California Strawberries - In The Kitchen blog

Surprising Strawberry Facts

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 11:35:00 GMT

We all know that strawberries are healthy, but there are some nutritional facts that may be surprsing. For example, did you know one serving of eight strawberries has more vitamin C than an orange?

We created this infographic to give you an at-a-glance look at other surprising benefits. For a little more context, feel free to browse our nutrition pages, ask a question on our facebook page, or check out one of favorite mom dietitians, Toby Amidor, who wrote about these surprising facts on her nutriton blog.

Surprising Strawberry Nutrition Facts infographic

3 Super Delicious Strawberry Salads and a Giveaway

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 15:40:00 GMT

Have you ever been in a salad rut? It may go something like this: You toss tired greens in a bowl with the veggies you find lingering in the bottom of the crisper. Then you reach for the bottled dressing, pour it over the top, and hope somehow it will spruce things up. But it doesn't. And then you do the chore of eating your salad while wishing you were eating just about anything else.

Or maybe it's not a full-blown rut, you just find that salads start looking and tasting the same. If so, we have a good tip on how to get out of it and make salads exciting again!

An easy way to create an enticing salad is to add a surprising and colorful ingredient like strawberries. They may not be the first ingredient people of think of when it comes to building a salad, but the chefs we work with tell us to use them just like you'd use tomatoes! Once you add the strawberries, you might find yourself thinking of other complementary ingredients like feta cheese, or pumpkins seeds. And once you see your salad looking all spruced up, you may even feel inspired enough to make a homemade salad dressing!

We have several tasty strawberry salad recipes on our site, but today we're sharing the three salads pictured above that we think you'll especially love. Click on the links below for the recipes.

Giveaway

To help keep you inspired in your kitchen, we're giving away the cutest vintage-looking Anthropologie dish towel.

To enter to win, just share, in the comments section, your favorite way to spruce up a salad. Bonus points if you also share a Facebook comment about which of the salad recipes mentioned in this post looks the most enticing. Be sure to check back on Wednesday to see if you won!

Enjoy!

Refreshing Strawberry Cucumber Salad

Strawberry Caprese Salad

Strawberry Quinoa Salad with Thai Kebobs

Announcing Photo Contest Winners

Fri, 15 Feb 2013 13:01:00 GMT

One of our favorite things to do for California strawberry fans is reward them with awesome prizes for their participation in our contests and giveaways. Last month we asked folks to submit romantic-looking strawberry dishes to help inspire delicous Valentine's Day recipes.

Well, you answered the call and we've been busy sorting through all the amazing entries (and getting hungry seeing all that yumminess)! It was tough just picking three winners, by we finally made the selection (see above). Before we announce the winners, we'd like to thank EVERYONE who participated - we so appreciate your loyalty to California strawberries!

If you didn't win this time around, we promise there will be a lot more opportunities this year, so stay tuned!

Congratulations to the following winners!

Cathi - Rustic Strawberry & Prosecco Galette

Katherine - Strawberry Rhubarb Cocktail

Melba - Strawberry Dessert Nachos

How to Make Fresh Strawberry Hearts

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 11:34:00 GMT

To help you prepare for Valentine's Day, we thought we'd share this mini tutorial on how to slice strawberries in heart shapes. You can use these in a variety of ways, whether topping yogurt, tossing in a salad, or serving with strawberry pancakes! We will share a fluffy strawberry pancake recipe with you this week for our Valentine's Day post to show you just how gorgeous they can look!

In the mean time, just follow these easy peasy steps on how to make fresh strawberry hearts!

Enjoy!

Brownie Hearts with Strawberry Compote

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 15:28:00 GMT

We are so excited to introduce you to this week's guest blogger - Laura from Tutti Dolci. If you haven't checked out her blog yet, we highly recommend it! Her gorgeous-looking recipes will definitely keep you coming back for more! We hope you enjoy her special Valentine's Day treat. If so, we invite you to let her know in the comments' section below, or on her recipe blog!

From the desk and kitchen of Laura from Tutti Dolci:

Brownie Hearts with Strawberry Compote

These brownie hearts make a romantic Valentine’s Day dessert when served with strawberry compote. Each rich and fudgy brownie is kissed with white chocolate for a touch of sweetness, while the compote tastes like strawberries at the peak of ripeness (in fact, you’d never know it was made with frozen strawberries!). I baked the brownies in heart-shaped molds; alternatively, spread the batter in an 8-inch square pan and bake 18 to 20 minutes, then use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to punch out hearts once cool.

