My cousin the strawberry farmer rents some of my farmland, and pays us in fresh strawberries.
And it’s now strawberry season!
In addition to about 30 quarts of his usual fresh strawberries (now eaten or safely frozen for later use), he just dropped off about 8 quarts of the biggest, ripest, juiciest strawberries I’ve had since, well, last year.
They’re great on their own, but with balsamic vinegar and powdered sugar (yeah, I thought it sounded weird myself at first) they are to die for!
I’ve tried them dipped in the vinegar with cracked black pepper, too. Interesting, but not so divine.
Roll in brown sugar, then add a dollop of sour cream.
You can do this with the strawberries, too.
For a more decadent dessert for those who indulge, halve the strawberries and marinate in vodka for a few hours before serving with the brown sugar and sour cream.
Reduce the balsamic to a syrup. Top some high-quality vanilla ice cream with the strawberries, balsamic syrup, and a few spins of the black pepper grinder. Sounds crazy, but it’s good. Something about having the balsamic a little sweeter and thicker works better with the pepper.
I grew up, in Maryland, eating sliced strawberries with whole milk poured over them, and a little sugar sprinkled on. When my MIL saw me doing that (she grew up on a farm in Oregon), she said (horrified) “You can’t put milk on strawberries! It’ll clabber the milk!” I said “Ummm, no. I’ve been doing this all my life”. She argued with me for a few minutes (she’s very hard-headed!) and finally I said “Haven’t you ever seen anyone put sliced strawberries on their cereal?” She said “Uhhh, yeah” I said “And then they poured milk on top?” She said “Uhhh, yeah”, I said “So, why wouldn’t the milk ‘clabber’ those strawberries?” “Uhhhh. . .”
No argument for that.
If ever I want something that takes me back to childhood, it’s fresh-sliced strawberries with milk and a little sugar!
BUT. . .if I want to make my hubby happy (and sometimes I do! ), it’s this:
Sliced strawberries and bananas in a bowl; a ‘dressing’ made of frozen raspberries and some strawberry fruit spread (No Sugar Added, like Polaner All-Fruit) in a food processor; toss the dressing and the fruit; put it in the fridge for a couple hours before dinner. Serve with dinner. Results? One happy spouse.
We just had our first “Hood” strawberries today. OMFG. These things are so full of sugar that they melt in your mouth. No need to doctor them with anything whatsoever. Honest to Og, in 63 years, I’ve never tasted anything like them.
Sorry, I’m just a warm sweet bisquick shortcake man with sugar macerated strawberries and cream (alternately: milk, or half and half). Just kind of old fashioned that way. Of course, chocolate covered strawberries are great with some bubbly.
Make some fresh strawberry ice cream with some rock salt, ice, cream, sugar, and berries… simple as that… don’t need no creme anglaise or custard base with eggs when fresh strawberries are involved.
I’ve always thought strawberries go indubiably, and for some dark red unspeakable coffee berry reason well, with coffee. I think it has to do with their subtle tannic and acidic levels.
Of course you can do that quite easily, if you have an Ice Cream Ball at your house. No, I am really talking about throwing a Strawberry Ice Cream ball for your next get together or party. Cream, sugar, and strawberries for your guests.
Is it bad if it reminds me of my Hamster’s Venture Ball? … turn your guests into Hamster Power.
), it’s this: