My Photos from last season……….
Memories, like the corners of my mind……..
Celebrate! Today is the last day of February!!!!!!!!!! Hooraaaahhhhhhh! (I am jumping up and down, can you see me?)
Before I forget, check out the cover story of this week’s New York Magazine, where buttercream is made into high fashion!
Okay, a little sanity now, well, maybe that isn’t exactly true….. Yesterday, February 27, was National Strawberry Day. I put the date in there just to remind myself that it is indeed February and not May. Does this make sense to anyone? Let’s just see, where are strawberries in season now except for, perhaps Florida? Maybe it is just a teaser or some form of torture or something. Yes, we see strawberries in the market year-round, but the quality and flavor of these varies wildly. Nothing beats a fresh strawberry just picked from your own garden, or locally grown in general. And, if you haven’t been to California in September, well, you’ve missed something – I highly recommend the Santa Barbara Farmer’s Market! In France and Italy, they have their own celebrations for the fraises des bois, tiny wild strawberries and fragoline di bosco in Italy……IN SEASON – again, don’t they just celebrate the best things in those two countries!
Aside from being one of the most delicious – sweet, tart, slightly piquant, luscious, and versatile of fruits, there has been a lot of buzz about the health benefits of Strawberries lately. I just read that the ancient Romans believed that strawberries could cure fevers, fainting, inflammation and are used to whiten teeth(?) Strawberries are now considered right up there with the healthiest of fruits: you can read all about them in a multitude of articles – but here is one recent one:
www.huffingtonpost.com/…/strawberries-blueberries-heart-attack-ris…
Hmmm. The anti-inflammation thing is the most interesting to me. Many health “people” believe that inflammation is the source of many degenerative diseases. Nicholas Perricone was the first physician that I read who promoted this idea in the mainstream.
Well, anyway, let’s just suspend all rational thought and pretend that we are actually in strawberry season. (As with the happy hour theory, it is strawberry season somewhere, right?)
Well, here is an inventory of what I love, when it comes to strawberries:
Strawberry Ice Cream – my favorite growing up and I still go for this when I can
Fresh Strawberry Pie
Chocolate Covered Strawberries – as on Valentine’s Day
Strawberry Tart with pastry cream
Strawberries have become popular in salads, sauces for savory dishes and, well are a versatile, all-around addition to many meals…… Nothing beats a bowl of cereal topped with sliced strawberries, or a bowl of plain yogurt with fresh strawberries and granola, right?
I made a strawberry barbecue sauce once, and typically all berries, and most fruits in general are great compliments to a grilled pork tenderloin, say.
The cover recipe of Melissa Clark and Bill Yosses, book, The Perfect Finish, just about says it all, doesn’t it?
A few Strawberry Recipes to peruse and try:
www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/…/strawberry-recipes_n_1478402.ht…
This looks amazing: http://www.thekitchn.com/recipe-review-strawberry-tart-86877
And, being that I am a big fan of the chocolate/strawberry combination, I may fool around with this recipe:http://bakingbites.com/2012/07/double-chocolate-strawberry-tart/
Nick Malgieri’s Perfect Light Desserts book (worth the investment!) has a great compendium:
-with balsamic vinegar and tarragon
-in cooked sauce
-frozen yogurt
-in fruit fondue
-gelato
-granita
-in gratin of summer berries
-lemon cheese tart with…
-meringue tart
-mousse
-in not just any fruit salad
-in old-fashioned tart
-rhubarb compote with sugared pecans
-sauce, fresh
-souffle, fresh
-souffles, individual
So, make believe it’s May today and try one of these! I’m going into the kitchen now to make Strawberry-Banana Scones for Christin – will report……..