Diana Sauce for Berries

Before the strawberries disappear, I have to share one more recipe with you. This is a recipe a friend passed on to me after she learned it from other friends in the restaurant biz. Three simple ingredients -- sour cream, brown sugar and vanilla -- meld together to create one of the best sauces I've ever tasted. The first time I watched her make this was for a party. By the end of the evening, we'd run out of berries, so we switched to crackers. Then we just gave up all pretenses and finished it off with spoons. It is true creamy, vanilla velvet. I've been making this for years and have yet to find anyone who isn't instantly enamored after tasting it. And it's so simple!

I have to confess that I never measure anything when I make this. I did measure it this time to give you a guideline, but you'll learn to make it by sight and taste too. Start with these amounts and then adjust them to your taste.

I've made this with regular, low-fat and even non-fat sour cream. You truly cannot tell the difference. The only fussy part about this is that you need to let it sit on the counter for just a few minutes after stirring it all together to let the brown sugar melt. Then you can stir it again and it will be smooth and luscious. Taste it at that point and decide if you need to add any more vanilla or brown sugar.

I usually make this to serve on the side of a big bowl of strawberries or mixed berries -- strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, whatever you like. But it also makes a really good sauce for a berry trifle. Layer pound cake or angel food cake cubes with berries and put this sauce in between. The berries elevate the sauce and the sauce elevates the berries. As it should be.

I've also seen this sauce made with brandy. You can try that too. But I like it better like this. Try it and make it your own.

I've given you amounts here for a small bowl, as shown in the photo. But you can easily muliply this for whatever quantity you want.



Diana Sauce

8 ounces sour cream
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

Stir together ingredients, then let rest until sugar melts.

Stir again until completely combined.

Sample it and adjust with more vanilla or brown sugar to taste.

Serve with your favorite berries.