Local strawberries will be ready to pick in the next month, and I can't wait. (Right Heeman's ?) Heeman's farm is our local pick-your-own farm, and we've taken the kids there every June to get real strawberries.
I used to eat the giant mutant strawberries from the grocery store, but realized I don't like the taste of cardboard when I eat my fruit. So, I put off my addiction for the luscious berries for the few weeks in June that we can get our own locally in Southern Ontario.
I finally realized that washing, stemming and freezing them in a single layer in a freezer bag allows me to extend the joy into the depths of winter, but nothing beats the warm juicy first ones of the summer.
A great article from the NPR last week ("The Secret Life of California Strawberries"), provides some nice insight into the massive tasteless strawberries we get the rest of the year. Although these berries have been bred to be big, disease resistant, colourful and productive, it is at the expense of taste. In the case of strawberries, big and beautiful is NOT always better.
Nutritional Benefits
Strawberries are an excellent source of Vitamin C, folic acid, antioxidants and fibre. These vitamins may help boost the immune system, lower blood pressure, lower LDL cholesterol, and improve GI function, not to mention helping to manage weight by making you feel full longer.
RECIPE: STRAWBERRY COMPOTE.
Use this recipe as a topping for ice cream, a spread on toast, or just eat it out of the jar! Just promise me you'll use fresh, local strawberries.
6 Cups Strawberries
1 Cup Sugar
1 Cinnamon Stick
1 Tbsp Balsamic Vinegar
1 Tbsp Grand Marnier
Splash Vanilla (after)
Hull and Halve Strawberries
Mix with Sugar, cinnamon, balsamic and let berries macerate 1 hour in Heavy Saucepan
Stir over medium heat x 20 minutes.
Add vanilla after off heat.
Do you wait all year for local berries, or do you cave in and buy whatever's available?
Let me know!
as a person who picked wild strawberries when I was a kid, I can appreciate not picking the massive ones in lieu of a smaller tastier berry. I always have strawberry shortcake Christmas day with berries I picked in the summer.
ReplyDeleteYup. The shortcake sounds like a great idea! I had just been eating them with some brown sugar and balsamic vinegar!
DeleteI have been lucky to eat Heeman's strawberries all summer from the grocery store in St. Marys. Only made the mistake of buying the imports once ( they seem fine in the winter but oh so bland when you have the real thing). Losing these berries may be the saddest thing about summer ending! Thanks for the freezing reminder, it just may help me up until October ;)
ReplyDeleteGreat blog and such adorable kids!
Hi Catherine,
DeleteThanks for the comments.
Yeah, I love taking out frozen berries in the dead of winter. Taste so much better than what's in the grocery stores!