Here is the text of my column for Philly burbs this month along with the below recipe! Enjoy!
Hurry! To your local farmer’s market, that is. Strawberries, which make an early arrival every year (Mothers Day to Fathers Day) are only in season for another two weeks. At this very moment, farm stands everywhere should be brimming with these incredibly sweet berries whose flavor trumps anything flown or trucked in from California.
When it comes to ripeness, local produce always wins because the produce in question can be picked from the vine at the height of its maturity. In Michigan (“up north” as the locals refer to it), where I spent Memorial Day weekend, it was Asparagus—everywhere. Strawberry season has yet to hit given their 20 degree daily difference (downward) in temperature.
But here in Bucks County, until June 15th, strawberries are the star player. And soon, when summer is in full swing, our local farm stands will be brimming with locally grown fruits and vegetables, rotating as the season progresses. This month’s recipe: Strawberries with Balsamic syrup and Mascarpone whipped cream. I picked up the Strawberries at Hellerick’s Family Farm, which is truly a throw back to another time. A family run business, every member of the family seemed to be on hand to assist in my sale. Every berry was a deep garnet red, with no white tips, and so fragrant that they beckoned for a taste. (http://www.hellericksfarm.com/index.html). The Strawberries were so sweet, they almost didn’t make it home.
If truth be told, I never thought that Strawberries with Balsamic Syrup as appealing. To me, there was a disconnect between the sweet and the savory. But legend has it that Marcella Hazan, the high priestess of Italian cooking, brought this concept to American shores and it has been gaining steam every since. After tasting a version that I came up with, I can see why. The balsamic syrup is sweet, but has the undertones of the pungent vinegar which, when mixed with the berries, creates a fusion of incredible flavor.
To serve I scoop the whipped mascarpone cheese into martini glasses, top with a spoon full of the strawberries and garnish with some crushed Amaretti cookies. This recipe will dazzle anyone who dips their spoon into the mellow cream and that oh so difficult to describe sauce which tops these berries. The perfect start to summer! Enjoy!
http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/105-06022008-1542783.html
