Arlene Wright-Correll

Strawberry Season is Here, Yahoo!©



Posted: Saturday, September 06, 2008

by
http://www.learn-america.com

I love strawberries and when we lived in Florida we would go strawberry picking on some of the U-pick farms. Now, basically, one can have strawberries any time of the year as long as one wants to pay for them. But by mid-April strawberries start arriving in one's garden, provided one planted them or they start arriving in your favorite super market at a very affordable price.

I love them with champagne, just plain with no sugar added, on home made scones with home made whipped cream. Strawberries really should not be cut up and have lot of sugar added to them and made to sit in the refrigerator until they are all slippery, slimy and sugar saturated. They should not be cut up at all until you are ready to eat them because once you cut that little green leaf off the top, strawberries start going downhill!

I love them dipped in dark chocolate and rolled in pistachio nuts. Oh boys what a treat!

But best of all here is one of my favorite recipes.

Sabayon with Strawberries

Ingredients

1 to 1 pounds fresh ripe strawberries (3 pints)

1 tablespoon sugar, plus more to taste

2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice, plus more to taste

For the sabayon

6 egg yolks

1 cup sweet Marsala wine or port, sherry, or Madeira

1/3 cup sugar, plus more to taste

Drops of freshly squeezed lemon juice (optional)

For the whipped cream (for the glazed version)

1/2 cup heavy cream

1 teaspoon sugar

Special equipment: A large stainless steel or copper bowl, plus a larger bowl for holding (optional)

A large saucepan of simmering water

A balloon whisk

Dessert goblets or large martini glasses, or a medium gratin baking dish (4-cup volume) or individual gratin dishes (for glazed sabayon)

Preparing the strawberries:

About an hour before serving the dessert, rinse the strawberries (stems on) and drain them on paper towels. Slice off the stems and halve or quarter the strawberries lengthwise, depending on size, into a bowl. Sprinkle over the sugar and the lemon juice; fold gently together to blend well. Taste a strawberry, add more sugar or lemon juice if needed, and set aside to macerate.

Whipping the sabayon:

If you want to serve the sabayon warm, make it at the last minute. If you want to glaze the sabayon under the broiler, or make it ahead of time to serve chilled, have ready a large bowl (larger than the one in which you whip the sauce) partly filled with ice cubes.

Whisk to blend the yolks, Marsala, and sugar in the stainless-steel bowl. Rest the bowl in the saucepan over hot water. Whisk constantly for 4 to 5 minutes or more to cook the sauce, until it has the consistency of lightly whipped cream. Clear the bottom of the bowl constantly with the whisk so that the eggs do not scramble, and adjust the heat as needed.

Taste the sauce - the sabayon should never get so hot that you can't stick your very clean finger in it - and whisk drops of lemon juice or more sugar if you want. When thick, foamy, and tripled in volume, remove from heat. It can be served hot as is, tepid, or cool.

Serving:

Spoon a portion of strawberries - cup or more - into each goblet or glass, and top with 1/3 to cup of warm or cool sabayon. Or put the sauce in the glass first, then the strawberries.

Variation: Strawberries Glazed with Sabayon

Cool the sabayon to room temperature. Whip the cream and sugar until soft peaks form, and fold the cream into the sabayon with a rubber spatula.

Turn on the broiler. Spread the strawberries in the baking dish in one layer (or in individual dishes). Spoon the sauce over the berries so they are completely covered and set the dish under the broiler, 5 to 6 inches from the heat. With the door open - so you can watch carefully - broil for a minute or two, turning the dish as needed to glaze evenly, until the top of the sabayon is nicely browned and slightly crusted. Serve right away.

Makes 6 to 8 servings.

"Tread the Earth Lightly" and in the meantime May your day be filled with Peace, Light and Love,

Strawberry painting by author.

Author's note: This article was originally written for GreenThumbArticles.com

About the Author & Artist. Arlene Wright-Correll (1935- ___), popular American award winning Artist, published author, columnist, & is the resident art instructor for Avalon Stained Glass School, at the age of 68, decided to pick up her paint brushes again after 54 years and paint.  She is a cancer and stroke survivor who is able to strive forward each and everyday to welcome the beauty of this small planet.  She also is a China & Porcelain painter, Sandblasting & Etching, Stained Glass & fused glass Artisan. She is one of the six KY Artists who worked 6 months to create the dolls for Journey Jots in 2006 and a Smithsonian Institute art exhibit in 2008. Her published books can be found here . She is also a featured writer for GreenThumbArticles.com and teaches Art Vacation Holidays at Avalon Stained Glass School and Creativity Center.

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