When I daydream about my future self, I envision hours in my huge, state-of-the-art kitchen in my even larger house located in the Hamptons. After spending the day shopping at various markets, where I happen to be on a first name basis with the shopkeepers, my husband and I will reminisce about the many romantic places we’ve traveled as we lunch on a home cooked meal inspired by those memories in our lush backyard.

If you think my hopes and dreams sound familiar, they should; I aspired to one day be Ina Garten, host of the cooking show Barefoot Contessa. While I’m at times jealous of her life, I truly think she’s fabulous and I adore her. Her recipes are sophisticated and interesting, yet she isn’t above cutting corners when she can. This recipe for sweet, fruit salad with lemon yogurt is quick and easy thanks to the addition of store-bought lemon curd.

Fruit Salad with Lemon Yogurt
Adapted from Ina Garten

• 7 ounces Greek yogurt (recommended: Fage Total)
• 1/3 cup good bottled lemon curd
• 1 tablespoon honey
• ¼ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 2 cups sliced strawberries
• 1 cup raspberries
• 1 cup blueberries
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 3 tablespoons lemon juice
• Fresh mint springs

For the lemon yogurt topping, whisk together the yogurt, lemon curd, honey, and vanilla and set aside at room temperature. For the fruit salad, carefully toss together the strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, sugar, and lemon juice. Allow them to stand at room temperature for about 5 minutes to let the berries macerate with the sugar and lemon juice. Serve bowls of fruit with a dollop of lemon yogurt on top. Top each with a sprig of fresh mint.

Fruit is an all-natural dessert, and it’s perfect for those looking to still honor the requests of their sweet tooth while being gentle on the waistline. I can’t promise mixing it with granulated sugar maintains any of its nutritious properties, but I do guarantee you will feel less guilty than, say, eating a slice of chocolate cake or a few scoops of ice cream. The original recipe calls for Limoncello, a lemon flavored Italian liqueur. I found that a few tablespoons of lemon juice serves the same purpose while keeping the dish friendly for kids of all ages. The highlight is the creamy, citrusy yogurt; both the Greek yogurt and the curd have similar tart flavors, which are balanced when combined with the sweet, syrupy fruit.

I feel this dish sums Ina up pretty well: though the flavors seem fancy, none of the ingredients or steps are overwhelming. While she may live a lifestyle that seems, at times, lavish, her recipes are anything but pretentious. For now, I will enjoy this fruit salad with my future husband in our perfect house as we plan the many trips we will take to romantic places. I may envy Ina now and again, but I wouldn’t trade what I have for anything – even a house in the Hamptons.

Casey Ann is a local foodie and blogger. Check out her recipes and reviews at www.cleanpl8.com.