It’s Strawberry Time!
Well it is that time of year again one that many of us have been waiting for with anticipation; to some a sign that summer is here, warm days and fresh simple meals. It is indeed strawberry season and nothing beats a fresh locally produced ripe seasonal strawberry! We have all had the imported varieties that lack flavor and colour and yes they may help us through a long winter of soups and stews but nothing beats a truly ripe strawberry! Plump and juicy, red and ripe through to the middle and all the way up to the top, there are no white cores or white shoulders on these local delights. With farmer’s markets brimming with the berries, you-pick berry facilities galore, there is no doubt that your fruit and vegetable producer whether a broadliner or a distributor specifically focused on produce, will begin to carry locally produced berries (whether they are sourced in the immediate vicinity of your facility or within provincial or national boundaries, they are going to be full of flavour). If your distributor is not currently carrying locally produced strawberries, take this as a great opportunity to begin a discussion with them about sourcing more fresh locally produced food or frozen local berries, many of which end up with a close to fresh taste and texture even after they are thawed.
What am I going to do with these delectable treats you ask? Well the possibilities are endless. These yummy treats can be made into a thick compote which can be added to your breakfast menu or as a dessert on its own. Simply wash the berries and remove the (hull) stem and add the berries to a large pot or cooking kettle. Heat the berries on medium heat until they are broken down and resemble a jam like texture. Add brown sugar to the desired level of sweetness and chill or plate hot, depending on your facility. This gooey mixture works really well with pancakes or French toast, as a topper to your hot cereals or in a lovely small dish as a dessert (place on the hot side of the cart for a sensational dessert). If you are using a Novaflex, this mixture could also be placed in your smallest container and served on the cold side as jam for toast or placed in a larger serving container and added to trays if you are using the Multigen system for bulk meal delivery.
Additionally, you can simply wash the berries and place three or four berries in a small dish and place on the cold side of the cart for a fresh simple dessert. Fresh whole or roughly chopped berries can be added to your oatmeal or hot breakfast cereal to add flavor and colour to your breakfast items. To save on preparation time simply wash and hull the berries and place in a food processor, pulse a few times to get a roughly chopped consistency and top your cold oatmeal or cereal options and place on the hot side of your tray.
Because local berries have been picked closer to their peak of ripeness, their impact will be far greater than that of imported berries so you will be able to serve fewer berries and still have a big impact. Sometimes local berries can seem costlier than the imported version but reducing the serving size will allow you to have a big impact item without blowing your budget. Take this opportunity to add summery freshness, flavor and colour to your menu!