Strawberry Explosion Dream Cake

Mon, 21 Jan 2013 14:59:00 GMT

Over the past several years there has been a dramatic shift in the food industry toward seasonal produce. Farmer's markets are more popular than ever and it's so wonderful to see both consumers and businesses alike embracing such an important concept. However, one downside I've noticed is that people aren't taking advantage of the many ways we can enjoy seasonal produce year round! California strawberries are grown year round, but are not as abundant during some of the colder months. I love them entirely too much to only eat them regularly during summer and fall. To not enjoy strawberries throughout the year would be a travesty to both my health and my taste buds.

Did you know that frozen fruits and vegetables are flash frozen at the peak of their freshness? All of the flavor and nutrients are captured so that they can be enjoyed all year. Frozen produce might not be as exciting as the fragrant, colorful options during summer months when strawberries are most abundant, but they are definitely a tasty and convenient option.

This strawberry cake is made entirely from frozen strawberries and you'd never taste the difference. The berries create a sweet, bright red puree that adds just the right amount of strawberry flavor to the cake. Red food coloring gives the cake a pretty swirl effect but it can be omitted if you prefer natural ingredients. Take a bite of this cake with your eyes closed and you'll be transported to those warmer summer months and all of the fresh flavors of the farmer's market.

For the decorative icing, I used this tutorial (http://www.thehungryhousewife.com/2012/04/blue-ombre-petal-cake-tutorial.html)

Enjoy!

California Strawberry Commission Giveway: If you came up with a creative name for this cake on our FB page, leave a comment here and we will randomly select three people to receive a Copco Strawberry Tea Kettle. Good luck!

Eating Lots of Strawberries is Good for Women Study Says

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 11:33:00 GMT

It's exciting to hear even more good news about strawberries! The newly-published study, appearing all over the media and social networks since yesterday, says that eating lots of strawberries and blueberries may cut heart attack risk in women.

We always love to share delicious strawberry recipes, but we get even more motivated when we are reminded of all the great things they do for our bodies!

Today we're sharing six recipes that we think you'll love. A few of them are brand new, so we invite you to share with your friends and around the web.

Cheers!

1) California Strawberry Coconut Pick-Up

2) Strawberry Hummus Pita Sandwiches

3) Thai Pork Kabobs with Strawberry Quinoa

4) Strawberry Salsa with Mango, Pineapple and Papaya

5) Strawberry and Avocado Tostada

6) Black Pepper Spongecake with Strawberry Balsamic Whipped Cream

Tops Picks Festive Blogger Strawberry Recipes

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 12:29:00 GMT

If you are looking for festive ways to serve up strawberries for your upcoming holiday gathers and celebrations, we have some great suggestions after finding these fabulous recipes on the sites of some very talented food bloggers.

{Giveaway}

In keeping with the holiday spirit, we are giving away 10 glass strawberry ornaments (pictured below).

To enter, CLICK HERE and sign up. Make sure to tell us which recipe, from the ones listed in this post, is your favorite! Earn bonus entry points by leaving us a Facebook comment and subscribing to our In The Kitchen blog by clicking on the little orange RSS feed icon on the left navigation bar on this page. That's it!

Keep checking our Facebook page & sharing with friends because we'll announce two winners a day on December 13, 14, 17, 18 and 19. Good luck, and Merry Christmas!

Now for the yummy part. Here are the top six picks after scouring some of the best food blogs on the web. For starters, check out this Roasted Strawberry, Ginger and Ricotta Cake from Raspberri Cupcakes.

How could we post a top list of festive holiday favorites and not include thumbprint cookies? These Strawberry Jamtop Cookies from Rabbit Food Rocks look like the perfect melt-in-your-mouth cookie!

This year we've seen a lot of strawberry Santas and hats. We especially love these Santa Strawberries from Leanne Bakes with their simple and cute design.

Looking for a simple, elegant, and crazy delicious cocktail for your party? Try this Strawberry Lemonade Cocktail from Tastefully Julie. Is it Friday yet?

Imagine a chilly holiday morning with coffee brewing, and these Strawberry Scones from Sweet Peas Kitchen baking in the oven. Yum!

With all the holiday celebrating, you may want to load up on some vitamins with a healthy but extra delicious and dairy-free Strawberry Coconut Smoothie from Edible Perspective.

We wish you a delicous holiday!

