Cheesecake Stuffed Berries 

This treat is so easy to make, but it’s a scrumptious dessert that is sure to disappear fast this spring. 

What You’ll Need: 

• 1 tablespoon of amaretto
• 1/3 cup of powdered sugar
• 16 large strawberries 
• 4 ounces of cream cheese (or reduced fat cream cheese), softened 

How to Make It: 
Beat cream cheese and powdered sugar until they are well blended. Add the amaretto, continuing to beat until fully incorporated. Cut a thin slice off the bottom of the strawberries. Remove hulls and use a paring knife to hollow them out slightly. Pipe the cream cheese mixture into the berries. Chill until serving. 

Basil Strawberry Ice Cream 

As the weather warms up, this is a refreshing treat that’s easy to whip up. 

What You’ll Need: 

• 2 tablespoons of sugar
• 1 can (14 oz) of sweetened condensed milk
• 1/8 teaspoon of salt 
• 1 can (5 oz) of evaporated milk
• 2 tablespoons of fresh basil, chopped
• 1½ cups of whole milk
• 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, fresh
• 1 16-ounce container of strawberries (fresh), chopped coarsely 

How to Make It: 
Whisk together the whole milk, condensed milk, evaporated milk, salt, and sugar. Cover and refrigerate for two hours. In a food processor, pulse the lemon juice, basil, and strawberries 5-6 times until they are finely chopped. Stir strawberries into the milk mixture. Pour into a freezer container for a 1-quart electric ice cream maker. Freeze according to the instructions from the manufacturer. Remove container from the ice cream maker, freezing it for 30 minutes. Place mixture into a loaf pan covered well with foil or an airtight container. Continue freezing for 3-4 hours or until the ice cream is firm. 

Strawberries Bordeaux Style 

Need a fancy dessert you can whip up fast. This recipe takes only a few minutes to make, and your guests will be impressed. 

What You’ll Need: 

• Sauce:
  • 2 tablespoons of sugar
  • 1½ teaspoons of vanilla extract
  • 2 cups of Bordeaux 
  • 1 tablespoon of minute tapioca 
• Berries:
  • 3 tablespoons of sugar
  • 1 pound of fresh ripe strawberries, hulls removed
  • 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract 

How to Make It: 

Combine the sugar, tapioca, and wine in a saucepan, heating on medium. Cook for seven minutes, ensuring that tapioca dissolves completely and the mixture begins to thicken. Stir regularly with a whisk. Remove the pan from the heat, stirring in the 1½ teaspoons of vanilla. Pour into a bowl, setting it in a bowl of ice water to cool down to room temperature.   

Prepare berries by combining hulled berries with vanilla and sugar. Allow to stand for 15-20 minutes, stirring from time to time. 

Divide the berries among four wine glasses. Top with the sauce. Serve immediately. 

Strawberries make the most delicious desserts, and all three of these options are super easy to create. Don’t forget, if any of your guests this spring are looking for apartments in Chicago, have them call our office to find out what options we have available. 

The post Strawberries are in Season: 3 Great Spring Desserts to Make with Strawberries appeared first on The Belden-Stratford Blog.

Candy Colors

With the identification of Living Coral as the color of the year comes a wide array of gorgeous candy colors to enjoy. As with the rich coral hues of 2019, these candy colors should exude happiness and brighten your mood at a glance. Choose the ones that speak to you most, and then pick up throw pillows, blankets and other decor pieces in those hues.

Wicker Accents

Wicker accents are all the rage this year. You can add wicker to any room in your house to give it an interesting splash of color and texture. You can find wicker baskets, chairs, tables and more in a wide range of colors or even paint your own.

Stone Elements Throughout Your Chicago Apartments

With their smooth textures and natural tones, stone elements can beautifully balance the candy colors and wicker accents you add to your apartments in Chicago. You can find stone decor elements in the form of knickknacks, lamps, and tables. You can also fill decorative dishes with smooth river rocks or polished stones in interesting patterns.

Vintage Lamps

Vintage lamps will bring your spring design together beautifully. You can find vintage lamps in any style imaginable. You just have to choose a design that will work best with your other interior design elements. Select a combination of table and floor lamps to add height and variation to your design. You can also acquire vintage bulbs to go with your lamps if you want to go that route.

As you add these decorative elements to your apartments, your interior design will start to come together wonderfully. As you complete this project, reflect on other ways to improve your living space. If you would like to explore your apartment upgrade options, contact us at The Belden-Stratford by calling 866-452-6177.

The post Spring Decor Trends for Your Apartments in Chicago appeared first on The Belden-Stratford Blog.