Hello, I’m Ashlea Carver! I use food to build connections — to friends, my larger community, and myself.
Recipe creator and wellness writer Ashlea Carver sees food as a tool for connection, both within her own community (“food is the starting point for so many conversations,” she says, “I would never have people over without offering them something to eat or drink”) and beyond. As in, when Carver looks at a crate of strawberries, she doesn’t just think about the incredible crisp she’s going to make — she considers where the fruit came from. “I am someone who really wants to honor the food and the people who had to work very hard to get it to this table,” she says. “It’s important to remember that this is something meaningful, and it’s something for us to gather around.” Carver’s view on wellness, a subject she often tackles on her website, All the Healthy Things, is similarly expansive. “When you're eating, you're usually with family or friends, and these times can be so important for your mental and emotional health,” she says. “It's food that is usually the connection point there. There are so many ways you can use it not only to nourish, but to build bonds.”
Discovering Your ‘Back Pocket’ Recipes
Ashlea Carver has perfected the art of the “back pocket” meal — a recipe that looks impressive, but can still be thrown together quickly when company is on the way. “I love a super easy dessert like a fruit crisp,” she says. “I can pop it in the oven and it still gives me time to entertain my guests, and I know it will be really comforting for them and comforting for me to make as well.” Other go-tos that Carver can conjure from a fresh Safeway haul: lasagna, pot roast, and roasted chicken (her signature version is cooked on a rack of carrots and celery). “These are recipes that allow me to spend time with the people I love,” she says. “They’re showstoppers but I don’t have to be in the kitchen monitoring every pan to make sure everything is perfect.”
Mini Warm Strawberry Crostata With Cream Cheese Pastry
if food could talk, what would it say about you?
“You’re the
ultimate party
planner.”
Shopping List
- Cream cheese
- Strawberries
- All-purpose flour
- Unsalted butter
- Cinnamon
- Cornstarch
- Sugar
- Salt
- Parchment Paper
Shop this list and more at Safeway.com.
Fresh Insider
Tips
Safeway’s team of Fresh Associates is always available to help you make the most of your shopping trip.
Create a centerpiece. Throwing a party? Safeway’s florists can help you create custom arrangements to set the mood.
Place a party-size order. If you know you’ll be feeding a crowd, or want to cook something extra-special, Safeway’s butchers and seafood pros can help you place a custom order.
Mini Warm Strawberry Crostata With
Cream Cheese Pastry
- ¼ block cream cheese (8 ounces)
- ½ of a 16-ounce package of strawberries
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 3 tablespoons salt
- ½ fluid ounce water
Directions
- Combine flour and salt in a medium-size bowl.
- Using a box grater, coarsely grate cold butter and cream cheese into the bowl with the flour. With two hands, combine the ingredients until the mixture looks crumbly.
- Add cold water to the bowl and continue to mix with your hands until it forms a dough.
- Divide the dough into 2 equal portions; pat each portion into a ½-inch thick disk. Wrap each disk tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour (or overnight).
- Once the dough has chilled, preheat oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Wash and slice strawberries into ¼-inch thick rounds; place in a bowl.
- Add sugar, cornstarch, and cinnamon to the bowl with the strawberries and gently toss to coat. Set aside.
- Sprinkle some flour over a flat work surface. With a rolling pin, work each half of the dough into a circle about ⅛-inch thick and 7 inches in diameter. Transfer dough to the baking sheet.
- Arrange strawberries in the center of each circle, making sure to leave a 1½-inch border of dough. Drizzle any leftover juices over the fruit.
- Gently fold crust edges up toward the center, overlapping folds slightly, and pinch each fold to enclose the fruit.
- Place crostatas in the oven and bake, rotating the baking sheet halfway through, until filling is bubbly and the pastry is golden brown, 25-30 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool slightly.
- To serve, divide warm crostatas between plates and enjoy!
More Meal Ideas
For more fresh foods to inspire your own gatherings, visit Safeway.com.