From all of us at the California Strawberry Commission

5 Tips for a Healthy Holiday Season Recipe

Mon, 19 Nov 2012 07:39:00 GMT

By Toby Amidor, MS RD CDN

If it seems silly to utter the words “healthy” and “holiday” in the same sentence, it shouldn’t. This 6-week period isn’t the time to have a free for all and let go of all your good eating habits. On the other hand, this doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy all the foods the holidays have to offer. Use these tips to get through this holiday season unscathed by all the fat and calories that may be calling your name. Plus get my deliciously healthy recipe for Date and Bulgur Stuffing.

#1: Three Meals Every Day

Eating a big meal or attending a holiday party doesn’t give you permission to skip other meals. It’s actually a bad habit you don’t want to start. Before holiday parties and feasts, be sure to eat a sensible breakfast and lunch. This will keep you level headed so you don’t overindulge come dinner time.

#2: The Two Tablespoon Rule

During a holiday feast, many of your favorite dishes are looking you straight in the eye. In order to keep calories in check, take only TWO tablespoons of your favorites instead of a full portion. This way you can taste everything you want without busting your waistline.

#3: Lighten Up Holiday Favorites

This may seem impossible, but it’s anything but. There are quick tricks you can do in order to lighten up favorite dishes. Sometimes it’s as easy as cutting portions, while other recipes may require a little more work (like swapping half the white flour for whole wheat pastry flour or using half the amount of sausage or cheese called for).

Check out my yummy Date and Bulgur Stuffing below.

#4: Mind Your Alcohol

There is more than enough alcohol flowing during the holidays. Be mindful of how much you drink -- the calories can add up very quickly. Twelve fluid ounces of beef and 5 fluid ounces of wine have around 100-120 calories, while fancy cocktails can rack up 400-500 each.

#5: Keep Exercising

Although the hustle and bustle of holiday time may have you forgoing your trips to the gym or favorite yoga class, now is NOT the time to skip them. Make a point of attending each one and if you’re travelling make alternate exercise plans – like a family football game or walk after dinner.

Spicy Sweet Strawberry Tonic

Fri, 09 Nov 2012 14:31:00 GMT

This Spicy & Sweet Strawberry Tonic is sure to tingle your tastebuds and lift your spirits for holiday or anytime festivities!

This California strawberry tonic can easily replace a Bloody Mary at your next brunch.

Ingredients

1 pound California strawberries, hulled
1 medium cucumber, peeled and coarsely chopped
2 medium tomatoes, quartered
2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lime juice
4-6 drops red pepper sauce, more or less to taste
1 tablespoon honey
Dash of salt
4 lime slices for garnish
4 California strawberries for garnish
4 cups ice
4 ounces of vodka, optional

Preparation

Place strawberries, cucumber, tomatoes, lime juice, Tabasco, honey and salt in a blender. Blend until very smooth.

Fill glasses with ice. Pour mixture over ice and garnish with a lime and a strawberry. Serve immediately.

Nutritional Information

Per Serving: 137 calories; 0.6 g fat; 0 mg cholesterol; 304 mg sodium; 17 g carbohydrate; 4 g fiber; 2 g protein

Mini Strawberry Chocolate Party Cakes

Fri, 09 Nov 2012 13:50:00 GMT

This chef-inspired recipe for Mini Strawberry & Chocolate Party Cakes is perfect for the holidays or any extra-special occasion!

Ingredients

Butter, for greasing pans 2 cups diced California strawberries
1 (15.25 ounce) strawberry cake mix, batter prepared according to package directions
1 (15.25 ounce) chocolate cake mix, batter prepared according to package directions
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar, more or less as necessary
2 (12 ounce) packages semi sweet chocolate chips, divided
12 medium California strawberries, sliced, for garnish

Preparation

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Grease two large-sized muffin pans with butter and set aside.
Place diced strawberries in a small saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring constantly until berries starts to bubble, about 3 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until very thick, about 20 minutes.

Remove from heat and set aside to cool completely. Prepare strawberry cake according to package directions. Pour batter into one of the muffin pans. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool. Prepare chocolate cake according to package directions. Pour batter into the remaining muffin pan. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 20 minutes.

Remove from heat and let cool. Meanwhile, place thickened strawberries in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a whisk attachment. Add cream cheese and butter, mixing until smooth and creamy. Add powdered sugar 1/2 cup at a time, beating between additions until all sugar has been added and mixture is thick and smooth. Cover and refrigerate for at least 40 minutes.

