Patriotic Cheesecake Filled Strawberries

These little bites of goodness come together quickly with minimal ingredients, and disappear even quicker.  They are the perfect addition to a dessert table, or for when you just want to offer a little taste of sweetness, without the heaviness of a full dessert.  Typically I top them with a slivered almond or leave them bare, but for a little patriotic flair I decided to top with a blueberry to complete the red, white, and blue theme. 

Cheesecake Filled Strawberry Bites
(I've been making these for years, and unfortunately can't remember the original source)

Ingredients:

• 8 oz cream cheese, softened
• 2-3 T powdered sugar, depending on taste
• 1/2 t. vanilla (sometimes I substitute pure almond extract)
• Strawberries

Directions:
While cream cheese comes to room temperature, slice a small sliver off bottom of strawberries so they stand on their own.  Scoop out insides of strawberry with a melon baller. 

Mix ingredients for filling until combined well.  Taste and adjust powdered sugar as desired.  Put filling mixture in pastry bag and fill strawberries.  (No worries if you don't have a pastry bag, just put the mixture into a Ziploc bag and snip the corner off.)

Top with blueberry for patriotic strawberries, slivered almonds, or just leave plain. 

Happy Memorial Day Weekend!