Strawberries!

If you are like me and you always buy alot at a time (or you grow them) because everyone loves them so much, sometimes you might need ideas on how to eat them different ways.

Here are some wonderful and yummy ways I found over at Domesblissity - Please go over and check out her wonderful blog - she's very inspiring with lots of delicious recipes and loads more!

1. Strawberry Jelly

Mix up a jelly as per instructions. Add fruit and leave to set.

2. Strawberry ice cubes

You can leave the strawberries whole. Place in an ice cube try and fill with water. Add to a glass or jug of cold water to serve. You can also mash/blend/puree the strawberries, fill the ice cube tray and add the strawberry ice cubes to dacquiris, lemonade, champagne or suck on as is.

3. Strawberry icy poles

Add pureed strawberries to icy pole moulds, as is or mixed with fruit juice, other pureed fruits, yoghurt, lemonade, whole pieces of other fruit.Whatever your imagination comes up with!

4. Strawberry pancakes

Chop strawberries and add to your favourite pancake or pikelet batter. The above photo is from Rachel Ray's Magazine so it's only fitting that I list her recipe below.

Ingredients

• 1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 large egg
• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted, plus more for serving
• 2 cups sliced strawberries
• Pure maple syrup, for serving

Directions:

1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. In a small bowl, whisk together the egg, milk and vanilla. Preheat a nonstick griddle over medium heat.
2. Whisk the wet ingredients into the dry. Stir in the melted butter. The batter should be thick and smooth. Fold in the strawberries.
3. Spoon the batter onto the griddle 1/4 cup at a time. Cook the pancakes until set and thoroughly bubbly, about 3 minutes. Flip them with a spatula and cook until golden brown, about 2 minutes more. Serve with butter and maple syrup.

5. Strawberry butter

Mix finely chopped strawberries with softened butter. Spread on anything that you would usually spread butter on.

6. Strawberry and apple crumble

You can find the recipe here

7. Strawberry, yoghurt and muesli parfait

In individual glasses or cups, layer any flavour yoghurt you have with muesli (or granola) and blended/pureed strawberries. Top with more chopped strawberries.

8. Strawberry Eton Mess

Either make or purchase meringues, crush and mix with whipped cream and chopped strawberries.  Serve in individual serving glasses.

9.  Strawberry cake

Use a  plain un-iced sponge cake from the supermarket topped with plain whipped cream and topped with strawberries or add the chopped strawberries to the cream.

What the kids are reading!

It was a really wet day yesterday and cold. We had a small taste of spring last week, and then it was taken away. Yesterday seemed so short and dark. Very dark. After school and before dancing we visited the library as the girls were complaining they had run out of books to read, plus we had some to return to the library. I'm happy my girls love the library so much. They always find plenty of great books to keep them going. Perfect for snuggling up in bed on a cold night with.

Kates teacher is reading a series by Justin D'Ath which has Kate hooked. So she was thrilled to locate some yesterday.

Ella loves the Judy Moody series and was thrilled that one she had reserved was waiting for her.

The movie based on this book is out next month, she can hardly wait to see it. She also reserved this one.

Ella still loves comprehensive picture books and found these cool ones

and there were some favourite authors in there too

This should keep them going for a bit and hopefully the weather will warm up again soon!