While cakes are still in the muffin tins, slice off the domed tops. Remove cakes from muffin tins and slice each cake into two layers.
Place the slightly larger layers (these will be the cake bottoms) on a sheet of wax paper. Spread strawberry mixture thickly over the bottoms. Cover with remaining layers of cake. Each cake will have both a chocolate and a strawberry layer.

Place 1/3 cup of the chocolate chips in a small bowl and set aside for garnishing. Place remaining chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl and heat on high at 30 second intervals, stirring between each interval, until chocolate has melted and is very smooth.

Pour over tops of cakes, letting drip down the sides. Let set for 20 minutes at cool room temperature if serving right away). Or, refrigerate until ready to serve. Cakes can be refrigerated for up to 24 hours.

Garnish tops of cakes with slices of strawberries and reserved chocolate chips before serving.

Makes 12 single-serving cakes.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: 655 calories; 37 g fat; 79 mg cholesterol; 332 mg sodium; 85 g carbohydrate; 5 g fiber; 7 g protein

Strawberry Recipes for Chilly Nights

Wed, 07 Nov 2012 14:51:00 GMT

Most folks love to enjoy strawberries in refreshing summertime recipes, but strawberries can be a surprising ingredient in warm and cozy recipes when the weather begins to cool down.

As you could imagine, at the California Strawberry Commission, we are always creating new recipes to share with strawberry lovers around the world. In addition to working with chefs, we also enjoy discovering all the ways that talented food bloggers use strawberries in recipes. Fortunately for us, and all of you, many of them love to share their recipes!

Below are a few of our favorite fall/winter picks from our chefs - and some of our favorite bloggers.

Let's start with this Strawberry Balsamic Pizza with Chicken, Sweet Onion and Applewood Bacon from The Cafe Sucre Farine.

If you haven't discovered the delectable creations of Rock Recipes, this Strawberries and Cream Bread Pudding is a good place to start!

Cod with Strawberry Salsa from Closet Cooking is perfectly satisfying and healthy for a chilly week (or weekend) night.

To warm up on a chilly morning, enjoy these warm strawberry scones with your favorite hot coffee or tea.

For more adventurous cooks, this Slow-Cooked Pork Belly with Strawberry Rhubarb Marmelade is a warm and savorty dish your family will love!

We hope you enjoy these recipes! What's your favorite cold-weather dish?

And The Winners Are

Thu, 01 Nov 2012 14:39:00 GMT

Congratulations to Stephanie Tallent, Jenna Braddock and Jo from The Hungry Crafter! Please send your mailing addresses to info@calstrawberry.org with Le Creuset Winner in the subject line!

Strawberry Lavender Crumble AlmondOat Topping

Wed, 24 Oct 2012 11:15:00 GMT

One of our fave food bloggers, Tami Hardeman from Running with Tweezers, created this wonderfully warm strawberry crumble dessert for us to go along with our fall giveaway.

This recipe seemed so perfect (and simple) for this time of year, that we decided to give it a try. So yours truly whipped it up last night - and there it is (photo above)! I shared it this morning with some colleagues here at the Commission and we all agree that it is quite a yummy little treat! I especially liked the nutty, granola-like topping that wasn't too sweet.

A couple personal notes about the recipe: I added an extra cup of California strawberries because, well, we kind of love them here, and because the fresh strawberries I picked up looked amazing! Also, I drizzled a little bit of melted butter over the topping before baking. Of course these are optional additions.

GIVEAWAY

To celebrate fall and the start of a yummy holiday season, we are giving away 5 red Le Creuset Gratin Dishes – like the one pictured above. Two dishes will be given away by the California Strawberry Commission, and three will be given away by blogger and recipe developer Tami Hardeman on Running with Tweezers. Feel free to enter both giveaways!

Simply enter by leaving a comment on this post, or on our Facebook page. Just share what you would like to make with the gratin dish. Of course we'd love for you to spread the word, but it's definitely not required. You can also head over to Running with Tweezers to enter there! Here's an example of a type of comment you could leave:

I'd love to win a gratin dish so I can make my hubby's favorite cobblers this winter!

Good luck! Winners announced right here on next Thursday's post!

BOO Berry Cupcakes with California Strawberries

Wed, 17 Oct 2012 14:38:00 GMT

OK, we admit it: We love to have a little extra fun with California strawberries during the holidays. This year we decided on topping cupcakes, made with fresh strawberries, with darling little ghosts. If you don't read anything else in this post, I want you to know that this is the BEST frosting to use for almost any cake or cupcake - especially these little ghosts. Not only is it delicious meringue frosting, but it sets really nicely and is easy to pipe!

