Strawberry and Mascarpone Cream Parfait with Balsamic Syrup

Pin It Now! Creamy, vanilla, sweet, summery, decadent and just plain scrumptuous.  Found this recipe from Lynda at Taste Food Blog.

The only thing I did different was made homemade whip cream thanks to a certain someone.  And I'm SO glad I did.  It's easy!  Great dessert for impressing guests.  It took everything in me to not lick the entire bowl...you have been warned.

Serves 6-8

Ingredients
1/3 cup (80 ml.) balsamic vinegar
4 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
8 oz. (250 g.) chilled mascarpone cheese(organic if you can find it)
2 cups (500 ml.) whipping cream (recipe below)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 lbs. (1 kg.) strawberries, hulled and halved
6-8 whole strawberries
Fresh mint leaves

Prepare the Balsamic Syrup:
Combine vinegar, 1 tablespoon sugar and lemon juice in small saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring until sugar dissolves. Boil until syrup is reduced by half, about 4 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl and cool completely. (Syrup can be made one day in advance. Cover and refrigerate.)
Prepare the Mascarpone Whipped Cream:
In a mixing bowl combine mascarpone cheese, whipping cream(see below for homemade recipe), 2 tablespoons sugar and vanilla. Beat until soft peaks form. Cover and refrigerate up to 4 hours.
30 minutes before serving, combine strawberries and balsamic syrup in a bowl. Add 1 tablespoon sugar. Toss gently to combine. Let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes.
Divide half the strawberries among 8 glass goblets. Spoon half the cream mixture over the strawberries. Top cream mixture with remaining strawberries. Top with cream mixture. Drizzle with any remaining syrup.

Homemade whipped cream
Found this on allrecipes:

Ingredients

• 1 cup heavy cream


• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract


• 1 tablespoon confectioners' sugar

Directions

1. In a large bowl, whip cream until stiff peaks are just about to form. Beat in vanilla and sugar until peaks form. Make sure not to over-beat, cream will then become lumpy and butter-like.