Strawberry and Honey Pashka

This version af a tradional Russian dessert of cream cheese flavored with honey is ideal for dinner parties - make it a day in advance for best results. A flowerpot shape is traditional, but you could make it in any shape at all. The small porcelain heart-shaped molds with draining holes for coeurs á la crème make pretty alternative. It is also very pretty to have a handful of pink rosepetals for decoration -

• Ready In: 30 mins
• Serves: 8-10

Ingredients

• 1 1⁄2 cups cottage cheese or 1 1⁄2 cups cream cheese
• 3⁄4 cup  natural yogurt
• 2  tablespoons clear honey
• 1⁄2 teaspoon rose water
• 2  cups strawberries

Directions

1. If using cottage cheese, drain off any liqid and pour cheese into a sieve. Use a wooden spoon to rub it through sieve into a mixing bowl. If using cream cheese, simply beat lighty to soften,.
2. Stir in yogurt, honey and rosewater. Chop about half the strawberries and stir into cheese mixture.
3. Line a new clean flowerpot with fine cheesecloth and tip cheese mixture into it. Leave it to drain over a mixing bowl for several hours, or overnight.
4. Invert flowerpot onto a serving plate, turn out pashka and remove cheesecloth.
5. Slice the remainder of the strawberries, leaving the greenery in place, and use with a handful of pink rose petals to decorate.