Keep It in the Family With Sutter Home and This Page-Turner of a Recipe

“I love gingersnaps. We happily ate them growing up, but Mom never thought to use them in a recipe! This is a pretty, light, and fun dessert, perfect for a summer brunch or ladies’ lunch. Makes eight servings.” — Patricia Heaton

What better way to get in the mood to chat about last month’s book club pick — “Family Tree,” by Susan Wiggs — than by indulging in this sweet concoction from one of America’s favorite moms? Patricia Heaton, whom most of us know from “Everybody Loves Raymond” and “The Middle,” dreamed up this divine Raspberry-Lemon Icebox Cake in her new cookbook, “Patricia Heaton’s Food for Family and Friends.” It’s sweet and creamy with a gingersnap crunch, making it pair seamlessly with the light, juicy pear and bright apple flavors of Sutter Home Pinot Grigio.

Pour a glass and let the conversation flow.

Raspberry-Lemon Icebox Cake Ingredients:

• 2 ½ cups heavy cream
• 6 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup confectioners’ sugar
• Zest and juice of 1 lemon
• ½ pint fresh raspberries
• 24 packaged gingersnaps

Raspberry-Lemon Icebox Cake Instructions:

1. In a medium bowl, beat the cream with a hand mixer until soft peaks form. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl, combine the cream cheese and confectioners’ sugar with the lemon juice and zest. Beat until creamy and well blended.
3. Add the raspberries and use a rubber spatula to smash and stir them into the cream cheese mixture. Gently fold in the whipped cream.
4. Line a 9 × 3-inch loaf pan with a sheet of parchment paper long enough to hang over the sides (this will act as a sling to lift out the cake when it’s ready to serve).
5. Arrange 8 gingersnaps in a single layer in the bottom of the pan. Spread 1/3 of the filling over the cookies.
6. Repeat this process twice with the remaining cookies and cream, making 3 layers in all.
7. Chill in the fridge for at least 6 hours, preferably overnight. When ready to serve, lift the cake out of the pan and cut into slices.

Entertainment Tip:

Fresh flowers are also natural energy-lifters. These days, most big grocery stores have floral sections; one big bouquet can be divided into mini-arrangements that will spread the joy around. Arranged artfully, flowers never fail to please.