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Strawberry Desserts

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Strawberry Desserts on www.virginiawillis.com

Strawberries are the most popular berry fruit in the world, and while they are available in grocery stores every week of the year, spring is their true season, at least in the South.

For clarity, Florida strawberry season is actually December through April, but that’s pretty far South near Plant City. For the rest of the South — strawberries are a spring fruit. But wait, there’s more confusion. Strawberries aren’t actually a fruit or a berry; they are instead the “enlarged receptacle of the strawberry flower.” Wait, what? That kind of language can make my eyes cross.

Strawberries are a member of the rose family. They aren’t true berries, like blueberries. (Technically, a berry has its seeds on the inside.) And, to be super geeky, each seed on a strawberry is considered by botanists to be its own separate fruit.

Regardless of the correct botanical terminology, strawberries are a most welcome salute to spring. Their bright red bursts of color and flavor are refreshing after the winter months of apples, pears, and citrus.

Strawberry Desserts on www.virginiawillis.com

How to Choose Strawberries

Choose strawberries that have a good aroma and sweet fragrance. When ripe, the color of strawberry varieties can vary from a more medium red to deep red, so color is not always the best indicator. However, since they do not ripen after being picked, only choose strawberries that are fully red without any creamy white or pale green, with fresh-looking caps and perky green leaves.

Health-wise, strawberries are fantastic with a good amount of fiber and more vitamin C than any other berry. Topped with a spoonful of plain yogurt, they are a sweet-tart, wonderful, and delicious way to start your day.

However, we all have destiny, I believe. And, to me there’s no doubt that strawberries shine their brightest in dessert. It’s a creamy, indulgent, and awesome spring fling. Strawberries and cream are classic decadence. Absolutely nothing beats the taste of real whipped cream. There’s a bit of science behind the combination — check out my Strawberries and Cream Cobbler in Cooking with Virginia to find out more about it.

Here’s another link to check out with a bushel basket of links to summer desserts plus my recipe for Cornmeal Skillet Cake that would be perfect topped with strawberries.

The texture of this airy semifreddo is somewhere between frozen mousse and gelato. The word in Italian means “half-cold,” and it’s velvety soft, creamy, rich, and delicious. If you give it a try, let me know what you think!

Bon Appétit Y’all!
Virginia Willis

Strawberry Desserts on www.virginiawillis.com

 

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Strawberry Semifreddo

Makes 8 3-oz servings
Prep Time10 minutes
Freezing Time1 hour
Total Time10 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American, French, Italian
Servings: 8
Calories: 0kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 large eggs
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 1 cup strawberry puree
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream, chilled
  • Fresh strawberries, for serving

Instructions

  • Place a large saucepan with 2-inches of water over high heat. Bring the water to a boil then reduce the heat to maintain a simmer. Whisk the eggs, sugar and salt together in a medium bowl. Set the bowl atop the simmering saucepan, making sure the bottom of the bowl does not touch the water. Whisk constantly, over the heat, until the mixture reaches 170°degrees F and has thickened slightly, approximately 5 minutes.
  • Remove the bowl from the heat, add the strawberry puree and whisk until combined. If necessary, chill over a bowl of ice or refrigerate until cooled to room temperature.
  • Using a hand held mixer, whisk the chilled cream in a large mixing bowl until medium peaks form. Fold whipped cream into strawberry mixture until well combined. Transfer to molds and freeze until firm, at least 6 hours. Unmold and serve with fresh strawberries.

Nutrition

Serving: 0 | Calories: 0kcal | Carbohydrates: 0g | Protein: 0g | Fat: 0g | Saturated Fat: 0g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0g | Trans Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 0mg | Potassium: 0mg | Fiber: 0g | Sugar: 0g | Vitamin A: 0IU | Vitamin C: 0mg | Calcium: 0mg | Iron: 0mg

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Virginia Willis

Georgia-born French-trained chef Virginia Willis has foraged for berries in the Alaskan wilderness, harvested capers in the shadow of a smoldering volcano in Sicily, and executed the food styling for a Super Bowl commercial seen by over 160 million people. She is a James Beard award-winning cookbook author and chef for Food Network Kitchen. Virginia lost 65 pounds and has kept if off for over 3 years. Her health journey has been documented in Eating Well, as a cover story for Woman’s World, Allrecipes, and AARP. Virginia has embraced her new outlook on life and has become a cheerleader for those wanting to make their own life changes, “If a French-trained Southern chef can do it, you can, too!” Her cookbooks include Fresh Start: Cooking with Virginia My Real Life Daily Guide to Healthy Eating and Weight Loss; Secrets of the Southern Table, Lighten Up, Y’all, Bon Appétit, Y’all, Basic to Brilliant, Y’all, Okra, and Grits. She is the former TV kitchen director for Martha Stewart, Bobby Flay, and Nathalie Dupree; has worked in Michelin-starred restaurants; and traveled the world producing food stories – from making cheese in California to escargot farming in France. She has appeared on Alex vs America, The Rachel Ray Show, Food Network’s Chopped, CBS This Morning, Fox Family and Friends, Martha Stewart Living, and as a judge on Throwdown with Bobby Flay. Virginia has also been featured in the New York Times, the Washington Post, People Magazine, Eater, and Food52. She has contributed to Eating Well, Garden & Gun, and Bon Appétit, and more. Fans love her down-to-earth attitude and approachable spirit. Learn more about Virginia and Good and Good for You Living, a real life health and wellness approach for mind, body, and spirit that includes food, fun, and fitness at www.virginiawillis.com

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