Friday, June 28, 2013

Seasonal Recipe Series- Summer: Strawberries!

June is coming to an end and we've gathered our favorite STRAWBERRY recipes in honor of our Seasonal Recipe Series!  Strawberries are such always a popular fruit but they're especially refreshing during summer!  

While this juicy and sweet fruit is great for desserts, there are so many healthy ways to enjoy it as well! This summer salad in particular looks delicious and nearly all ingredients can be picked up at your local farmers market!  

Strawberry Salad with Poppy Seed Worcestershire Dressing
Ingredients
2 cups of sliced strawberries
4 handfuls of baby spinach
Few pieces of cut-up pineapple chunks (fresh or canned)
1 whole Avocado
Optional: Walnuts or Pecans
Poppy Seed Worcestershire Dressing
1/3 cup white sugar
1/2 cup olive oil
1/4 cup white vinegar
2 tablespoons poppy seeds
3 tablespoons sesame seeds 
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon minced red onion

Instructions
In a jar, combine ingredients for the dressing and shake vigorously until combined.  
Toss with strawberries, spinach, pineapple, avocados and nuts.  Serve and Enjoy!

Strawberry Lemonade 
Ingredients
4 cups strawberries, cut in halves
 2 lemons, quartered (use limes to make strawberry limeade)
1/2-3/4 cup honey or sugar to taste, adjust based on preference/sweetness of strawberries
6 cups of water
Ice
Garnishes: Strawberry slices, lemon slices and/or fresh herbs

Instructions
Blend the strawberries, lemons and honey with 2 cups of water
Strain the strawberry lemon mix, add the additional 4 cups of water through a strainer
Taste and add additional honey/sugar if needed
Serve cold over ice and garnished with strawberry slices, lemon slices and herbs

Strawberries and Cream Smoothie
Vegan and Gluten Free
Ingredients
1 1/2 cup strawberries
1/4 cup cream (half&half, soy cream, coconut cream milk etc.)
Sweetener to taste (agave, sugar, stevia etc.)

Instructions
Put all the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth and creamy.
Additional:  Put smoothie into popsicle mold for a sweet treat on a hot day!

Strawberry Tart
Ingredients 
1 fully bake 9-inch tart shell 
3 to 4 cups fresh strawberries, hulled
Pastry Cream (see recipe)
Pastry Cream
1 1/4 cups whole milk
1/2 moist, plump vanilla bean, split and scraped 
3 large egg yolks
1/2 cup sugar
3 tablespoons cornstarch
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature 
Instructions
          1.  Bring the milk and vanilla bean to a boil in a small saucepan over 
medium heat.  Cover the pan, turn off the heat, and set aside for 10 minutes.  
2.  Working in a medium saucepan, whisk the yolks, sugar and
 cornstarch together until thick and pale.  Whisking all the while, 
slowly drizzle a quarter of the hot milk onto the yolks.  Then, still 
whisking, pour the rest of the liquid in a steady stream over the tempered 
yolks.  Remove and discard the vanilla pod.  
               3.  Put the pan over medium heat and, whisking vigorously and without 
stop, bring the mixture to boil.  Keep the mixture at the boil, whisking 
for 1 to 2 minutes, then remove from heat and scrape the cream 
into a clean bowl.  Allow the cream to cool for 3 minutes.
          4.  Cut the butter into chunks and stir the chunks into the hot cream,
 continuing to stir until the butter is melted and incorporated.  
At this point, the cream needs to be thoroughly chilled.  
Refrigerate the cream, covering with plastic wrap.

Shortly before you're ready to serve the tart, spread the pastry cream in the bottom of the baked tart shell and arrange the strawberries over the top!  ENJOY!

Chocolate Strawberries
Ingredients
10 Strawberries 
1/2 cup chocolate

Instructions
Melt chocolate in saucepan or in microwave, stirring every 10 seconds until smooth
Holding the green stem, lie the strawberry on its side and roll it slowly in the chocolate
Place on parchment paper
Refrigerate for at least 15 minutes



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