Strawberry Lavender Lemonade
May 27, 2010 by Andrea
Filed under Beverages, Grow Your Own
We started growing culinary lavender in our garden two summers ago, then last summer had to move the plants to pots to make room for more vegetables. One of my lavenders didn’t fare well, but the other two were doing splendidly until the uber snow storms of 2010. They look rather spindly now, a mere shell of their glory last spring when the bees played among the purple flowers. So I’m starting over with a few new plants in the garden and hopefully a better location for them, and maybe we will once again harvest some beautiful lavender flowers next summer. At least I had a few buds leftover from last summer. Read more
Zabaglione with Strawberries and Moscato
May 7, 2010 by Andrea
Filed under Dessert, Grow Your Own
I can’t think of Mother’s Day without also musing on strawberries, probably because the beautiful red fruits come into season around this time and they seem like such a wonderful treat after cold winters. Strawberry season is also one of my children’s favorite food times of the year and we can’t resist celebrating with luscious strawberry desserts, though we are also happy simply biting into a sweet juicy strawberry. Read more
Strawberry Spinach Salad with Avocado and Champagne Vinaigrette
We truly enjoy strawberry season, and every time I start cleaning another batch of berries the boys are at my elbow begging for some of the juicy red fruits. I have to watch Monkey Boy and Top Gun because they will sneak the berries off to a hidden corner and get the sticky juice all over the furniture and floor. Read more
Strawberries and Cream with Macaroons
Strawberries are coming in season, one of my favorite food times of the year. Here in northern Virginia we have to wait a few more weeks, but warmer areas of the country are already basking in the glow of the beautiful fresh red fruits. My boys are always excited when we come home with strawberries, and they eagerly watch and try to sneak a few nibbles as I wash and trim the fresh berries for salads, ice cream, granita, pies, tarts, or just eating out of hand.
This recipe for strawberries and cream comes from The Military Wives Cookbook, by Carolyn Quick Tillery. It’s an easy dessert that’s elegant enough to serve to guests. We loved the flavor and think the macaroons lend even more taste and texture. Read more
Cantaloupe Strawberry Salad with Lime Syrup and Mint
Seasonal fruit salads are perfect for light meals or desserts in the summertime, and adding lime and mint just brightens the flavors. When the temperatures start to soar, the boys and I like to pair fruit salad with fresh cheese and whole grain crackers for a healthy lunch. I don’t measure the fruit, I just put a few spoonfuls in each bowl, and I kinda sorta make a wild scientific guess as I stir together the lime syrup, so don’t hold me to any of these measurements. Just relax, kick back, and enjoy the last days of summer as you savor the salad.
This version uses fresh cantaloupe and strawberries, although you can choose from a host of fruits, including blueberries, watermelon, mango, kiwi, raspberries, and blackberries. The lime syrup is made from simple syrup that I always have in my refrigerator, and the mint comes fresh from my container herb garden. Read more
The Daring Bakers Make Strawberry Mirror Cake
Two pounds of strawberries, 11 eggs, 14 ounces of whipping cream, a lot of sugar, and a little bit of gelatin make one delicious and pretty cake! Read more
