Monday, May 15, 2017

Strawberry shortcake

Local strawberry season is in full swing. For the past few Saturdays we've been getting strawberries, the variety called gariguette, from one of the local growers at Saint-Aignan's weekly market. So far, I've been using them for strawberry shortcake. I make our friend Tom's biscuit recipe for the shortcake; it's easy and makes four good-sized light and flaky biscuits. With apologies to Tom, I've modified his recipe a little: all-butter instead of butter and shortening, and plain yogurt in place of buttermilk. We top our dessert with a dollop (or two) of crème fraîche.

Fresh strawberry shortcake for dessert.

Strawberries are among my favorite fruits and they're so good in season. Another good way to eat them (besides just as they are) is to marinate them in red wine or port (or even balsamic vinegar). Fraises au vin rouge is a classic, although many recipes tell you to simmer the wine with sugar and vanilla, eliminating the alcohol, and letting it cool before adding the strawberries. I just let the fruit marinate in the wine, alcohol and all. The tartness of the berries and the roundness of the wine really go well together.

8 comments:

  1. Strawberries (and chocolate) are way down my list of favorites, with the exception of strawberries in red wine, with a lot of sugar!

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  2. Oh be still my beating fat heart

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  3. I could dream about gariguette strawberries. They taste like strawberry essence and I've never seen that variety in Australia sadly. Looks like we're back in your territory for a few days late July.

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  4. I was recently given a bottle of white balsamic (from California) made with Anjou pears. Oh my. Just the thought of that with those strawberries -- see if you can find anything like that in your neighborhood, very tasty.

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  5. chm, I'm not a big chocolate fan, either, but I love strawberries!

    judy, :)

    evelyn, close!

    anne marie, :)

    john, hehehe!

    sue, the guy who sells them also has a variety he calls "Charlotte," just as tasty. They'll be coming along soon. Let us know how your travel plans shape up!

    emm, that sounds good!

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