Mmmmm... Can you remember biting into a big, sweet, juicy strawberry when you were little? Can you feel the juice running down your chin? Strawberries can create some vivid food memories for many people because they are so good! Today, you can get strawberries at the market almost all year round thanks to quick shipping, but they are not the same as eating those freshly picked, perfectly ripe berries right out of your own garden.
You do not need a green thumb to grow strawberries, and once you taste freshly picked berries, store bought will never be the same again. Growing your own berries in a pot or in the garden will let you have the best berries for a bowl of fruit and cream, or even just a berry or two cut up in your morning cereal.
The strawberries that we recognize today are originally American, and they are a hybrid of a species from South America that had to be crossbred with a species from North America to help them survive. They were a sign of decadence and health in Europe.
Funnily enough, in Argentina strawberries were considered to be poisonous until the mid-1800s. The South American strawberry plants varied in flavor, size and shape, but the berries always had the distinctive bright red color and almost-heart-shaped berry that we have come to know and love.
Eating strawberries raw is probably the most popular method of serving this fruit. You may be surprised to learn that strawberries can be added to many different dishes to add color and flavor. One easy way to prepare a strawberry dessert is to chop the berries into small chunks. Place the pieces in a bowl and cover them with water. Generously spread white sugar over the top. Add some ice cubes and set the bowl in the refrigerator to chill for a few hours. What you get in the end is a delicious icy treat that will please the most finicky palate in summer.
Some people prefer a more complex flavor, or a little more tartness to their berries. A good way to add more complexity to your strawberries is to dip them into some good balsamic vinegar and powdered sugar. The sharpness of the vinegar adds a nice contrast to the sweetness of the sugar. This makes a simple, intriguing end to a meal.
Strawberries and spinach make a great pairing. Toss a few in the next time you want to serve a spinach salad. If you combine the spinach, sliced strawberries, some red onions and caraway seeds, you will have a great salad that works well for lunch or dinner. Top it with a dressing of balsamic vinegar, rice vinegar, mustard and honey to pull it all together.
Alternatively, you can try this fresh spinach salad. Remove all the stems from the spinach leaves so you only have the tender greens. Slice the strawberries diagonally to create an interesting look. Toss them into the greens with a little Gorgonzola cheese and some tasty homemade croutons for some crunch. Top it all off with a little dab of ranch dressing and some freshly ground black pepper for a delightful salad that is a wonderful marriage of textures and flavors.
Do not relegate strawberries only to shortcake. They have a lot more to offer than the traditional dessert. Strawberries are nutritious and flavorful, and are the ideal berry to serve. There is a reason the strawberry is everyone's favorite.
You do not need a green thumb to grow strawberries, and once you taste freshly picked berries, store bought will never be the same again. Growing your own berries in a pot or in the garden will let you have the best berries for a bowl of fruit and cream, or even just a berry or two cut up in your morning cereal.
The strawberries that we recognize today are originally American, and they are a hybrid of a species from South America that had to be crossbred with a species from North America to help them survive. They were a sign of decadence and health in Europe.
Funnily enough, in Argentina strawberries were considered to be poisonous until the mid-1800s. The South American strawberry plants varied in flavor, size and shape, but the berries always had the distinctive bright red color and almost-heart-shaped berry that we have come to know and love.
Eating strawberries raw is probably the most popular method of serving this fruit. You may be surprised to learn that strawberries can be added to many different dishes to add color and flavor. One easy way to prepare a strawberry dessert is to chop the berries into small chunks. Place the pieces in a bowl and cover them with water. Generously spread white sugar over the top. Add some ice cubes and set the bowl in the refrigerator to chill for a few hours. What you get in the end is a delicious icy treat that will please the most finicky palate in summer.
Some people prefer a more complex flavor, or a little more tartness to their berries. A good way to add more complexity to your strawberries is to dip them into some good balsamic vinegar and powdered sugar. The sharpness of the vinegar adds a nice contrast to the sweetness of the sugar. This makes a simple, intriguing end to a meal.
Strawberries and spinach make a great pairing. Toss a few in the next time you want to serve a spinach salad. If you combine the spinach, sliced strawberries, some red onions and caraway seeds, you will have a great salad that works well for lunch or dinner. Top it with a dressing of balsamic vinegar, rice vinegar, mustard and honey to pull it all together.
Alternatively, you can try this fresh spinach salad. Remove all the stems from the spinach leaves so you only have the tender greens. Slice the strawberries diagonally to create an interesting look. Toss them into the greens with a little Gorgonzola cheese and some tasty homemade croutons for some crunch. Top it all off with a little dab of ranch dressing and some freshly ground black pepper for a delightful salad that is a wonderful marriage of textures and flavors.
Do not relegate strawberries only to shortcake. They have a lot more to offer than the traditional dessert. Strawberries are nutritious and flavorful, and are the ideal berry to serve. There is a reason the strawberry is everyone's favorite.
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