Although summer is more than half over (sad cry), summer flavours always help you prolong those lingering hot days for as long as possible.
This is a prime time to enjoy nostalgic treats that extend the taste of summer into your fall fun. While we may be starting to think about September routines and buying school supplies, that does not have to signal the end of summer.
Strawberry season may be over in Manitoba, but if you don’t have bushels of those gorgeous red gems stored in your freezer, since strawberries can be grown in warmer climates like California year round, enjoying summery recipes can happen anytime.
Here are two fun and easy sweet summer treats you can enjoy now and throughout fall.
Oven-Roasted Strawberry S’mores
This is a super-fun recipe that doesn’t involve a fire pit. Although you can easily do so on a cool August evening! But for those of you who don’t have access to an open flame, and would rather not fire up your BBQ, try this in the oven and you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 30 minutes
Serves: 8 s’mores
Ingredients:
• 1 lb strawberries
• 2-3 tbsp honey
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 8 large marshmallows
• 4 milk chocolate bars, halved
• 8 honey graham cracker sheets, broken into 8 squares each
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 450°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Combine strawberries, honey and vanilla extract. Transfer strawberry mixture to baking sheet.
3. Bake for 20-25 minutes, remove from oven, and allow berries to cool. Once cooled, transfer roasted berries to a glass jar or serving dish.
4. Toast marshmallows under broiler on a pan until golden and gooey.
5. Drizzle marshmallows with roasted berries and assemble.
Strawberry Jalapeño Poppers
This is a spicy recipe that really fires up the tastebuds. There’s something about the combination of sweet and spicy that’s incredibly appealing. And you can easily adjust how much heat is in each by decreasing or increasing the amount of jalapeño you use. Or just garnish with a single piece on top for a quick hit of burn.
Prep time: 30 minutes
Serves: 8
Ingredients:
• 8 large strawberries
• 6 tbsp cream cheese
• 3 slices cooked bacon crumbled
• 1 jalapeño finely chopped
Instructions:
1. Wash strawberries and slice in half. Scoop out a little of the centre of each sliced strawberry and set aside.
2. In a small bowl, mix cream cheese together with crumbled bacon and jalapeño, reserving a little bit for topping.
3. Fill sliced and scooped strawberries with cream cheese filling and sprinkle a bit more crumbled bacon and jalapeño pieces on top. Enjoy right away or refrigerate for later.
Strawberry Burrata Salad
When the dog days of summer hit — and August heat can still pack a wallop despite the shorter days — nothing is more refreshing than a salad. Strawberries and burrata cheese come together for an irresistible combination of sweet and savory flavors in this recipe. It’s also possible to substitute mozzarella cheese, or even goat cheese, whatever is handiest for you. This salad is simple to make and is a great appetizer or side dish with BBQ chicken or steak.
Prep time: 10 minutes
Serves: 1-2
Ingredients:
• 2 cups strawberries, hulled and sliced
• 1 cup arugula chopped
• 8 oz piece of burrata cheese
• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
Instructions:
1. Wash strawberries and arugula and pat dry.
2. Chop arugula into bite-size pieces. Hull and slice strawberries.
3. Place arugula in a bowl or on a large plate, then add strawberries.
4. In the center, top with burrata.
5. Drizzle with olive oil and balsamic. Toss and enjoy!
Find even more delicious recipes at californiastrawberries.com
— NewsCanada.com