I am always complaining about how I live in the middle of nowhere. This week, however, I didn’t mind so much. Mr P and I were were driving along a country lane when we came across the following sign:
“Stop the car!” I screeched. “Pick your own strawberries!”
I can’t tell you how long its been since I’ve had the pleasure of picking my own strawberries. Its probably been at least 15 years! That makes me sound old, but I’m not, I could be the poster girl for Oil of Olay, okay??? Wipe that smirk of your face.
I was so super excited. I think Mr P was too. I felt like a little girl as I picked out one of the cardboard baskets to collect my berries in. This was going to be so much fun!
I think I came twoards the end of the season, because the pickings weren’t as abundant as I anticipated; but Mr P was a great help. In case you are wondering, I am saying that with sarcasam. For every 20 strawberries I picked, Mr P would come over with one red berry in his hand with a proud: “Taaaaa daaaaaaa!” I think in the time it took me to finally fill up my basket, Mr P had picked five. After about 15 minutes he decided to take a break from his hard work and sit in the shade to observe. Every once in a while he’d look over at me and give me some really helpful advice like, “Hey, I can see your crack.” Who says romance is dead, eh?
Lucky for me we were the only two people in the field. I wouldn’t want anyone else to over hear Mr P’s sweet nothings. I get embarrassed by too much sentimentality.
After about an hour, I had finally filled my basket. I had picked LOADS of berries, and I was tired. Believe it or not, the next day my thigh muscles were killing me (I guess from all the squatting). Who would have guessed that you could pick strawberries and get a workout at the same time? What an awesome form of exercise!
I think that the best way to eat fruit this good and fresh is au natural, but I knew I picked way more strawberries than I could possibly eat. No surprise there! The following is a simple and delicious recipe that will help you extend the life of your strawberries. It is versatile, easy, and completely delicious. The resulting strawberries come out jammy and sweet with a slightly tart edge. It is fabulous as a topping. Spoon it on top of Greek yogurt, ice cream, cottage cheese or pound cake. It would make an excellent compliment to a decadent cheesecake (speaking of which, are you signed up for the cheesecake challenge?). I’d also like to try it as a flavour base for strawberry ice cream or frozen yogurt. For a savoury application, how about toasting some ciabatta or slices of French bread and make little bruchettas with some spreadable goat cheese topped with a bit of roasted strawberries?
And all you need are three ingredients!
So yummy on top of Greek yogurt!
Balsamic Roasted Strawberries
Ingredients:
- 1 pound of strawberries
- 2 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar (aged, if you have it)
- 2 tablespoons of sugar
Wash and hull your strawberries, and allow them to dry. Cut each strawberry in half. Place the strawberries cut side up on a foil lined baking sheet. The foil will collect all the lovely juices that will make up your strawberry sauce. Sprinkle the strawberries with the balsamic vinegar and then sprinkle with the sugar. Place in the oven at 180C for about 30 minutes. When ready, the strawberries should be soft but should still hold their shape. Now collect all the strawberries along with their juices into a bowl or container and let it come to room temperature. The sauce will thicken further.
Do you have a favourite way of using up strawberries?
I am in heaven. Roasted strawberries on top of some premium goat cheese truly sounds heavenly!
i love roasted strawberries…i can’t seem to make naything here..the girls devour them as soon as I get them home..
I’ve never tried roasted strawberries but I love it fresh, in cakes, in ice cream, in chocolate…. I love strawberries and have been eating them almost everyday for the last few months!
Strawberry picking sounds like such fun!!!!
I love what you did with them too! Marinating in vinegar over yogurt sounds fresh and delicious!
xoxo,
Tammy
I can’t wait for summer to roll around here in Sydney. I’ve got some jam recipes I want to try. I can get some strawberries now but they are either imported or raised in hothouses which I prefer not to go near because they do not look as glorious as these gems you picked. oh my goodness they are beautiful. I have never tried mixing some BV with strawberries they are said to be a match made in heaven.
Wow! What an amazing field — you are so lucky to have access to that! And your finished dessert looks incredible, too! Nice work. xo style, she wrote
I’m glad you got Mr P to join in on your strawberry pickin fun …I have yet to initiate my hubbs into this adventure! Maybe next year. I love your pics, as always … makes me yearn for some fresh IN-SEASON berries again!!
And a happy Ramadan to u too! Stay strong! (easier said than done, eh?)
I was sad because I miss strawberry picking season here…apparently it finishes really early! I must get myself into gear early on next year. Love this recipe though, it will be worth a trip to the farmers market, that’s for sure!
You and Mr P make me laugh!! xx
HH
You are truly living the life! In Canada we have an Ikea commercial where the woman screams “Stop the car! Stop the car!” Do you have the same one, there? I could actually picture you wildly racing into the field in a frantic panic that you might miss a berry. It is a bit of a disease – for me, at least. Once I get picking, I cannot stop. I am exhausted, and still see another gorgeous one over there…
V
This looks totally gorgeous…so beautiful and I will have to make these before the strawberries waive us goodbye for this year,,,,
-Shilpa
Wow ! It looks very delicious and it makes my hungry! I want to taste that strawberries! Hope that I can eat Roasted Strawberry.
And thanks for posting this. Keep it up!