Strawberry season

[Marina]

From the beginin of April till the end of May spanish fruit shops are filled with small wooden boxes of Strawberries. This fruit is cultivated mainly in Huelva region (in Andalusia), which apparently produces 50% of the total produced in Europe.

For the picking very delicate hands are needed, that's why hundreds of women from East Europe are brought in buses to work for the season.

http://www.xolido.com/imagenes/fotos/agricultura/fresa1.jpg

SPANISH RECIPIES WITH STRAWBERRIES:

1. Fresas con nata - Strawberries with cream:Ingredients (4 or 5 people):
1/2 Kg of strawberries
whipped cream

Preparation:
Remove the stem and wash the strawberries, then cut them in to quarters and fill as many dessert bowls as you need. Top with whipped cream.

2. Fresas con zumo de naranja - Strawberries with orange juice:
Ingredients (4 or 5 people):
1/2 Kg of strawberries
2 oranges

Preparation:
Remove the stem and wash the strawberries, then cut them in to quarters and fill as many dessert bowls as you need. Cut the oranges in a half and extract the juice with a citrus juicer, then pour it into the dessert bowls.

3. Batido de Fresa - Strawberry milkshake (my favourite):
Ingredients:
8 strawberries per person
1 glass of cow milk or soya milk per person

Preparation:
Put all the ingredients in a mixer, and turn it on for a couple of minutes.
I like the acidity of the strawberries, but if you don't you can add 2 tea spoons of sugar.

[greytop]

The cherries are upon us

http://www.lasprovincias.es/valencia/edicion/actualidad/marina/marina.html

Local market yesterday had some and very nice they were too!

[Marina]

I haven't tried cherries this season yet, but I will defenitely get some next time I'll go shopping.

I didn't know that Valencia area had such a large produciton of cherries, however the most famous cherries from Spain come from the Jerte Valley (http://www.elvalledeljerte.com/user/maribel/entorno.htm) in Extremadura. Lots of people try to visit when the trees are flowered as it's an amazing view, but it is really difficult to guess the appropriate time as each year is different depending on the weather.

[DUH CAR]

In Toronto, we get these giant strawberries from either Chile or California that are absolutely tasteless!! Very wooden and double in size. I think they are bred for their transportability and size, but any strawberry taste diappears.

Our province (Ontario) also grows strawberries that will be ripe in another six to eight weeks, but the grocery store chains never seem to buy local produce. I think it is to do with them having long term contracts to get strawberries all year 'round. Only rarely do you see our local strawberries in the grocery store. One has to go and seek them out in farmer's markets or roadside stands. Same thing for blueberries.

I think (and here's a topic for you!!) that if I was facing execution that my last meal would have strawberry shortcake for dessert!!!!

[simonb]

This may sound a bit odd but have you tried putting fresh ground black pepper on strawberries? You just need a little. Another savoury option is to dip the strawberries in balsamic vinegar.

[DUH CAR]

This may sound a bit odd but have you tried putting fresh ground black pepper on strawberries? You just need a little. Another savoury option is to dip the strawberries in balsamic vinegar.

Hey, Simon. If that advice was for me, then you haven't seen (tasted)what mutated strawberries we have on the shelves. It's unbelievable.

But yes, pepper or balsamic do add to the strawberries, as does chocolate.

[Marina]

The strawberries we eat in Spain are large, in fact they are called "Freson" (big strawberry) and if you eat them during the season they are plenty of flavour. However if you eat them out of season they tend to be very pricy, unripe and tasteless.

I haven't eaten strawberries with either balsamic vinager or pepper, I'll give it a try it this evening as I have a bowl full of strawberries waiting to be eaten. Instead I have tried figs with balsamic vinager and mozzarella and it's a great combination.

[lumpsuckerpig]

From the beginin of April till the end of May spanish fruit shops are filled with small wooden boxes of Strawberries. This fruit is cultivated mainly in Huelva region (in Andalusia), which apparently produces 50% of the total produced in Europe.

For the picking very delicate hands are needed, that's why hundreds of women from East Europe are brought in buses to work for the season.

http://www.xolido.com/imagenes/fotos/agricultura/fresa1.jpg

SPANISH RECIPIES WITH STRAWBERRIES:


1. Fresas con nata - Strawberries with cream:Ingredients (4 or 5 people):
1/2 Kg of strawberries
whipped cream

Preparation:
Remove the stem and wash the strawberries, then cut them in to quarters and fill as many dessert bowls as you need. Top with whipped cream.


2. Fresas con zumo de naranja - Strawberries with orange juice:

Ingredients (4 or 5 people):
1/2 Kg of strawberries
2 oranges

Preparation:
Remove the stem and wash the strawberries, then cut them in to quarters and fill as many dessert bowls as you need. Cut the oranges in a half and extract the juice with a citrus juicer, then pour it into the dessert bowls.


3. Batido de Fresa - Strawberry milkshake (my favourite):

Ingredients:

8 strawberries per person
1 glass of cow milk or soya milk per person

Preparation:
Put all the ingredients in a mixer, and turn it on for a couple of minutes.
I like the acidity of the strawberries, but if you don't you can add 2 tea spoons of sugar.








Love the idea of fresh strawberry milkshake, I am definately going to try that one over the weekend.

[viajero]

¡Delicioso!

Muchas gracias - lo disfruté mucho :)


Saludos-


Viajero

[Marina]

Me alegro de que te haya gustado!!!

[Brian]

Thanks for the recipes! We live within walking distance of a strawberry farm that sells them pre-picked for $3.25 a pint, or you can pick them yourself for $1.25 a pint.

This year's crop is incredibly sweet! :)

[Marina]

Lucky you!!!

The concept of pickng the fruit yourself does not exist in Spain.
They must be delicious... from the plant to the mouth!!!

[Brian]

Indeed!! The strawberries, when still warm from the sun, freshly picked, are very sweet, and do not have the acidity or tartness that develops after a few days in the cooler.

And yes, our 5-year old often leaves the strawberry patch with a red ring around his mouth from having 'sampled the wares'. ;D ¡Que morro tiene el tio!

[jessica]

marina you'll definitely have to try picking your own strawberries sometime! it's so much fun. once the fields open here in virginia beach,we have the Pungo (that's a district of the city) Strawberry Festival. It's kind of like the Feria del Libro, but with delicious strawberry dishes and recipes instead of lovely books.

..and i don't think books would taste very good with shortcake and whipped cream ;)

[ValenciaSon]

What are the dates for the Pungo strawberry festival?

[Marina]

If any of you happen to go to the Pungo festival send some pics for us to have a look.

I could go to the picking in England at some point, at the moment they have asparragus to pick yourself in a nearby farm, but I know for sure that Ben won't be coming with me. I'll have to check with the sisters in law and see if any of them is interested.

[jessica]

What are the dates for the Pungo strawberry festival?
this year it was May 27th and 28th. I went, but it didn't even occur to me to take a camera with me. i'll try to remember to take some pictures next year!