Рецепт Tis So Sweet
I had every intention of posting this for a Mother's Day treat..but, a. LIFE in general got in the way..and b. I came home to find and bowl full of lonely strawberry tops on the counter and my husband and his chocolate mouth was no where to be found. I was glad I had taken a picture just after I made them. After he ate them, he then denied it..in turn received some scolding here and there..and then a good laugh, I plum forgot about them! Anyway..I was looking through my camera, this beautiful picture came through the slide show- and BINGO- I remembered :) My inspiration for making these came the second I walked into the produce aisle of my market and the delicious aroma of these berries filled my head. Summer is the perfect time to get buried in sweet berries, and here we are well into May, so what are you waiting for?!
A little overview of these nutrient packed flavorful fruits! Did you know...
One serving of strawberries is an excellent source of vitamin C. In fact, about 8 strawberries provides a respectable 3 grams of fiber and more vitamin C than an orange. The California Strawberry Commission report that strawberries ranked second among the top ten fruits in antioxidant capacity (blueberries are first!). It is for this major reason that these red berries may help prevent cancer and heart disease. The strawberry's antioxidant, anti-cancer and anti-mutagenic properties are thought to be related to the fruit's rich flavonoids and elagic acids.
How to shop for the perfect and most flavorful berry.. First and foremost- strawberries do not conitnue to ripen after they are picked. Look to choose plump, bright red berries. The green-tipped ones are lacking in flavor because they were picked too soon! Strawberries should be free of mold and bruises. Most of the time the strawberries are in one pound plastic containers that can hide the ugly mushy ones. Go ahead, open that bad boy up and look inside! Caps should be attached, green and fresh looking. Oh, and I also read that the small strawberries are often sweeter than their big brothers.
--->Another note about those plastic containers: Just because they are packaged do not mean they are ready to eat. Produce with thin or edible skin is more susceptible to pesticide contamination, and strawberries are no exception, according to the Environmental Working Group. Make sure you wash your berries just before serving them. I wouldn't suggest washing them and cutting off the tops right when you get home. They will go mushy and moldy a lot sooner. From my experience, once you get one moldy strawberry in the bunch, the rest is history!
So, what could be better than a nutrient rich sweet berry after a healthy meal? Try adding chocolate to it :) Instead of paying about $4.00 for 3 dipped berries in the bakery section of your grocer, take the time to make them extra special- it is well worth it!
Chocolate Dipped Red Berries
INGREDIENTS:
- 2 ounces dark chocolate
- 12 strawberries
DIRECTIONS:
Wash and pat dry strawberries. Place berries on parchment lined baking sheet and refrigerate until well chilled, at least 1 hour. Microwave chocolate in a small bowl on Medium for 1 minute. Stir, then continue microwaving on Medium in 20-second intervals until melted, stirring after each interval. Or place in the top of a double boiler over hot, but not boiling, water. Stir until melted.
Hold a berry by stem end and dip three-quarters of it into melted chocolate, making sure to coat berry's surface and letting excess drip back into bowl. Return to parchment-lined baking sheet. Repeat with remaining strawberries. Refrigerate until chocolate is set, about 1 hour, or up to 6 hours.
Nutrition Information
Makes 4 servings:
Calories: 133
Fiber: 2g
Fat: 4
Carbohydrates 10 g
Protein: 1g