Wednesday, July 9, 2014
Just as the weather is heating up on the East Coast, so, too is the local bounty. Things start slowly here in New England but we’re finally seeing some serious vegetables and fruits at our farmers’ markets. And there’s no happier day for me than when strawberries appear on the stands. I adore summer strawberries and love to feature them on salads and in cocktails—and making strawberry ice cream (or gelato) is an annual tradition that simply must happen. Forget about the hard and flavorless pink variant you find off-season; you simply can’t beat a local summer strawberry, juicy and sweet.
Sensational Strawberry Recipes
- Spring greens with strawberries, toasted almonds, and citrus-thyme vinaigrette
- Arugula salad with strawberries, sunflower seeds, and berry-balsamic vinaigrette
- Triple berry and spinach salad with toasted walnuts and gorgonzola
- Strawberry-basil ice cream
- Strawberry balsamic gelato
- Strawberry bourbon lemonade
- Strawberry caipirinha
- Strawberry margarita
- Strawberry mojito
- Strawberry basil margatini
- Herb-infused strawberry martini
- Strawberry porridge
- Berry sun tea
Sure, strawberries are low in calories at only 46 calories per cup. And they’re a vitamin C powerhouse; rich in fiber and manganese; and loaded in phytonutrients (plant chemicals) like anthyocyanins and phenolic acids that have been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects. Good stuff. But I eat them because they’re awesome.
Or drink them, as the case may be.
Enjoy the sweet taste of summer!
