As American as baseball, apple pie and my born-on-the-4th-of-July husband, chicken salad takes center stage on picnic menus and buffet tables across the fruited plain. In our refrigerator, chicken salad is as much a staple as eggs and butter. It is Mike's favorite choice for a quick satisfying bite, whether sandwiched or piled onto a bed of greens, that he (operative word is "he") manages to put together himself. Needless to say, I try to always have it on hand!

So beautifully spring with strawberries, it's what dessert dreams are made of, complete with cake, custard, whipped cream and the season's fresh picked berries; Strawberry Trifle is one of my all time favorites!

The 4 components of a trifle are the fruit, the custard, the "cake" and the whipped cream. And please, do not call this a "dump" or "compost" cake! So much more sophisticated than that, it is the original layered beauty, bright with elegance, so sublime, and a worthy finale for your finest feast. 

Trifles can be made as individual desserts as well by layering the components into your best stemware. However you choose to