June 25 is National Strawberry Parfait Day and Mahasti wants you to cool off with her version of this classic, summer treat. She recently shared this recipe on her WBIR cooking segment, where you can catch Mahasti every first and third Saturday of the month. You can also find all of those special recipes right here on our blog. bon appetit!

Tomato Head’s Strawberry Parfait

1 quart strawberries, washed, stemmed and quartered

1.5 cup sour cream

1.5 cup heavy cream

1/2 cup plus 2 Tbl powdered sugar

Your favorite Sugar cookie dough

Make your favorite sugar cookie dough. Scoop the cookies out into small balls onto a cookie sheet and bake the cookies for 10 – 12 minutes or until done. Ideally the cookies will bake up to the size of a half dollar. You will need 3 cookies per parfait. Allow cookies to cool.

While the cookies are baking, wash, stem and quarter the strawberries and set aside. In a medium bowl mix the sour cream, heavy cream, and powdered sugar together with a whisk or hand mixer, until smooth.

To assemble the parfaits:

Place 1 small cookie in the bottom of a glass or bowl. Top with about ¼ cup of sliced strawberries followed by ¼ cup of the sour cream mixture. Place another cookie on top of the sour cream mixture and repeat the process.  Place one more cookie on top and top with ¼ cup more of the sour cream mixture. Parfaits can be assembled up to 6 hours before, or can be eaten immediately.

What do you get when you cross French toast, a waffle and a pancake? We’re calling it a UFO. Once the pita hits the hot griddle, they’ll expand and your breakfast will appear to be from out of this world (and taste like it too).

Mahasti’s recipe calls for a garnish of bananas. You can tell from our photo that we thought the sweetness of fresh strawberries would add another dimension to the plate. With blueberry season just around the corner, you’ve got another great berry available for brunch. Share your success with us on Facebook or Twitter. Bon appetit!

For the Waffle Batter:

½ plus 1/3 cup all purpose flour

2 tsp baking powder

2 tsp sugar

¼ tsp salt

½ tsp cinnamon

1 cup milk

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

1 stick butter, melted

In a small bowl, mix together all dry ingredients. In another small bowl, mix together milk, eggs and vanilla. Add the milk to the dry ingredients and mix well. Add the melted butter and mix until all the melted butter is incorporated.

To Make the UfO’s

Waffle batter

4 pita rounds

4 bananas

Maple syrup

Butter for the pan

Heat a skillet over medium heat, place a little bit of butter in the skillet. Spread the melted butter around with a paper towel or pastry brush. When the skillet is hot, dip one pita in the waffle batter, flipping the pita once to coat both sides. Pick the pita bread up out of the batter and allow some of the batter to drip off. Place the pita on the hot griddle, when the excess batter starts to bubble and dry out (like a pancake) flip the pita over and cook other side. Flip the pita over once or twice until you are certain that the waffle batter has cooked all the way, about 3-4 minutes.

Top cooked pita with a whole banana sliced and maple syrup.

Serves 4-8 – depending on the size of your pitas you can share one between two people.

Every holiday needs a little something special cooked up to celebrate. Father’s Day is no exception. With the season presenting berries of all flavors, Mahasti prepared another memorable dessert for The Tomato Head. You can give this recipe a whirl at home and present it to your favorite fella or come to either the Maryville or Knoxville restaunt today. We’ll be serving it at both locations. Happy Father’s Day!

Tomato Head’s Father’s Day Buttermilk Cake with Fresh Strawberries and Blueberries

2.25 cups all purpose flour

1.25 cups granulated sugar

1 tsp salt

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1 stick butter, cut into small pieces

1.5 tsp vanilla extract

1 cup buttermilk

4 egg whites

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a medium bowl, sift together flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, and baking soda.  Place dry ingredients in the bowl of an electric mixer.  Mix the ingredients with a paddle attachment on low speed.  Gradually add the butter and mix until the mixture resembles sand.  (if you don’t have a mixer you can do this with a biscuit cutter).  Mix together the buttermilk, vanilla and egg whites and gradually add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients.  Beat the mixture on medium high speed for 1 minute ( or with a wooden spoon until well mixed)

Pour batter into a parchment lined 9 X 13 baking pan.  Bake in the middle of the oven for 30 – 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.  Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 10 minutes.  Remove the cake to a cooling rack and allow the cake to come to room temperature before serving.

Whipped Cream

1 cup heavy cream

1 Tbsp confectioners sugar

1 tsp vanilla

Place all the ingredients in the bowl of a stand mixer with a whisk attachment.  Beat until whipped cream is the consistency you desire.  ( If you don’t have a mixer this can be done with a whisk.)

Cut the cake into desired size pieces and serve with fresh whipped cream, sliced strawberries and fresh blueberries.