Random Tuesday #6
~ Fresh strawberries ~
The strawberries have been delicious this summer and I have lost count of the number of bowls I have consumed with ice-cream and chocolate sauce!!
Strawberries say summer like no other fruit and I love them.
Here 11 interesting facts about strawberries.
*****
Strawberries are the only fruit that wear their seeds on the outside. The average berry is adorned with some 200 of them. No wonder it only takes one bite to get seeds stuck in your teeth.
Strawberries aren’t true berries, like blueberries or even grapes. Technically, a berry has its seeds on the inside.
Strawberries are members of the rose family.
The strawberry plant is a perennial. It may not bear fruit immediately, but once it does, it will remain productive for about five years.
Belgium has a museum dedicated to strawberries.
Native Americans ate strawberries long before European settlers arrived. As spring’s first fruit, they were a treat, eaten freshly picked or baked into cornbread.
The ancient Romans thought strawberries had medicinal powers. They used them to treat everything from depression to fainting to fever, kidney stones, bad breath and sore throats.
Strawberries are believed to help reduce the risk of heart disease and certain cancers. They are low in calories and high in vitamins C, B6, K, fiber, folic acid, potassium and amino acids
Strawberries contain high levels of nitrate. This has been shown to increase blood and oxygen flow to the muscles. Research suggests that people who load up on strawberries before exercising have greater endurance and burn more calories.
To store fresh strawberries, wash them and cut the stem away. However, if you plan to keep them in the fridge for a few days, wait until before you eat them to clean them. Rinsing them speeds up spoiling.
Strawberries can also be pickled. Especially when picked green or unripe. If your berries are overripe, make jam!
(Source)
Just look at these photographs - don't they look so inviting. Strawberries don't only taste great but they must be one of the most handsome within the fruit family!!
And if you are Australian - Pavlova and strawberries go hand in hand!!
A perfect dessert for a summers evening.
Link to pavlova recipe: http://globaltableadventure.com/2012/07/05/recipe-pavlova/
*****
What a really interesting post.
ReplyDeleteThankyou :)
DeleteI love strawberries - they are very yummy... and they are very pleasing to look at! The flowers are rather sweet, too. I've never had great success with growing strawberries in any location I've lived - they always seem to get virus or fungus or other plant diseases and die. Very disappointing - I don't know what I do wrong!
ReplyDeleteThey are just pretty!!! We have them growing in a tub but they never seem to produce much fruit and the slugs always seem to arrive much quicker than us. They also die back in winter with the heavy frosts. My dad grew them (lots) and we made strawberry jam and ate fresh strawberries and they were always juicy. I think he just has the ability to grow any sort of fruit or veg well!!!
DeleteI am drooling. I *love* strawberries. They are the ultimate fruit from Eden. And dipped in chocolate? Pure heaven. I enjoyed reading the facts also. We love to flash freeze them for smoothies or make them into jam...
ReplyDelete“One must ask children and birds how cherries and strawberries taste.” ~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Even the smell of strawberries mores me hungry!!! They look beautiful and they smell beautiful and you can dip them in chocolate. What more is there to like!!
DeleteStrawberries are my favorite fruit, even though I can't eat too many now without negative effects on my system. I've loved them since I was a girl and I've decorated my kitchen with them. :-) They are so bright and cheerful!
ReplyDeleteCompletely agree - I can't think of anything quite as bright and cheerful :) Can you eat strawberry jam ok?
DeleteSorry I didn't see this sooner. I can eat a little strawberry jam. Not too much at a time. :-)
DeleteVisiting from The Cotton Apron. These are very interesting facts about strawberries. It is also interesting that you posted this in February, as I can not imagine eating fresh strawberries at that time of year, being in the northern hemisphere, as I am. :-)
ReplyDeleteThankyou for visiting - February is hot and sunny here - summer :)) A long way from right now which is cold and icy!!
Delete