If you've never worked with meringue frosting, don't worry, it's totally easy if you just remember a couple things:

- Wipe down the mixing bowl and attachments with vinegar to clean thoroughly.
- Be patient while the frosting is mixing - I mixed for about 10-15 minutes altogether.

That's it! You will love the creamy and smooth texture, and so will your kids!

We wish you and your family a fun Halloween. Let us know if you have any questions about the recipe - or strawberries in general!

PBJ Thumprint Cookies

Tue, 09 Oct 2012 15:00:00 GMT

I have a lot of strawberry jam on my hands. I think just about everyone I know made some this year and I ended up with more than a few jars. My favorite strawberry jam has to be the one my mother made using the freezer jam method. Strawberry freezer jam is bright and tastes very fresh.

Fortunately strawberry jam isn't just delicious on sandwiches and with toast, it's also a great ingredient to use in desserts. You can spread it on the crust of a tart or pie, use it to glaze fruit tarts, dollop it on top of panna cotta or vanilla ice cream, or use it in thumbprint cookies.

There are plenty of good thumbprint cookie recipes, but mine is a little different. It's a peanut butter and strawberry jam thumbprint cookie inspired of course by the classic combination of peanut butter and strawberry jam. I developed it when I was looking for something to take on the plane. I wanted it to be a treat, but not too sweet, packed with protein and bite sized.

These cookies are very tender but stack them up and seal them in plastic wrap and they travel well! When the flight attendant comes around, ask for tea, coffee or better yet, milk.

For these cookies, you can use store-bought preserves, but if you want to make your own freezer jam there are several good recipes floating around the internet. Here's a link to a simple freezer jam recipe.

Rustic Pumpkin Raisin Scones with Maple Drizzle

Wed, 03 Oct 2012 09:44:00 GMT

As much as most of us love summer, it's always nice to feel that slight chill in the air, see the leaves start to change color, and think about all the wonderful winter holidays - and of course all the delicious comfort foods that go along with cooler weather.

I don't know about you, but pumpkin recipes definitely come to mind once October hits. As a person who browses recipes almost on a daily basis, I've been discovering that folks make just about everything with pumpkin! Yep, everything from pumpkin lasagna and ravioli, to pesto and even pizza. Wow, pumpkin pizza - that's something I haven't tried. Have you?

One thing I have tried - and totally love - is pumpkin scones. After experimenting with several recipes, this one is the best by far. So if you are into pumpkin this fall, I would totally recommend trying this simple recipe for one of those cool, fall mornings.

Pack This NOT That for Healthy Kids Lunches

Thu, 13 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT

In general, I’m not a fan of telling what people what they shouldn’t eat simply because it doesn’t work. I think you hear plenty enough of that sort of thing. But when it comes to kids, I don’t think it hurts for you and them to know the difference between what should be a lunchbox regular or an occasional decadent treat.

Pack THIS

NOT That

Fruit:
It’s the real deal. Whether fresh, frozen canned or dried, 100% real fruit supplies much needed carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and plant nutrients to fuel young brains and active bodies. Strawberries, for example, contain a mere 50 calories per cup and are loaded with nutrients like vitamin C to help fight colds and speed repair of scraped knees and other playground injuries.

Faves: Got picky kids?? Surveys show that some of kid’s faves include strawberries, grapes, bananas and apples.

Packing tips:
Be sure kids don't have to mess around with washing or cutting up the fruit you pack. They'll be more likly to eat it if it's ready to go. Wash the fruit, pat it dry and cut up into bite-sized pieces. Please in a sealed container next to an icepack so it's nice and cold when lunchtime rolls around.

Fruit snacks:
Let’s set the record straight. Those little gummy snacks are nothing but glorified bits of candy. They’ve never been fruit and never will be 100% fruit. Don’t fool yourself into thinking they are the real deal; at best, they contain fruit juice concentrate and added sugars, minus the fiber.

Fruit drinks:
How do you want your soda? Carbonated or not carbonated? That’s basically what fruit drinks are - flat soda without the goodness of 100% fruit juice. Per ounce, they have just as many calories as soda.

Low fat milk or chocolate milk:
Either is a great choice as both supply calcium, protein and a host of other important nutrients as well as helping fluid needs. Look for milk that comes in aseptic packs. Refrigerate overnight so they are nice and cold when you pack them.

Chocolately drinks:
They look like chocolate milk, they kinda taste like chocolate milk but are really just sugary drinks in disguise. If the main ingredients are sugar, and not wholesome milk, leave it out of your child’s lunchbox.

