with the changes and prepared a different kind of meal (instead of a cookout) and a different dessert. My husband loves Trifle, so I fixed this favorite for him.  It's easy and fun to make, and really pretty served in a glass bowl.  It's fun to experiment with different kinds of berries and fruit, and different cake and pudding flavors.  The possibilities are endless, as they say!

STRAWBERRY CREAM CHEESE TRIFLE

1 9-inch yellow, white or pound cake; baked and cooled

1 package of vanilla pudding, prepared, or a recipe for vanilla pudding cooked and cooled

2 quarts strawberries, hulled and cut in half, sprinkled with sugar and allowed to juice for 15-20 minutes or so

2 8-oz packages cream cheese, softened

3/4 cup sugar

1 cup whipping cream

• Cut the cake into cubes, approximately 2 inches square (nothing about this recipe has to be exact)
• Beat the cream cheese and sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth, then slowly add the whipping cream.  Increase the mixer speed to high and beat until light and fluffy.
• Arrange cake cubes in the bottom of the bowl so that they cover completely.
• Drizzle half of the juice from the strawberries over the cake cubes.
• Spoon half the pudding on the cake cubes.
• Arrange about half the strawberries over the cake.
• Spoon half the cream cheese mixture over the berries in the bowl.
• Repeat the layers, and garnish top with a few strawberries.
• Refrigerate for at least an hour.
• Enjoy!
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