Food of the Week [Part II]: So Good Strawberries
Posted May 21, 2008 at 12:00 PM by Katie Drummond
Section: Her Nutrition, Recipes, Special Features, Food of the Week
Summer is nearly upon us, and with it comes the fresh produce we’ve been waiting for - including the always popular strawberry, our Food of the Week and an annual favorite in most American households. Whether a tasty snack, part of a sumptuous dessert or as a cereal topping, the strawberry is sweet, succulent and oh-so-versatile!
As if you didn’t already know, strawberries are mega-healthy, too. We mentioned yesterday that the phytonutrients in strawberries make them powerful antioxidants, cancer fighters, and beneficial for your ticker. Strawberries also boast an impressive array of vitamins and nutrients. One serving of strawberries (five or so) has less than 50 calories, but a whole lotta good stuff: they are an excellent source of vitamin C and manganese, and a very good source of fiber, iodine, potassium, vitamin K, magnesium...and the list goes on!
Strawberries are very perishable, so handle and select them with care. Buy your berries a few days before you plan to use them, and choose those that are rich in color (they don’t ripen further once picked) and are firm to the touch. Keep them in the fridge, and remove any bruised or rotten berries before you store them. They’ll be good for 2-3 days, so eat up!
If you have a food processor, you’re in luck - make this strawberry sorbet for a refreshing summertime treat!
Recipe Profile
Perfect For: Those hot summer afternoons by the pool
Prep Time: 20 minutes, plus freezing time
Servings: 6-8
Ingredients:
1 cup sugar 1 1/2 tsp cornstarch 2 cups water 2 cups pureed strawberries
Dissolve the sugar and cornstarch in the water in a large saucepan over low heat, then boil until thick (around 10 minutes). Let cool, then add the strawberries and mix well.
Place in a plastic contained and freeze, uncovered, until the mix solidifies. Cut it into chunks, and process it until smooth. Refreeze for another 4-6 hours.