8 creme fresh recipes

This creamy and earthy rich mushroom soup gets it's earthiness from shitake mushrooms and rich creaminess from cashews instead of cream for a healthier result than a cream based bisque. It sacrifices the fat to deliver flavor.

Shrimp ceviche "cooked" in fresh lime juice with green onions and capers, folded with homemade creme fraiche. An elegant make-ahead appetizer served on lettuce or scallop shells.

Homemade creme fraiche from whipping cream and sour cream, cultured 24 hours at room temperature. Serve as a dipping sauce with fresh strawberries.

Fire-roasted poblano chiles line a pie pan and cradle a creamy filling of Monterey Jack, eggs, garlic, and homemade crema fresca. A savory Mexican chile pie baked golden.

Elegant French layer cake with genoise, fresh strawberries, buttercream, and crème fraîche whipped cream. This show-stopping dacquoise is soaked with Framboise liqueur.

Poached chicken breasts in white wine and stock, with a cheese-and-crème-fraîche pan sauce reduction. Served over fresh spinach with chives. French bistro elegance in 30 minutes.

Soupe de saumon a la creme is a French salmon cream soup made with a homemade fish stock, diced salmon, and whipped cream finished with fresh dill. An elegant, light first course for a dinner party.

Shrimp cheese pate with tiny Danish shrimp, soft cheese, sherry, and black pepper beaten until smooth. A no-cook Scandinavian-style appetizer spread ready in 15 minutes.