Yield: 8 Servings

INGREDIENTS:
2/3 cup sugar
2/3 cup water
1 1/2 pint baskets fresh California strawberries
1 1/2 cups cantaloupe cubes
2 tablespoons creme de cassis (black currant liqueur), optional
Strawberry Cream Sauce (recipe follows)
1 1/2 cups cantaloupe and/or honeydew melon balls
Mint sprigs

DIRECTIONS:

In small saucepan, stir sugar and water over medium heat to dissolve sugar. Bring to boiling; reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes. Cool to room temperature. Stem 1 basket of the strawberries and puree in container of electric blender with the cantaloupe cubes, lemon juice and creme de cassis. Stir in cooled sugar mixture. Pour into shallow bowl and freeze until mixture is firm about 1 inch around edge. Break up with spoon and beat until almost smooth. Cover and freeze several hours until firm. To serve, set aside strawberry cantaloupe ice at room temperature 20 minutes. Spoon 2 tablespoons Strawberry Cream Sauce each into 8 shallow serving dishes. Top with melon balls, small scoops of strawberry cantaloupe ice and the remaining strawberries, dividing equally. Garnish with mint sprigs.

STRAWBERRY CREAM SAUCE:

Stem 1/2 basket strawberries and puree in container of electric blender. Stir in 1/4 cup whipping cream and 1 tablespoon powdered sugar.

Thanks to the California Strawberry Commission for this great recipe.