They say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.  (And I’m sure it will work for gals, too.  This year for Valentine’s Day, make your Valentine a special meal and top it off with one of these beautiful and tasty desserts.  Or, maybe he’s taking you out.  No problem, bring him back to your kitchen for one of these special desserts.  You are sure to impress him!  Short on time?  No problem for you.  Make these lovely little So, So, Easy Baby Strawberry Tarts.  GUYS, these baby tarts are so easy you can surprise her with these pretty and tasty little tarts.  Sonny James’ Year ‘Round Strawberry Cake makes a beautiful two-layer cake presentation.  For Valentine’s Day you could even sprinkle some red and white mini-heart decorative sugar over the top.  Other decorative ideas follow the recipe below

SO, SO, EASY; BABY STRAWBERRY TARTS

8-oz strawberry light cream cheese spread

1 box (2.1 oz) frozen baked mini fillo dough shells, room temperature

1 pint fresh small ripe strawberries, rinsed but not stemmed

Spoon the cream cheese spread into a pastry bag or a large heavy-duty plastic zip-top bag fitted with a large star tip. Pipe the spread into the fillo cups. Pick the prettiest 15 strawberries and slice each berry about 3 times from the tip almost to the stem. Fan the slices and place atop the filling. Serve immediately. Perfect little dessert cups for many different occasions.

Note: These baby berry tarts really add color to a buffet table or dessert table anytime of the year.

SONNY JAMES’ YEAR ‘ROUND STRAWBERRY CAKE

Sonny James was a very popular country music entertainer and Grand Old Opry star when I was a teenager. I got this recipe on a trip to Nashville, Tennessee in the early 70s. Sonny James said this was one of the favorite cakes served on his cattle ranch in Alabama. And he always had it waiting when his father visited for Sunday dinner.

1 pkg white cake mix

1 pkg (3-oz) strawberry jello

3 tbsps flour

1 cup salad oil

1/2 cup water

4 eggs

1 pkg (10-oz) frozen strawberries, thawed

1 stick margarine

1 box confectioner’s sugar

Combine the cake mix, jello, and flour in a large mixing bowl. Add oil and water and blend well. Add eggs, one at a time, beating one minute after each addition. Fold half of the strawberries into the batter. Grease two cake pans, line bottoms with waxed paper circles and grease again. Pour in the batter. Bake at 350 degrees for about 40 minutes. Cool and place one layer on the serving plate.  Cover the top with icing.  Add the second layer and spread with icing made from the margarine, sugar and remaining strawberries.   For Valentine’s Day you could use extra berry halves to form a heart on the top of the cake.  Or serve the cake on a pretty pedestal cake pan and place fresh strawberries around the bottom edge of the cake.  Place 3 whole berries, with stems still attached, in the center of the top of the cake.

Enjoy!