Whole grain bread:
You know the drill - look for the “whole” next to the grain description. “Enriched,” “Durum” and other fancy terms does not tell you if you are serving your child a whole grain product. Besides fiber, there are a boatload of plant nutrients that benefit health in whole grain products that you won’t find in not whole grain varieties. Good news! You can find whole grain white wheat breads that are soft and most kids (and adults) won’t know the difference!

White bread:
The term “white bread” really is passé because, as I mentioned, there are whole grain white breads out there. Besides lacking in fiber, the nutrients added back in from the processing of the grain helps but lacks dozens of plant nutrients only found in whole grains that may help fight heart disease, cancer, diabetes and may even play a roll in keeping hunger at bay.

Low sodium lean meats and cheeses:
Lunch meats and cheeses can really add a lot of saturated fat and especially unwanted sodium to the diet. Many companies are now offering lean versions that are reduced in sodium and fat. Choose reduced fat and sodium cheese that contain nearly 1/2 the amount of sodium and saturated fat compared to standard cheese slices.

High sodium lunch meat and full-fat cheese: Between salt, sodium nitrate, sodium phosphates, monosodium glutamate and host of other sodium ingredients, many standard lunch meats clock in at over 500mg of sodium per serving. Yikes! Excess sodium is bad for growing bones and may contribute to high blood pressure and kidney stones. And, added saturated fat does not help growing arteries. Many full fat cheeses have nearly 50% of the saturated fat requirement for the day.

Vegetables:
The secret here is to serve kids veggies that are fun, tasty and ready to chomp.

Faves: Celery and carrot sticks, pepper and cucumber slices, broccoli and cauliflower florets, cherry tomatoes and even sliced jicama are favored among kids. Serve an accompanying low fat ranch dressing, salsa, hummus or honey balsamic vinaigrette dressing really makes the veggies more appealing.

Packing tips: Be sure to sprinkle a bit of lemon juice on top of the cut veggies to keep them bright and fresh in appearance. This also helps keep the odor down from sulphur-containing veggies like broccoli and cauliflower.

Vegetable chips:
Truth be told, they aren’t really that bad as most on the market are relatively moderate in sodium, low in saturated fat and average around 150 calories per serving. But most vegetables we eat are less than 25 calories for an entire cup and virtually no sodium. Veggie chips instead of standard chips is a better choice if the goal is serving a healthier chip.

Lemon Strawberry Cornmeal Scones

Thu, 06 Sep 2012 11:39:00 GMT

There are some work days when the alarm goes off and I tug the covers over my head. And there are other days when the alarm goes off and I jump out of bed, believe it or not, to make a batch of scones for my work buddies. Of all things to get excited about, I get excited about baking scones. Go figure.

The other day, one of my colleagues described cornmeal scones she's been enjoying from a local cafe. For whatever reason, I imagined what they would look and how they would taste. So the first thing I did on my way home from work that day, was stop at the market to get all the ingredients I needed so I could give it try. Later that night, there I was at 11:00 p.m. baking up my version of scones I'd only heard about.

The outcome was a good one. I honestly love these berry scones and have already used this recipe a few times, trying it most recently with strawberries. The absolute best part is you can really make them your own and add whatever fruit or nuts you like! But if you like berries, cornmeal and lemon, I’d try this combo for sure because it is pretty darn good.

Banana Yeast Bread

Wed, 29 Aug 2012 10:28:00 GMT

We all have that moment when we are faced by few lonely, very brown bananas hanging out in the fruit basket. While I adore the original Moosewood cookbook recipe for banana bread (which starts with soaking your overripe bananas in strong coffee!), I wanted to find a different way to use the bananas that wasn't so sweet or dense. Inspired by Rose Levy Beranbaum's The Bread Bible, this banana bread is very light, and has more of an essence of banana. It's great for French toast or regular toast, and adds a nice dimension to bread pudding.

If you have a mixer with a dough hook, this is a good bread recipe for the mixer: the dough is sticky, I find that I get distracted trying to scrape the dough off of my fingers and palms.

By the way, if you haven't added a digital kitchen scale to your cooking equipment yet, I strongly recommend it. Get a nice flat one that reads in both the English (pounds and ounces) and metric (grams). It saves all of the mess of leveling off traditional measuring cups, and gives you a more accurate measure of ingredients. I was a doubting Thomasina for many years, but since I've been baking bread, I am happy I made the investment.