From our Food Goddess, TaMara:
Strawberries won out as our ingredient this week. They looked too good to pass up when I was shopping. And just when did cream get so expensive? I practically had to take out a loan to get a quart. I do love this time of year as the farmer’s market and grocery stores fill up with local fresh vegetables and fruits. With fresh fruit, my first choice it to just eat them. I mean why spoil a perfect fruit? But then it’s time to have some fun with them – cakes, ice cream, cobblers. Tonight’s recipes are all about the strawberries.
Strawberry Bread (recipe found here) became a recipe when I did what I always seem to do during fresh strawberry season, buy too many strawberries. Before I can finish them, they are overripe. The bread is much like banana bread, it does best with very overripe fruit and wow, does it pack a powerful strawberry flavor. And it’s not too sweet because I don’t like to overwhelm the tart goodness of the strawberries.
Tonight’s other treat is a variation on the recipe JeffreyW used in the picture above. I made it yesterday and thought it was the best shortcake I’ve ever made – really light and fluffy.
I’ll be honest, I prefer pre-made sour cream angel food cake with my strawberries. My local grocery bakery has them on sale this time of year, and I can’t make it better. Oh, let’s face it, I’ve never made a successful angel food cake, ever. Sigh. But for a homemade dessert, this shortcake would be my choice. Couldn’t be easier to make and tastes wonderful.
The cake is not terribly sweet which I prefer and I cut down the sugar on the strawberries by 1 tablespoon, because I prefer them tart. I can’t omit the sugar completely because you need sugar to bring the juices out of the berries, essential for strawberry shortcake. So you may want to adjust the sugar up or down according to your preference. Additional sugar in the cake will not affect how it bakes up.
What’s your favorite way to serve strawberries? Has anyone made a real Parisian strawberry tart? And more importantly, what are you weekend food plans?
Strawberry Shortcake
2 pints of strawberries, washed, hulled and sliced
5 to 7 tbsp sugar
2 cups unbleached flour
2 tsps baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
2 tbsp sugar
3/4 teaspoon salt
1-1/2 cups heavy cream (you can substitute 3/4 cup milk and 1/3 cup butter)
Whipped Cream (recipe below)
2 Mixing bowls
8×8 glass baking dish or baking sheetMix strawberries with 3 tablespoons sugar (I only used 2 tbsp, see note above) and set aside for at least 30 minutes at room temperature.
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, remaining 2 tablespoons sugar (if you want sweeter, add an addition 1 to 2 tbsp sugar), and salt in a medium bowl. Add heavy cream and mix until just combined. You do not want to over mix this, just until all ingredients are combined, that’s why it’s important to whisk or sift together the dry ingredients. This is going to be a little moister than cookie dough – it does not look at all like cake batter, since it’s more of a biscuit mix. Spoon mixture into an ungreased 8-x8 square pan and pat down either by hand or use a spatula. I used a baking sheet and dropped spoonfuls onto the sheet to make 6 individual cakes. Bake until golden, 18 to 20 minutes for cake pan, 10-12 minutes for baking sheet.Remove shortcake from pan and place on a rack to cool slightly. Cut into 6 pieces and split each piece in half horizontally.
Spoon some of the strawberries with their juice onto each shortcake bottom. Top with a generous dollop of whipped cream and then the shortcake top. Spoon more strawberries over the top and serve.
I made the whipped cream ahead of time and let it refrigerate so it was nice and cold when served:
Whipped Cream
1 1/2 cups heavy cream, chilled (I chill the cream in a glass mixing bowl, along with the beaters)
3 tbsp sugar
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 teaspoon freshly grated lemon zest*Using a mixer, beat the heavy cream, until soft peaks form, about 1 1/2 to 2 minutes. Fold in sugar, vanilla, and lemon zest*.
*some people really like this, me not so much, I thought it overwhelmed the cream. I’ll omit it next time.
beltane
Cream has been expensive for the past year and a half or so. It does look like butter is slowly coming down in price so there’s that at least.
Just Some Fuckhead
I denounce strawberries unequivocally. I am outraged.
Just Some Fuckhead
http://www.change.org/petitions/tamara-stop-with-the-damned-strawberries/preview
Comrade Javamanphil
@beltane: Must be the middle men getting the money because raw milk is so low, VT dairy farms are going under almost daily.
waratah
I have been making small batches of strawberry preserves.
Just sugar and strawberries cooked down, so much better that what you can get on the grocery shelves.
