Fresh local strawberries delectable in cakes, appetizers and salads

Fresh local strawberries are delicious on their own, but they also can be used in many dishes, from appetizers to salads to delectable desserts. Here are three recipes to try.

The first is an elegant adaptation of the popular Italian cake known as tiramisu, traditionally made with ladyfingers dipped in coffee and layered with a whipped mixture of mascarpone cheese, liqueur and cocoa. The next one is an appetizer featuring melted brie topped with strawberries and the third is a curried chicken salad with strawberries that is suitable for a main dish.

Strawberry Misu

Celebrate summer and strawberry season with this elegant dessert, made with layers of strawberries, rich mascarpone cheese, whipping cream and ladyfingers sprinkled with espresso coffee. Truly a dessert made in heaven.

36 ladyfingers

15 ml (1 tbsp) cocoa powder, plus extra for garnish

1.5 kg (3 lb) sliced strawberries

Whole strawberries and chocolate curls, for garnish

Mascarpone Mixture

500 g (1 lb) mascarpone cheese

50 ml (1/4 cup) sugar

50 ml (1/4 cup) cold strong espresso coffee or coffee liqueur (you can use instant espresso powder)

7 ml (1 1/2 tsp) vanilla

1 l (4 cups) whipping cream, divided

Coffee Mixture

125 ml (1/2 cup) cold strong espresso coffee or coffee liqueur (you can use instant espresso powder)

15 ml (1 tbsp) sugar

Cheese Mixture: In a large bowl, beat together mascarpone cheese, sugar, coffee and vanilla. In a separate large bowl, whip 750 ml (3 cups) of the cream until soft peaks form; fold into mascarpone mixture. Set aside.

Coffee Mixture: In a small bowl, combine coffee and sugar; set aside.

To assemble: Line bottom of a 25-cm (10-inch) springform pan or 33-by-23-cm (13-by-9-inch) glass baking dish with ladyfingers, putting them as close to each other as possible; set aside any remaining. Sprinkle with half of the coffee mixture. Spread with 1/3 of the mascarpone mixture; sift 5 ml (1 tsp) of the cocoa over top and top with half of the strawberries. Layer 1/3 of the cheese mixture, 5 ml (1 tsp) of the cocoa and remaining strawberries one more time. Top with remaining ladyfingers; sprinkle with remaining coffee mixture and spread remaining mascarpone mixture over top.

Cover and chill for at least 4 hours or overnight.

To serve: Whip remaining 250 ml (1 cup) cream until soft peaks form. Spread cream on top; sprinkle with cocoa. Decorate with whole berries and chocolate curls.

Let's Get Real: First Salad and Mango Dressing

Tonight we're having our first real salad from the garden. Yay! Spinach, lambs quarters and itty bitty Tom Thumb lettuces thinned from the row. Yes, I'm growing lambs quarters (or rather it's growing in my garden). We love it mixed with our salad greens, so wherever it pops up I let it stay until it's about to seed out. Officially I guess it's a wild edible that happens to be growing in my garden. basil(Genovese) beans (black-seeded blue lake) beets (Bull's Blood) beets (Chioggia) broccoli (nutri-bud) cabbage (green) cabbage (red) carrots (danvers half long) carrots(Scarlet Nantes) chard (golden) chard (Witerbi Mangold) garlic (white) lettuce (red deer tongue) lettuce (Rouge D'Hiver lettuce (Tom Thumb heirloom) onions (white) parsnips peas (Oregon Giant snow) pepper (green) radish (sparkler white tip) radish (white icicle) rutabaga (Joan) spinach(Bloomsdale heirloom) tomatoes (big boy) tomatoes (bush early girl) tomatoes (pear) tomatoes (Stupice) tomatoes (sweet olive grape) turnip (purple top white gold) I've realized with this blog just how much my own and my family's interests change, so I've decided to rewrite my profile to better reflect where we are in this journey called life. We've always been interested in the "homesteading" kind of lifestyle. Our children are growing up a bit and eager to be a part of it all. With them becoming more independent, we're revisiting some of our interests from the past, and aquiring some new ones. We're a busy homeschooling family, and I wouldn't want it any other way. It's a privelidge we try not to take for granted. We're interested in frugality and living as modestly as we can. We like the idea of growing and raising as much of our food as possible. We're working to accomplish as many goals as we can to make that idea a reality. We welcome you to join us as we work, play, learn and worship the Creator of all these blessings together. Let's discover how much is possible on 1.5 acres!

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