Eat it. Drink it. Bake it. Toss it. Roll it. Run with it. Write about it. Draw it. Sing about it.
You name it, we will do it…all with strawberries in mind! There will be various contests with prizes held at the Festival, each with a strawberry theme, including a strawberry toss, shortcake eating challenge, poster and chalk drawing competition. Attendees will also enjoy a bounce house, face painter, and lively tunes that are sure to get you dancing to a strawberry-beat. So mark your calendars and plan to attend the Summerlin Strawberry Festival at the Gardens Park Farmers Market. For more information, please call 341-5500.
A Bit About Strawberries!
Now there are other berries in this world but admit it, we’re the best - sweet, succulent, easy to eat - no other berry is as good as us. It’s true that we’re similar to raspberries and blackberries, but we think we’re better than those guys.
Let me tell you more about us. We’re 2-5cm long, soft, red, plump and heart-shaped. We consist of a cluster of small fruits around the fruit stem; each single fruit having a seed surrounded by red flesh. Our green stem and green star-like calyx are left on when we’re harvested.
Did you know?
• Did you know that on average there are 200 seeds on each on us
• We’re not really a berry but a member of the rose family and the real fruits are actually the tiny yellow seeds on our outsides
• We grow wild all over Europe and have been cultivated for the last 700 years. Cultivated varieties have more sugar than our wild cousins.
• Did you know that on average there are 200 seeds on each on us
• We’re not really a berry but a member of the rose family and the real fruits are actually the tiny yellow seeds on our outsides
• We grow wild all over Europe and have been cultivated for the last 700 years. Cultivated varieties have more sugar than our wild cousins.
Why Strawberries Are Good To Eat
• We’re an excellent source of vitamin C and just 100g has a whole day’s supply.
• The small seeds embedded in our skin provide a good source of dietary fibre
• We’re also a good source of folate (one of the B vitamins)
• Our natural sweetness comes from the sugars fructose and glucose.
• We’re an excellent source of vitamin C and just 100g has a whole day’s supply.
• The small seeds embedded in our skin provide a good source of dietary fibre
• We’re also a good source of folate (one of the B vitamins)
• Our natural sweetness comes from the sugars fructose and glucose.
How They are Grown and Harvested
Although our parent plant usually grows over the ground, they’re mainly cultivated commercially on trellises, to make harvesting easier. We prefer a temperate climate and can grow in a wide range of soils. Our parent plant is dormant in winter and this is generally the best time to plant it as its roots will then have plenty of time to grow before spring.
Although our parent plant usually grows over the ground, they’re mainly cultivated commercially on trellises, to make harvesting easier. We prefer a temperate climate and can grow in a wide range of soils. Our parent plant is dormant in winter and this is generally the best time to plant it as its roots will then have plenty of time to grow before spring.
It’s a small plant with a crown of dark green leaves each of which has three small leaflets with saw-like edges. Runners, or long stems, grow from the crown, which send down roots when they touch the ground and a new plant develops. It’s white flowers are fertilised by bees and then produce us. It is becoming very popular to grow us hydroponically these days (that is grown in a nutrient solution rather than in soil).
We’re hand picked because we all ripen at different times and are delicate and easily bruised. Why not take a trip to a strawberry farm and pick some of us for yourself.
Choosing Strawberries
Select those of us which are plump, bright and even-colored. Flavor varies with variety and ripeness.
Select those of us which are plump, bright and even-colored. Flavor varies with variety and ripeness.
How to Keep Strawberries
Remove us from the punnet. Place us unwashed in a single layer on paper towel on a plate. Cover and refrigerate. Use within 3 days.
Remove us from the punnet. Place us unwashed in a single layer on paper towel on a plate. Cover and refrigerate. Use within 3 days.
Fun Ways to Eat and Cook Strawberries
Wash and hull us by removing our green stem on top, but only when ready to use us. A little sugar sprinkled over us an hour before eating is believed to bring out our best flavor.
Wash and hull us by removing our green stem on top, but only when ready to use us. A little sugar sprinkled over us an hour before eating is believed to bring out our best flavor.
Normally eaten raw we can be added to fruit salads, fruit punch, cheese and fruit platters, sorbets, ice creams, tarts, cakes, sauces, crepes, waffles or served over breakfast cereal. Cooked, we can be added to stewed fruits or made into jam.
Try some of these strawberry ideas (strawberry recipes):
Strawberry and Blueberry Spectacular
For a stunning looking dessert, simply mix fresh strawberries with ripe fresh blueberries and serve in a large glass bowl to show off the great colours. For extra pizzazz serve fruit in tall glasses and pour over lemonade (for kids) or champagne (for adults) just before serving.
For a stunning looking dessert, simply mix fresh strawberries with ripe fresh blueberries and serve in a large glass bowl to show off the great colours. For extra pizzazz serve fruit in tall glasses and pour over lemonade (for kids) or champagne (for adults) just before serving.
Strawberry Mascarpone
Wash and hull 2 punnets of strawberries. Mix together 175g mascarpone flavoured with a little honey or icing sugar, lemon juice and vanilla essence. Add 1/4 cup grated chocolate. Divide strawberries into 4 glass bowls and top with mascarpone sprinkled with chopped pistachio.
Wash and hull 2 punnets of strawberries. Mix together 175g mascarpone flavoured with a little honey or icing sugar, lemon juice and vanilla essence. Add 1/4 cup grated chocolate. Divide strawberries into 4 glass bowls and top with mascarpone sprinkled with chopped pistachio.
Chocolate Strawberries
Melt 125g and 30g Copha (vegetable shortening) in a heatproof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water. Wash 1 punnet of strawberries and pat dry with paper towel. Hold each strawberry by the stem and carefully dip 2/3 of the strawberry into chocolate. Place on a sheet of non-stick baking paper or foil and refrigerate until set.
Click HERE for great links and ideas for turning this fun fruit into a learning adventure for your family!