Yutsano
@Just Some Fuckhead: Your delicate fee-fees have been taken into consideration. Please fill out the complaint form and take a number. You will be called when the next representative becomes available.
I love mixing berries. This is how I macerate them:
1 pint strawberries, sliced
1 small container each of blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries
Juice of 1 lemon
3 tbsp sugar
Mix all ingredients in a bowl. Cover and chill at least 2 hours to let the juices come out. The lemon makes a palpable difference in the final flavour.
beltane
@Just Some Fuckhead: Strawberries are just like Larry Flynt.
Villago Delenda Est
Mmmm…strawberries…
OK, I’m working on a Caine Mutiny reference, give me some time here…
Villago Delenda Est
Mmmm…strawberries…
OK, I’m working on a Caine Mutiny reference, give me some time here…
Villago Delenda Est
Mmmm…strawberries…
OK, I’m working on a Caine Mutiny reference, give me some time here…
Villago Delenda Est
OK, posting is becoming a pain again. Prepare for multiple posts, weirdness in progress.
Villago Delenda Est
Mmmm…strawberries…
OK, I’m working on a Caine Mutiny reference, give me some time here…
Villago Delenda Est
OK, posting is becoming a pain again. Prepare for multiple posts, weirdness in progress.
Villago Delenda Est
Mmmm…strawberries…
OK, I’m working on a Caine Mutiny reference, give me some time here…
TaMara (BHF)
@Just Some Fuckhead: Yes, but how do you feel about huckleberries, marionberries and dewberries?
@Yutsano: Yum. I never make blueberries without a touch of lemon. Really brightens their already terrific flavor.
TaMara (BHF)
@Just Some Fuckhead: Yes, but how do you feel about huckleberries, marionberries and dewberries?
@Yutsano: Yum. I never make blueberries without a touch of lemon. Really brightens their already terrific flavor.
TaMara (BHF)
Ok, who broke BJ?
Villago Delenda Est
The prophecy comes true.
Yikes.
TaMara (BHF)
@Villago Delenda Est: And just like that, you and I become Pete and rePete.
Yutsano
Did everything taste blue all of a sudden?
@TaMara (BHF): I have been known to get physically violent over huckleberries. It’s too bad they really can’t be grown domestically (many have tried) because the flavour is just phenomenal. Like a blueberry with attitude.
Plus marionberries are a creation of the state of Oregon. Created by beavers even.
J.W. Hamner
@Villago Delenda Est:
Impressive. Almost like you did it on purpose. Duh-duh-DUH.
My only strawberry recipe is to eat them.
Everett
Strawberries dipped in sour cream or creme fraiche and then dipped n brown sugar. Double dipping allowed if you’re with family. When strawberries are gone, mix the rest together and eat with a spoon…
WaterGirl
@TaMara (BHF): Just wanted to say that I am really appreciating these Thursday recipe exchanges, even if I seldom get a chance to comment!
And from the other thread, last I saw get6 was waiting on an email from Devon.
geg6, is there an update?
SiubhanDuinne
@VDE: I don’t think you intended this reaction, but I am laughing my considerable ass off at your multiplemultiplemultiple posts!
Comrade Mary
I think I just saw a black cat walk by. And then I saw it walk by again.
Yutsano
@Everett: It is my understanding that in Britain one must only eat strawberries with clotted cream. Anything else is a culinary sin of the highest order.
TaMara (BHF)
@Yutsano: Wait, was I talking about berries?
@Comrade Mary: Just spit Diet Coke all over the keyboard. Stop it.
Yutsano
@TaMara (BHF): I single-handedly expanded the parameters of your post. Plus I’m trying to dig up a strawberry pie recipe. Still looking.
TaMara (BHF)
@WaterGirl: Thank you. It has been fun. A little less stressful than the whole menus of last year. Of course there’s always a critic or two – I’m looking in your direction JSF :-)
The prophet Nostradumbass
@TaMara (BHF): Marionberries was a shitty mayor.
Villago Delenda Est
@TaMara (BHF):
It’s deja vu all over again!
Villago Delenda Est
@The prophet Nostradumbass:
Marionberries make for one fantastic pie, though.
WaterGirl
@Yutsano: I will second the (sort of) request for a good strawberry pie recipe.
Your comments the past couple of days are very Yutsano-esque. Classic Yutsano. Does that mean you are no longer on the good drugs?
Yutsano
@WaterGirl: Nope. Still on Percocet and muscle relaxers. I think what it is is that things are starting to heal up nicely. I’m at my parents place and much more relaxed. Still kinda on the loopy side though.
