Developed around 2001 by Parisian chefs, verrines now are one of the hottest trends among American chefs and entertainers. They have a structured design that looks complicated but is simply delicious. Making them couldn't be simpler!

Verrines are individual servings of appetizers or desserts served in clear glasses to show off each layer of culinary goodness. The name comes simply from the French word for glass - verre - and the straight forward layering method means you don't have to be a master chef to create your own version of the dish.

Today colorful verrines often adorn the windows of Parisian specialty food shops, the perfect display case for the colors and textures each verrine shows off. But you don't have to be a top chef to design you own tr?s bon verrines.

Here are two extra easy verrines - so be the first of your friends to serve this sophisticatedly fun dish!

Quick Fresh App: Goat cheese fruit verrines

Want the style of verrines in the absolute minimum amount of prep time? The Ile de France Goat Cheese and fruit verrine is your choice. It's a great example of the verrine making process: Take three things that go well together and artfully arrange them in a small, clear glass.

Simply mix goat cheese and honey together with a hand mixer into a fluffed compound (the ratio of goat cheese to honey should be about four to one). Add a large dollop of the cheese mixture to the bottom of a large clear shot glass or similar lowball style glass. Top that with a layer of blueberries, followed by another layer of the cheese-honey mixture and another layer of a different chopped fruit, like raspberries or pears.

In just a few minutes you'll have a delicious and unique verrine filled with fresh flavors - simply perfect for a casual spring gathering!

Quick Light Treat: Chocolate Strawberry St. Albray verrines

Sweet, cool and crisp, dessert verrines is the ideal finishing touch for a warm spring evening. Festive in style and sinfully flavorful in taste, a verrine with chocolate mousse, strawberries and St. Albray is sure to be as big a hit as a bright sunny spring day.

To make it, simply spoon the bottoms of your glasses with St. Albray cheese. Add a dense layer of chocolate mousse, and a top layer of chopped strawberries or a thick strawberry sauce.

For the mousse, use your own favorite recipe or, if you want something extra simple, try this: Whip a pint of heavy whipping cream until it peaks. Add about a pint of fudge ice cream topping and three teaspoons of cocoa. Mix the ingredients together and freeze until the mixture is dense enough that your strawberry topping rests comfortable on top of it in the verrine!

This verrine combination not only makes for fabulous flavor - it also packs a big time visual punch with a striking cream, brown and bright red color combo!

More Secrets of Verrines, as well as hundreds of gourmet recipes featuring French cheese and French cooking techniques, are available free at http://www.IledeFranceCheese.com