This time of year is one of those perfect moments of anticipation –– the entirety of summer, and all its pleasures, lies visibly ahead.  How appropriate, that fresh strawberries appear in these late spring days, ready to usher us into the pleasant warmth of summer.  Red, ripe strawberries promise a season bursting with flavor and style.  In this issue, we'll offer many tips for enjoying strawberries, including some smoothie know-how that will serve you well all summer long.  Break out the berry bowls and blenders!  Begin the summer celebration!

Plan some fun with a cooking class at Kitchen Window! We have an incredible line-up of topics, menus, and instructors. There are, literally, dozens of choices to choose from. Our classes make a great outing with friends, visiting relatives, and a wonderful date night.

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Outdoor cooking is a natural for summer parties. This year, think outside the grill for your summer entertaining. Kitchen Window offers a number of options that can add some pizzazz to your party. Want to host your own party? Our equipment is available to rent or buy. Even easier, let us do the cooking. We take our show on the road during the summer, sending a chef and staff to your home or office for an event you and your guests are sure to enjoy and remember.

  • Backyard Bayou Bash
  • Lobster or Fish Boil
  • Outdoor Wok Party
  • Paella Party

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Red, ripe strawberries entice our eyes with their true red color.  Then, our noses recognize the perfumy aroma. And finally, our palates dance with their tangy sweetness.  Strawberries are unique among fruits; they wear their seeds on the outside, all 200+ per strawberry!  With their heart shape and red color, strawberries have represented Venus, the Goddess of Love, as well as having served as a longtime symbol of perfection and righteousness.  Not surprisingly, it's a rare person who doesn't love strawberries.

Choosing Strawberries: When choosing strawberries at the market look for:
  • Full red color, without white areas.  Strawberries will not ripen further once picked.
  • Fresh green leaves on the cap; no wilting or dried, brown leaves.
  • Prominent fragrance of the “strawberry perfume.”
  • One moldy berry will send spores throughout the rest in the container. If you’re buying strawberries in a clamshell container, turn it over and check the bottom and sides for any visible mold.
  • Finally, a quart of strawberries equals approximates 1.5 pounds of strawberries, or 4 cups of sliced strawberries.

Storing Strawberries:  The key to storing strawberries is brevity. Once picked, like all produce, strawberries begin to deteriorate.  Plan to use strawberries as soon as possible after purchase, and if that is not possible, refrigerate. 

Picking Strawberries:  Freshly picked strawberries are a different creature than the red fruits on produce shelves in December.  Fortunately, strawberries grow in all 50 states, though commercial production is centered in California, Florida and Oregon.  Many strawberries have been bred for shipping durability and not necessarily taste.  If you'd like to take advantage of locally produced strawberries, here are a few "U-Pick/Pre-Pick"” locations to check out.  Call ahead to ensure availability and arrangements.

Apple Jack Orchards - Delano - 763-972-6673
Bauer Berry Farm - Champlin - 763-421-4384
Grayson's Berry Land - Clear Lake - 320-743-3383
Afton Apple Orchards - Afton - 651-436-8385
The Berry Patch - Forest Lake - 651-433-3448
Natura Farms - Marine on the St. Croix - 651-433-5850
Pine Tree Apple Orchard - White Bear Lake - 651-429-7202
Withrow Berry Farm - Withrow - 651-439-4481
Fairhaven Farm - South Haven - 320-236-7685
Berry Hill Farm - Anoka - 763-753-5891
Lorence's Berry Farm - Northfield - 507-645-9749
Wyatt's Strawberries - Hastings - 651-437-8479
Dew Fresh Produce - Stanchfield - 763-689-2282
Cherith Farm - Belle Plaine 507-665-5055
Other Minnesota locations are noted at PickYourOwn.org.

Prepping Strawberries:  Wash strawberries just before using.  Rinse, immediately drain the strawberries, and pat dry.  Strawberries act like sponges; avoid letting water stand on or around the berries.  Leave the green leaves, (sepals), on the strawberries while washing.  Keeping the hulls on the strawberries prevents water from gathering inside the center cavity of the strawberries.  Removing the leaves and the small white core they attach to is known as “"hulling the strawberry."”  Strawberry hullers are nifty gadgets that make quick work of the task. 

We think strawberries served simply are a great way to savor the essence of the season.  Each of these preparations is quick and easy to assemble for a snack, appetizer, or dessert.  The redness of the strawberries dominates the presentation while the "seasonal perfume"” and juice sweetens each bite.

Strawberries with Peppered Goat Cheese Stuffing – Make two or three slits in the tip of the strawberry, pipe softened peppered goat cheese in the center.  Leave the green leaves on the strawberry for an easy handle.

Strawberries with Lemon and Honey – Dress hulled, sliced strawberries with a light dressing of equal parts honey and fresh lemon juice.  Drizzle on the berries and toss.

