Mid June is the peak season for Strawberries in our area. For this week’s Heinen’s 4PM Panic post, I’m sharing three simple ways that you can use the seasons bounty. The first recipe is one of our favorite cakes. I love using almond meal in cakes, it adds texture and flavor. The Roasted Strawberries can be thrown into the oven while your serving and eating dinner to be ready just in time for dessert. Or, make them ahead of time. They will keep in a jar for about a week in the refrigerator. Although they have never lasted that long. When you roast the sweet strawberries the sugars caramelize and the liquid thickens and sweetens. They are great on cake, ice cream and – IF there are any left the next morning – they are perfect on pancakes.
The third recipe is compliments of my daughter Mary Clare who wanted to use strawberries to make Popsicles. It’s so easy she made them all by herself. (she’s 12)
Strawberry Almond Cake
Ingredients:
- 4 medium eggs
- 1 cup caster sugar or fine ground sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup self-raising flour
- 2/3 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 1/4 ground almond meal
- 8 oz strawberries hulled and cut in half or fourths
- powdered sugar for dusting
Method:
- Preheat the oven to 325°
- Place the eggs, sugar and vanilla in the bowl of an electric mixer and whisk for 8-10 minutes or until thick, pale and tripled in volume.
- Sift the flour over the egg mix and fold in.
- Fold in the melted butter and ground almonds.
- Pour the mixture into a 8in round cake tin lined with nonstick baking paper.
- Top with the Strawberries.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes or until cooked when tested with a skewer.
- Turn out on to a wire rack to cool.
- Dust with Powdered Sugar
Roasted Strawberries
Ingredients:
- 16 ounces small to medium strawberries, hulled
- 4 tablespoons maple syrup
- 2 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon fine-grain sea salt
- 2 tablespoon port wine
- A few drops balsamic vinegar
Method:
- Preheat the oven to 350F with a rack in the middle of the oven. It is important to use a rimmed baking sheet or large baking dish for this recipe. You don’t want the juices running off the sheet onto the floor of your oven. If you are using a baking sheet, line it with parchment paper.
- Cut each strawberry in half. If your strawberries are on the large side, cut them into quarters or sixths. Add the berries to a mixing bowl.
- In a separate small bowl, whisk together the maple syrup, olive oil, and salt.
- Pour this over the strawberries and very gently toss to coat the berries.
- Arrange the strawberries in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet.
- Roast for about 40 minutes, just long enough for the berry juices to thicken, but not long enough for the juices to burn. Watch the edges of the pan in particular.
- While still warm, scrape the berries and juices from the pan into a small bowl. Stir in the port and balsamic vinegar. Use immediately or let cool and store in the refrigerator for up to a week.
- Makes about 1 cup
Strawberries and Cream Popsicles
Ingredients:
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
- Greek strawberry yogurt (full fat)
- 2 Tablespoons cornstarch
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 Tablespoon strawberry extract
- 3 cups chopped, fresh strawberries
- 10 Popsicle sticks
Method:
- Using a 2 cup measuring container, add milk and heavy cream.
- Spoon in strawberry yogurt until mixture reaches 2 cups.
- Add cornstarch and whisk until smooth.
- Pour into a small saucepan; add honey and sugar and strawberry extract. Slowly bring mixture to a boil over medium-low heat; whisking continuously.
- Once it begins to boil, continue whisking until it begins to thicken (5 minutes). Remove from heat. Set aside.
- Fill Popsicle molds loosly with strawberries.
- Pour strawberry mixture over the top. Press down or stir gently in filled molds with a spoon or skewer to get rid of any air bubbles in between the strawberries. I slammed my molds on the kitchen counter a few times too. Add more strawberry mixture to each mold as necessary.
- Add Popsicle sticks. Freeze overnight and remove from Popsicle molds.
Enjoy!
Photographer Sally Roeckell specializes in contemporary lifestyle portraiture with an emphasis on food photography. She regularly shops at Heinen’s for the family dishes she features via Table and Dish on Instagram and on her website at TableAndDish.com.
Have you heard about Heinen’s Tasteful Rewards™ program? Sign up for free to receive exclusive weekly specials via email and earn Heinen’s rewards. As a Tasteful Rewards™ membership benefit, Heinen’s will donate up to 1% of your qualified purchases made between September and April to a local school of your choice through their Teaming Up for Education Program. CLICK HERE to sign up for Heinen’s Tasteful Rewards™ and, trust me, this is one email that will always please your palate!
Heinen’s Grocery is located at 500 N. Hough Street, between E. Main Street and Route 14 (next to Meatheads) in Barrington, Illinois. They’re open 7 days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. For more information, visit Heinens.com.
