Strawberry

Garden strawberries are a common variety of strawberry cultivated worldwide. The Garden Strawberry was first bred in Europe in the early 18th century. Strawberries not only taste great, they offer an explosion of nutritional and healthy benefits for an everyday Healthy Life. A healthy diet will give you and your family the proper nutrients that can lead to a longer, healthier life.

Greek mythology firmly places the origins of the wild strawberry with the Goddess Aphrodite who, upon the death of the beautiful, but mortal Adonis wept with such passion that her tears fell to the ground as small red hearts... strawberries. Not surprising, then, that in the Middle Ages, strawberries became known as the fruit of temptation and seduction.

Fresh berry season begins with strawberries, the most popular of all berries. Although strawberries can be found in supermarkets almost any time of year, during late spring and early summer locally grown berries are ripe and ready to eat and enjoy in many areas across the country. Fresh strawberries have a delicious naturally sweet taste but there's only about 50 calories in a whole cup!

The bulk of U.S. strawberries come from California whose harvesting begins in Southern California and advances northward as the season progresses. Peak season comes between April and June, but nearly 50 percent of the California crop is harvested after June 1, making sure there are plenty of strawberries available in the late summer and into early fall

When shopping strawberries, have these tips in your mind.

• Look for bright red berries with a shiny exterior and no bruises.
• Make sure the green hull is fresh looking.
• Make sure there are no mold spots.
• Check the bottom of the container. If it's wet, then the berries have begun to spoil.
• Buy large or small berries; size does not correlate directly to flavor.

Tips on Strawberries:

• Do not wash fresh strawberries or remove the caps until you're ready to eat them or use them in a recipe.
• Store strawberries in a covered container in the refrigerator and use them as soon as possible after you buy them.
• To wash strawberries, place them in a large strainer or colander and rinse with cool water.
• Remove their caps with the point of a paring knife or gently twist and pull them off.

• Eat fresh strawberries the day you buy them.
• Otherwise, refrigerate by placing berries in a paper-towel lined plastic container. They should last 4-7 days.
• Keep berries dry with the green hull intact until you are ready to eat them.
• Remove the hull with a pairing knife.
• To freeze strawberries, remove the hull, rinse, and pat dry.
• Place on a cookie sheet and freeze. Once frozen, place in Ziploc bags, and enjoy year-round.
• The consistency will be softer, so they are best used in smoothies, jams, or sauces

Another method to store Strawberries:

• Wash the strawberries.
• Destem them.
• Cut them into bite-size pieces.
• Cover them with a layer of brown sugar mix and then a little more sugar.
• The sugar preserves them and adds sweetness.
• The strawberries do soften some, but they stay sweet and somewhat fresh.

Strawberries are recognized as having more vitamin C than some citrus fruits. They are also high in fiber, folate, potassium and antioxidants, making them a natural means of reducing the chances of heart disease, high blood pressure and certain cancers. With only 55 calories per one cup serving, and containing 140% of the recommended daily dose of vitamin C for children, it makes sense to add this fruit to your daily menus. Strawberries are also a source for antioxidants and studies rank strawberries second among the top ten fruits in antioxidant capacity.

Strawberries are not only good - they are good for you. One serving of strawberries (about 8 strawberries) is an excellent source of vitamin C. You may be surprised to hear that a single serving of strawberries provides more vitamin C than an orange!

Strawberry and Kiwi Gelatin Dessert

Ingredients

• 1 Cup boiling water
• 1 Reddi-wip Original Whipped Light Cream
• 1 PAM Original No-Stick Cooking Spray
• 1 Package strawberry flavored gelatin (4-serving size)
• 1 Cup strawberry-kiwi juice chilled
• 1 Cup sliced fresh strawberries
• 2 Medium kiwi peeled

Directions

• Spray 9x9-inch square pan with cooking spray.
• Set aside.
• Stir boiling water into dry gelatin in medium bowl until completely dissolved, about 2 minutes.
• Stir in juice.
• Pour into prepared pan.
• Cover & refrigerate 4 hours, or until firm.
• Cut gelatin into 1-inch squares; spoon evenly into 4 dessert dishes.
• Top evenly with strawberries and kiwi.
• Top each dessert with a serving of Reddi-wip just before serving.

Ingredients

• Butter - 50g
• Cake flour - 67g
• Milk -75ml
• Eggs - 5
• Sugar - 67g
• Salt // pinch
• Strawberries - 1 lb
• Whipping cream - 315ml
• Icing sugar - 1/3 cup
• Strawberry liqour - 1 tbsp

Directions

• Melt butter over low heat, remove from heat when melt. Add in cake flour, milk, 1 egg and 5 egg yolks. Stir constantly until combined.
• Place egg whites in large bowl. Add in salt and sugar (in 3 additions). Whip until stiff peak.
• Fold egg yolk mixture gently into egg whites in 2 additions until combined. Pour into the cake pan and drop the cake pan gently to release bubbles.
• Bake 160C/320F 30 minutes, place the cake upside down when remove from the oven. Set aside until cool.
• Wash the strawberries, remove stem. Choose 8 to10 smaller size strawberries for decoration. Havles them.
• Whip cream until ribbon. Add in icing sugar and liqour. Continue to whip until soft peaks.
• Place the cake on a flat surface, cut out the top, and slice the rest into 2 layers.
• Brush liqour or syrup on each layer. Spread a thin layer of whipped cream on the bottom layer.
• Arrange whole strawberries from outside towards center. Fill the gaps with whipped cream and cover with another layer.
• Spread whipped cream around and the top of the cake. Place the halved strawberries for decoration.

Fruit jellies are a lovely way of serving fruit and served chilled they are perfect as a refreshing dessert on a hot day. The fructose in the grape juice provides enough natural sweetness without needing to add any sugar.

Ingredients:

• 570ml White Grape Juice
• 4 sheets Leaf Gelatine
• 455g Strawberries

Directions:

• Cut the gelatine into small pieces with scissors and place in a pan with half the grape juice. Leave to soak for 10 minutes.
• Reserve 4 strawberries for decoration and hull the rest.
• Cut the hulled strawberries into quarters, length ways, and then divide between 4 wine glasses.
• Heat the soaked gelatine and grape juice over a low heat and stir until the gelatine has dissolved. (Don't allow the mixture to boil).
• Remove from the heat, add the remaining grape juice and stir well.
• To stop the strawberries from floating to the top of the glasses only pour in enough jelly to just cover the strawberries.
• Place the glasses in the fridge and leave to set, keeping the remaining jelly mixture at room temperature.
• Once they have just set divide the remaining jelly between the glasses and return to the fridge. Leave overnight to set fully.
• Serve chilled and decorated with the remaining strawberries.