Celebrating the Strawberry

Most of us use strawberries for jam or shortcakes but how does strawberry hot sauce, strawberry bar-b-que sauce, or strawberry honey mustard salad dressing sound?

Carlsbad Gourmet in California make their livelihood with these one-of-a-kind spreads, sauces, dressings, vinegars, mustards and other delicacies made with these luscious berries.

With these creative uses no wonder Americans eat 3.4 pounds of fresh strawberries each year plus another 1.8 pounds frozen per capita. Surely Canadians can’t be far behind.

This year has been a terrific one for my strawberry patch and I’m attributing it to the drier weather. There are fewer problems with gray mold and slug damage. Because this is the third year for them in the same spot, some renovation is required in order for continued production.

In a few weeks time, after harvesting is done and new runners have begun to root, I’ll be removing older plants and thinning the younger, more vigorous ones to between 6 - 8 inches apart. Next I’ll cultivate an inch of compost into the area and water it well.

With care like this, it’s possible to continue harvesting berries from plants that have been in the same area for a decade.

In addition to their incomparable taste, strawberries are good for you. These fruits, which are the first to ripen in the spring, are low in fat and calories; yet high in fiber, folic acid and potassium. Eight medium-sized strawberries have more vitamin C than an orange.

As part of a five-day fruit and vegetable program, strawberries can help reduce the risk of cancer and heart attacks. To maximize flavor, eat strawberries after letting them sit at room temperature for 20-25 minutes.

Chocolate dipped strawberries are the epitome of decadence, but a prominent member of the court of the Emperor Napoleon was famous for a more unorthodox use. Madame Tallien bathed in strawberry juice. It took 22 pounds per basin. Needless to say, she did not bathe daily.

In France, these berries are thought to be an aphrodisiac. A soup made of strawberries, thinned sour cream, borage, and powered sugar is traditionally served to newlyweds.