Yutsano
Okay I like this one:
9 inch pastry shell (preferably a graham cracker crust)
1 1/2 qts. fresh strawberries
1/2 c. water
1 c. sugar
3 tbsp. cornstarch
1 tbsp. butter
Red food coloring
Whipped cream (optional)
Source. Though whipped cream in these situations is NEVER optional.
TaMara (BHF)
@Yutsano: The one and only time I took Percoset, when the cat walked across the bed he looked like a toy slinky cat. Really looooong and bendy.
I haven’t taken it since.
mclaren
This looks like a great recipe! Thanks!
cckids
@Yutsano: That sounds very good. If you add a few tablespoons of Baileys to the whipped cream, it is fabulous with the strawberries.
Yutsano
@TaMara (BHF): It does severely intoxicate me. More importantly it works. I figure I’m not driving anywhere for awhile so why not? I may not have the doc renew the muscle relaxer though, I think I’m settling down from the initial spasms I had right after getting out.
WaterGirl
@Yutsano: Yay for healing and a great recovery so far. You just seem really upbeat, and that’s really encouraging. And really impressive, I think.
@TaMara (BHF): In my 20s, I had a spastic colon for awhile and they told me to drink catnip tea. I don’t recall whether the tea helped with the symptoms or not, but I vividly remember playing solitaire and having jacks and queens turning from black to red before my eyes. I can’t take muscle relaxants, either, they do weird things to me.
Long day, off to bed. Got up early this morning to water for a friend who is out of town. Neighbor came over to tell me there was a dead black & white cat in her driveway and would I come over to look at it to see if it was Steve’s black & white cat. I couldn’t really tell so I called my friend on his cell. By the time I got him, the neighbor had put the dead cat in the garbage and it was on the street waiting for garbage pickup.
I had to get the cat out of the garbage can, take a picture and send it to my friend. He wasn’t entirely sure it wasn’t his cat, but he thought it was Oreo and he knew who the (likely) owner was, so I got to call a total stranger to let her know that I might have her cat and it wasn’t alive.
She was pretty sure it was hers but she didn’t want to see a photo and she didn’t want to come over and didn’t want any part of disposing of the body. So then I got to take more photos close up so Steve could be sure it wasn’t his cat. Finally looked more closely at the nose, which was all pink and not pink with black, so it wasn’t Steve’s cat.
City wouldn’t pick up the cat because it was on private property, so I had to deal with that, too. I am not even good with dead mice, so this was a rough day for me. And all the close ups with the dead cat reminded me of my beloved kitty that I lost 2 years ago, and of my dog who I lost this past year.
Rest in peace, Oreo.
I guess I needed to get that off my chest, if anybody made it through that, thanks for listening.
TaMara (BHF)
@WaterGirl: You know this is the place for those stories. Hope sleep helps.
Origuy
Any cherry recipes? It’s Bing season here in the Valley of Heart’s Delight.
gelfling545
My granddaughter’s birthday is this weekend so my daughter is cooking up a feast featuring her locally sort of famous strawberry barbecued chicken and homemade tater tots (basil parmesan and rosemary gorgonzola varieties) for which I will be shredding a ton of potatoes tomorrow. Instead of cake there will be cheesecake stuffed strawberries. For the veg. course there will be caprese salad and my caramelized onion dip with carrots, snap peas and peppers.
Everett
@Yutsano: Sounds yummy! Quark will do in a pinch if yer in Germany.
Shana
@waratah: Me too. I just made 12 half pints of strawberry jam yesterday. We’re set for at least a year I think.
kindness
The strawberry fields are at their finest here in CA right now. I love going up to the little rickety stands they have right at the field and buying fresh strawberries. Yum.
Schlemizel
@Yutsano:
I have only had huckelberries a couple of times & there were just dreadful, awful, horrible. The wife’s family has had them & most of them can’t stand them either. Do you think they are doing something wrong? I have had them in pies and raw, I assume they were ripe but have no clue.
Schlemizel
@Villago Delenda Est:
I was going to go with Queeg’s (Bogart) stunningly good monolog as he comes undone on the stand. But that is too well known & it also gives an incomplete picture of one of the best movies ever made (certainly one of the best about trial courts – it is not a neat and tidy)
But my favorite bit, the one most people have never seen is at the end when Jose Farrar walks in the the victory party after he has gotten them all off & eviscerates Fred McMurry