National Strawberry Week
Yes another reason to celebrate food....yes it's National Strawberry week !
Like most of the population, I love them ,but cannot understand why they cost so much. They are so good however that we all indulge in this luxury especially when the sun shines or when we wnat it to shine. They make a great gift, hence they are ready in my fridge to bring to dinner to my foodie friend The Baker tomorrow night. I am seriously excited about going to her house as she is one hell of a cook (she used to work for the Barefoot Contessa !!!) but as she is pregnant with number 3, the usual bottle of bubbly is not a suitable gift...hence the fab fruit!
Now although the strawberry is perfect unaccompanied, I like to do two particular things with it. Firstly, I like to add halved strawberries to freshly cubed pineapple for a simple but great fruit salad.
The other is a strawberry pavlova !
Ingredients
4 free range eggs
8 oz caster sugar
1 tsp cornflower
1 tsp white vinegar
Separate the eggs and whisk the whites until just stiffened. Gradually add the sugar, while still whisking and when all the sugar is incorporated, add in the cornflower and vinegar. Turn out onto a lined flat baking tray and shape gently into a round shape. Bake at 140 degress in a fan oven for 90 minutes, then turn off the oven and leave the pavlova in the oven until the oven fully cools.
Top with lightly whipped fresh cream and then heap halved strawberries on top...gorgeous. !
Tip 1.If you want to be really decadent: when the mixing is complete, break up a bar of good dark chocolate and fold into the mixture so you get pieces all the way throught the finished pavlova....bold and beautiful.
Tip 2. Use the egg yolks to make home made lemon curd ala Delia...don't worry that she uses whole eggs !Mix the lemon curd with the cream to make a lemon pavlova...no fruit required....yum !
Tip 3...nothing to do with strawberries or pavlova: I treid the Fruit and Nut Toblerone today....a masterpiece !
yum yum the strawberries here in Canada r plentiful cheap and enormous and I highly recommended them with plump blueberries delicious. But will definately try them with pineapple. Another tip with pineapple on BBQ drizzle with maple syrup add some cinnamon lash on the bbq and before ya know it you have a little heaven on a plate. Enjoy!!! Siobhan xxx
ReplyDeleteDahlink,
ReplyDeleteThe illustrious strawberry is also very nicely served with a few scoops of good quality natural yoghurt eg Fage Greek stuff or Co-op own brand, with 2-3 teaspoons of runny honey. Strawbs can be crushed or sliced, and mixed in with the other two ingredients for a simply delectable and refreshingly luscious desert. A couple of fresh mint leaves for decoration finish it nicely. Just as acceptible for breakfast for the 'healthy' eaters.
Tart it up with Highlander Scottish shortbread biscuits either whole or broken up for a naughty addition.
Who is the Baker? Does being pregnant prevent you from having a few glasses of bubbly??? Note to self......don't get pregnant!!
Had pink, fizzy Pinot Grigio with Ruthy tonight for her mmmptieth birthday. Sadly work stopped me joining in her lunch party at the White Lion in Whittington.
We were talking about you so trust your ears on fire.
Luv, Fifi xx