Cool, Creamy Strawberry Parfait

What better ending to an open-air meal than a cool and creamy dessert designed for warm-weather dining? Strawberry Crunch Parfait alternates layers of amaretto-flavored strawberry ice cream, made extra rich with chopped strawberries and cream, and a chocolate-nut mixture in dessert dishes or parfait glasses. Freeze until ready to serve.

STRAWBERRY CRUNCH PARFAIT

1 1/2 quarts strawberry ice cream

1 cup strawberries, chopped

1/3 cup amaretto

1/4 cup whipping cream

1 cup pistachios or almonds, finely chopped

2 ounces semisweet chocolate, finely chopped

Whole strawberries, optional

Slightly soften ice cream. Combine with chopped strawberries, amaretto and whipping cream. Mix nuts and chocolate.

Fill dessert dishes or parfait glasses half-full with ice cream mixture. Spoon 2 tablespoons nut mixture on top of each. Fill remainder of glass with ice cream mixture and sprinkle nuts on top. Freeze 4 hours or overnight. Garnish each serving with strawberry, cut into fan shape. Makes 8 servings.