Strawberries Dipped in Chocolate – Always a dazzling treat! Dip washed, dried strawberries in melted chocolate (chill the strawberries well before washing and dipping). For premium chocolate taste at an affordable price, we recommend Callebaut bittersweet chocolate. For an extra special treat, splurge on Valhrona chocolate with 72% cocoa butter. Take care when melting the chocolate, melt it slowly over a double boiler. Adding 1/2 an ounce of cocoa butter for every cup of melted chocolate will help temper, or stabilize the chocolate so it hardens to a smooth, glossy finish. Improperly melted chocolate will yield an unpleasant, grainy texture.

Strawberries and Walnuts on a Spinach Salad – Strawberries add sparkle to dark greens and accept all types of salad dressings with ease.  Toasted walnuts and sliced strawberries on a bed of spinach is hard to beat.

Strawberries with Yogurt Dip – Make this healthy snack with plain, lowfat yogurt sweetened with honey or brown sugar, and a splash of vanilla.  Leave the green caps on the strawberries as a convenient handle for dipping.

Strawberries with Balsamic Vinegar – The syrupy tang of your best balsamic vinegar pairs well with gently sweetened strawberries and a mint garnish. With a dish this simple, you need perfect strawberries and an aged balsamic. Our staff favorite is Saporoso. Aged for six years, this affordable balsamic has the consistency and thickness of a vinegar aged for 20 years.

Strawberries with Rhubarb – This old-fashioned pair is still a spring favorite, and it’s so easy. Cook 2 cups quartered strawberries and 2 cups diced rhubarb with 1/2 cup sugar and 1 cup of water on low heat until saucy, and adjust sweetness to taste. For a new twist on this familiar dish, try adding 1 teaspoon of vanilla and a couple pieces of star anise for a subtle flavor boost. Serve over ice cream for an easy dessert, or use it as a sauce for pork, being sure to remove the star anise before serving.

Cold beverages in summertime are a survival must.  A great alternative to common sodas are drinks made with fresh, natural fruits, widely known as smoothies.  Once summer has arrived, the blender, or "smoothie maker," is a permanent fixture on our countertops.  A smoothie can take on a variety of characteristics, but all are cold and made with fresh fruits and/or vegetables. 

Milk-based Smoothies – All types of milk are suitable for smoothies:  cow's milk, goat's milk, soy milk, coconut milk, etc.  Blend 1 cup of your milk choice with 1 cup of your fruit choice, and sweeten to taste.  These smoothies are healthy, quick and refreshing!

Ice-based Smoothies – For a low-calorie drink, and none of the chemicals of commercial “slushies,” an ice-based smoothie is fantastic.  Simply blend equal parts ice and fruit, and sweeten to taste.  Use ice cubes of a smaller size to achieve an even consistency in the ice.  Many silicone ice cube trays offer a smaller cube size and easy handling.

Vita-Mix Blender

Combo Smoothies – Concoct a combination smoothie by using half milk, half ice along with your fruit choice.

More Smoothie Tips:
  • Turn your smoothie into a meal replacement with the addition of protein powder, or other nutritional supplements.
  • Use plain, fat-free yogurt and your smoothie becomes a "lassi."
  • If your smoothie contains ice cream, it’s no longer a smoothie, but is now a milkshake.
  • Grab your insulated, to-go cups for enjoying smoothies while on the move.
  • Tall, clear glasses showcase the beautiful colors of smoothies; repurpose those pilsners!
  • Save a piece of the fruit prior to blending for garnishing.

Check out the Strawberry Smoothie drinks below in the Recipe section.

Blendtec Blender

Blenders are indispensable equipment in the summertime kitchen!  Their powerful blades handle chunky fruits, vegetables, and even hard ice cubes.  They can do rough chopping work, or puree foods to a smooth consistency.  At higher speeds the blender's action incorporates air into the blended product, a much desired characteristic for certain preparations.

The most often asked question about blenders is, "If I have a food processor, why do I need a blender?"  The two machines overlap in some respects, but really serve two different purposes in the kitchen.  Both blenders and food processors chop and puree food, but in different ways.  Blenders typically have four blade wings positioned optimally for creating a whirlpool effect that brings food down into the whir, and then sends it upwards.  Blenders generally require liquid in the bottom of container to facilitate the swirling motion.  Food processors do not require liquid.  Blender blades are tough without a sharp edge.  The blades act by impacting foods with force, (like a common coffee grinder), not by cutting the food as with a food processor.  Unlike the fine cutting blades of a food processor, blender blades are tough enough to crush ice.

Considerations when Choosing a Blender –– When choosing a blender, match your expected use with the options available.  Here are just a few considerations:

Sturdy Base – The action of the blender can "inspire" a machine to move across the countertop.  Choose a blender with a sturdy, heavy base and "grippy" non-scratch feet.

Tribest Blender

Container Type –– Blender containers are typically made of glass, polycarbonate, stainless steel or plastic. Plastic containers are prone to etching and easily crack and break, so choose from the other categories. Glass containers offer visual access, tend not to scratch and may be chilled prior to use. Polycarbonate is shatter-resistant, provides a lighter weight container and gives you a visual view to the processing. Stainless steel containers are super-sturdy and may also be chilled to great effect prior to blending. 

