MIDSUMMER AND STRAWBERRIES

 Midsummer and Strawberries

The apple may represent human search for wisdom, but for pure luscious fruit with romantic appeal, you can’t beat strawberries.. Not only are they the first local fruit in Northern climates after a bleak winter, but they bring back thoughts of old Ingmar Bergman films with magical midsummer’s night scenes fragrant with wild strawberries.

 Years ago I unfortunately found in Bergen Norway that the cultivated Swedish strawberries can actually be a disappointment. The long daylight makes them grow huge, ripe with tempting color, but not much flavor. They were similar to strawberries grown in our Southern states. So, when our Maine strawberry crop is in season, I deeply inhale the aroma from each box of berries before deciding on their best to use for the day.

Strawberries are relatively easy to grow, but I gave it up after losing the fight for several years with a resident raccoon at harvest time. However, the local farm stands have a plentiful supply and the Maine Strawberry Growers website even lists farms by region, where you can pick your own berries. The list includes regions from Portland through Midcoast up to Aroostook county. Picking your own will cut the cost for this wonderful fruit, which incidentally is a dieter’s dream. Strawberries have only 55 calories per cup serving!

If you are a true strawberry aficionado, there is nothing better than fresh sliced strawberries with a light sprinkling of sugar and milk for breakfast. Cold cereal could be almost optional with this presentation. Other versions of strawberries in desert form are unfortunately not as dietetic.

          Strawberry shortcake

The classical strawberry shortcake has truly dimensions of a Rockwell painting and yet is easy to prepare. The cake portion can be baked from any biscuit mix or dough. If you want to make it from scratch: mix together in a bowl 1 ½ cups flour, 2 tsp. baking powder, ½ tsp salt, 2 tblsp. sugar. Cut in 3 tbls. butter with a pastry cutter and stir in 2/3 cup milk in the flour mixture. Turn dough out on a floured board, kneed to make a sticky ball. Flatten to a thickness of ½ inch and cut out rounds with a floured glass. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes in a 450 degree oven. To assemble, cut the cooled shortcakes in half and spoon over the bottom half sliced sugared strawberries. Cover with the top half of the shortcake, spoon additional sugared strawberries over the top and finish with a swirl of whipped cream. A whole strawberry with or without a couple of mint leaves on top would finish the picture.

          Strawberries Chantilly

Strawberries Chantilly is even quicker to prepare. Whip 1 cup whipping cream with 3 tablsp. sifted confectioners sugar until stiff. Have ready sliced strawberries tossed with some slivered almonds and ½ tsp grated lemon or orange peel. Fold strawberries into the whipped cream and serve immediately.

          Strawberry Cream Pie

My easy variation on a strawberry cream pie, starts with a graham cracker crust. For a 9-10 inch pie mix together 1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs, 4 tblsp. sugar and 6 tblsp. melted butter. Pat mixture into a pie plate, so that the sides are evenly covered to the top. Bake in a 325 degree oven 8 to 10 minutes. Allow the crust to cool before filling. In the meantime prepare a package of quick cook or no cook vanilla pudding and pour when ready in the cooled crust. Layer with a box of cleaned, sliced strawberries. Melt ¾ cup of currant jelly and pour evenly over the strawberry layer. Refrigerate pie for at least 2 hours and serve with a ring of whipped cream on top. If you keep this recipe until the 4^th of July, dot the whipped cream with some frozen blueberries and you will have an appropriate “Red-White-and Blue” desert for the occasion.

          Strawberry Punch

This recipe comes from my sister-in-law, who had it as her wedding punch, but it could easily be served at any summer outdoor function. Halve a quart of strawberries and sprinkle with 2-3 tblsp. sugar and soak refrigerated overnight covered with an orange liqueur (Curaço, Cointreau  or Triple-sec) barely to cover. Before serving: add chilled 1 bottle dry white wine, 1 bottle Rhine wine and one bottle club soda. Serve with a couple of ice cubes and be aware the fruit will be potent.

If reading this column you have surmised that strawberries are my favorite fruit, go to the head of the class. You are absolutely, 100% correct!

(I. Winicov Harrington lives in coastal Maine and is the author of “How to Eat Healthy and Well for Less than $5.00 a Day: the Smart-Frugal Food Plan”; website: www.winicov-harrington.com)