Strawberries Romanoff

3 pints fresh strawberries, rinsed, hulled, and halved

1/2 cup Grand Marnier, divided

1 tablespoon sugar

1 cup heavy cream

1 pint vanilla ice cream, softened

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

4 mint sprigs, for garnish

In a glass or ceramic bowl, combine the strawberries, 2 tablespoons Grand Marnier and sugar. Cover and allow to marinate in the refrigerator for 2 hours.

In a chilled mixing bowl, whip he heavy cream until it forms stiff peaks. In another chilled bowl, beat the vanilla ice cream with a wooden spoon. With a rubber spatula, fold the whipped cream, lemon juice and remaining Grand Marnier into the ice cream; blend until the mixture is smooth.

Arrange some of the strawberries on the bottom of the four parfait glasses, followed by some of the whipped ice cream. Top with more strawberries and more whipped ice cream and garnish each with a mint sprig. Serve at once.

NOTE: If you don’t have parfait glasses, iced-tea glasses or even a cereal bowl will make a fine substitute.