Power –– The power of a blender is expressed in "watts;" the higher the wattage, the greater the power.  If the expected use is always at full speed for longer periods of time, a higher wattage blender may be in order.

Clean-ability –– Often the key to making good use of a kitchen appliance is its ease of cleaning.  Examine the blender's assembly to see if it clears the "easy" hurdle.

Brands Featured –– We feature a variety of blenders that range from basic use to industrial strength, including Waring, Viking, Breville, Blendtec, Tribest and Vita-Mix. We’re always ready to help you assess your specific situation and provide a recommendation.

Tip #1:  Take advantage of the local peak strawberry season by freezing as many as you have room for.  Wash, drain and pat dry just-picked strawberries.  Once hulled, place on a jelly roll pan in a single layer and freeze the strawberries. After solidly frozen, package in a freezer-quality zipper bag.  Use at will, but save a few for a cold day in November so that you can reminisce about the summer past.

Tip #2:  Stock a variety of frozen fruits, (purchased or picked), for super-quick smoothie action now or anytime of year.  The frozen fruit serves the dual purpose of providing both the fruit ingredient and the ice component. 

Tip #3:  Teaching your kids to make smoothies is a great way to get them cooking. Once they master the basics, they can make their own healthy snacks all summer long. Be sure to teach them safe operating procedures for using the blender: (1) Position the blender securely away from the edge of the countertop, (2) Always position the cover snuggly on top of the container before powering on, (3) Never insert a utensil inside the blender container while the blades are moving.

Q:  What is a berry bowl?
A:   As discussed above, strawberries will quickly absorb any water that they contact, resulting in mushy berries.  A berry bowl is a small bowl with drain holes in the bottom.  Often a berry bowl is matched with a saucer and served as one.  Berry bowls are perfect for leisurely plucking and full berry enjoyment.

Waring Pro Bar Blender

Q:  What does it mean to "macerate"” berries?
A:  Macerating berries or any fresh fruit occurs when sugar is sprinkled on the fruit or the fruit is soaked in a sweet liqueur. The sugar (granulated or in the liqueur) changes the fluid balance of the water inside the moisture-rich cells of the fruit. The sugar coaxes the water out of the cells through an osmosis process creating a rich syrup surrounding wilted, flavor-rich fruits. 

Q:  The ingredients in the blender get stuck above the blade and don't get mixed in.  What's wrong?
A:  A blender works by drawing down the ingredients into the blades, then forcing them upwards and around in a mini-whirlpool motion.  If the ingredients are too dry, or too chunky, this movement is impeded and an air pocket forms around the blade mechanism.  To avoid this, load the blender with the liquid components first.  If the situation persists, add some additional liquid to the mixture.

Q:  Can I use my food processor to make smoothies?
A:  Certainly, but only smoothies that do not contain ice.  Never use your food processor to crush ice, always use a blender, or machines specifically made for crushing ice.  Blender blades crush ice by impact force at high speeds.  Food processor blades have a fine cutting edge that will be damaged immediately when it attempts to "cut" the ice.

Super Smoothies, 50 Recipes For Health and Energy by Mary Corpening Barber and Sara Corpening Whiteford.  Text copyright 2000 by Mary Corpening Barber and Sara Corpening Whiteford. Photographs copyright 2000 by E.J. Armstrong an imprint of Chronicle Books LLC, San Francisco, CA.

Turn any kitchen counter into an energy-packed juice bar. With Super Smoothies, these best-selling authors are back to bring the blender into the new millennium. These days, smoothie lovers want more than just fruit-filled refreshment – they want great nutrition along with great taste. Super Smoothies offers 50 energy enhancing health-boosting recipes. Whether you're looking for a potassium-charged post-workout drink, a flu-fighting immune system booster, or a kid friendly breakfast on the go, Super Smoothies is bursting with tempting suggestions for juicy, nutrition-packed refreshment.
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Strawberry Topped Meringues

This luxurious dessert is the perfect showcase for the peak of the strawberry crop.  The burst of berry flavor with the crunch of the meringue, make for a sweet ending.  The meringue base is a lighter alternative than a shortcake biscuit, and may be prepared ahead of time.  The assembly is accomplished quickly while the dinner dishes are being cleared from the table.  Your favorite vanilla ice cream would easily fit in as one of the lovely layers!

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Strawberry Drinks

Unlike commercial concoctions that may have unknown sweeteners and components, a homemade smoothie tastes real because it is real!  Smoothies provide the perfect opportunity to improvise and experiment.  You'll discover your favorite mixes of ingredients along the way.  Begin the summer enjoying strawberry smoothies, then, follow the season's harvests.  Midsummer will bring cherries, peaches, apricots, followed by late raspberries, blueberries, then grapes and apples.  The freshness of fruit, the protein strength of the milk, and the icy coolness make for a perfect summertime pleasure.

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Minneapolis, MN 55408
612-824-4417 / 888-824-4417