Calendar Confusion

In my backyard this afternoon:

On my dinner table tonight:

If I had false teeth, I might have accidently swallowed them when I rounded the corner at IGA yesterday and happened on a half flat of these lovely strawberries. Aren’t they lovely? The glaze is made from mashed berries cooked with sugar, cornstarch, & orange juice. I’m usually partial to Midwest-grown berries, but these were absolutely delicious in spite of the California label on the box. I sent Larry back today in hopes of getting another box, but unfortunately they were gone. Thankfully I still have more than enough left for my morning granola tomorrow. I might be able to make shortcake or some other summery dessert, even if it’s still snowing outside.

My favorite breakfast

Homemade granola with fresh strawberries. . .it doesn’t get ANY better than this in the morning!

The rest of the year I top my granola with other fresh fruit or, more likely, dried cranberries. It’s still good, just not good. I practically lived for this combination during the early summer of 2004 when I was battling morning sickness with lost boy #4, hooked up to a PICC line, and not hungry for much of anything.

I like to try different granola recipes, but my standby is Ann’s Granola By the Pound, as posted to Loopers however many years ago it’s been. I sometimes vary the dry ingredients based on what I have on hand, but I think the only real change is that I’ve gradually decreased the brown sugar to where I only use a heaping spoonful or two.

    4 pounds rolled oats                                           
    1 pound brown sugar                                            
    12 ounces wheat germ                                           
    8-10 ounces coconut                                            
    1-2 pounds nuts or seeds                                       
    1 1/2 cups vegetable oil                                       
    1 1/2 cups honey                                               
    2 tablespoons vanilla extract                                  

Mix all the dry ingredients. Mix all the wet ingredients (can heat slightly to make mixing easier). Mix it all together. Bake in 2 greased roaster pans at 375° for 30-60 minutes, stirring often. Let cool, stirring often.

Well, it IS my favorite fruit. . .

You Are a Strawberry

You are friendly, outgoing, and well liked by many people.You are popular, but there’s nothing you ordinary or average about you.You a very interesting person, and you have many facets to your personality. Sometimes you feel very conflicted. Your different sides of your personality pull at you. You are a very sensual and passionate person. You are fiery… you can’t help it. In general, you keep your passionate side under wraps. You are only wild in private.

What Type of Fruit Are You?

Strawberry Heaven

I love strawberries. I always have. I eat them plain or dressed up with one of many strawberry recipes. My kitchen is decked with their sweet red likenesses.

And most springs, I don’t get to eat many of them. I’m no gardener. I like to go to the U-pick farm, but it’s too far for a quick berry fix and I have too many helpers to pick for any length of time. Farmers’ markets always sell out before I get there. And the local groceries mostly carry the kind of California strawberries that are big on size and short on flavor. No matter how tempting they might look, I leave them at the store knowing I will be disappointed by the very first bite.

Ah, but this year my taste buds have been in heaven! For several weeks I have been able to get some lovely Florida strawberries at Fareway. They may not be quite the same as homegrown Midwestern strawberries, but they are a beautiful shade of red all the way through and they taste delicious. I think I’ll cry when they are no longer available. . .

Taste of Springtime

Tonight our friends Larry & Brenda (and 2 of their sons) joined us for dinner. We had a lot of fun visiting while the kids played. . .and it was a good excuse to try a new cheesecake recipe as well. I used one from Taste of Home (2005) and it was a definite hit.

Strawberry Swirl Cheesecake

Crust: 

1 1/4 cups flour

1 tablespoon sugar

1 teaspoon grated lemon peel

1/2 cup cold butter

Filling:

4 8 ounce packages cream cheese, softened

1 1/3 cups sugar

2 tablespoons flour

2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream

4 eggs, lightly beaten (oops! I forgot to beat my eggs )

1 tablespoon lemon juice (I used fresh, since I had a lemon for the peel)

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 cup pureed fresh strawberries, divided

8-10 drops red food coloring, optional (I omitted for a paler, natural berry color)

In a bowl, combine flour, sugar, and lemon peel; cut in butter until crumbly. Pat dough onto the bottom and 1″ up the sides of a greased 9″ springform pan. Place on a baking sheet. Bake at 325° for 15-20 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool on a wire rack.

In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, sugar, flour and cream until smooth. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until combined. Beat in lemon juice and vanilla just until blended. Pour 2 1/2 cups batter into a bowl; set aside.

Stir 3/4 cup pureed strawberries (and food coloring if desired) into remaining batter. Pour into crust. Place pan on a double thickness of heavy duty foil (about 16″ square). Securely wrap foil around pan. Place in a large baking pan. Add 1″ hot water to larger pan. Bake for 35 minutes.

Carefully pour reserved batter over bottom layer. Spoon remaining pureed berries over batter. Carefully cut through top layer only with a knife to swirl. Bake 40-50 minutes longer or until center is almost set. Remove pan from water bath. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Carefully run a knife around edge of pan to loosen; cool 1 hour longer. Refrigerate overnight.

And now in the morning, it’s back to work for Larry and back to school for the kids and I. I think we’ll use the leftover whipping cream to try making butter, having read about butter making day in Little House in the Big Woods last week.

A boy after my own heart!

Yesterday the grocery had strawberries that looked surprisingly red and tasty, so I bought some. Mr. I, who usually ’comments’ on all the groceries as they go into my cart, didn’t seem to notice. After all, he probably doesn’t remember strawberries from last year.

I served the strawberries for dinner last night. He wasn’t going to touch them, but I talked him into a bite and the next thing I knew he was asking for more. And more.

 This morning, C fixed a fruit salad for breakfast and included strawberries. I picked through his serving and ate all his berries first, then asked for more~ignoring the apples and bananas he usually loves.

I is a smart boy, if you ask me. Granted, he doesn’t like chocolate. . .but that just leaves more for his mommy!