There is a lovely Slovakian Cinderella type story that tells the tale of an orphaned girl who is left to live with her wicked stepmother and her equally wicked daughters.
This story is called Strawberries in Winter. She is of course expected to do all of the chores and wait on the not so fair stepsisters hand and foot.
Just like in Cinderella, the stepsisters await their prospective husbands and soon learn that the Cinderella's gentle beauty is far too distracting to the gentlemen callers and they plot to get rid of her.
The evil steps send Cinderella out on what seems to be impossible missions to gather spring blossoms of violets, plump strawberries and apples in the dead of winter. Their motive is clearly intentioned to let the girl freeze to death and not return home.
In this story there is a council of seasons who appear to her aid and offer her warmth and gather the items she is searching for.
Much to the shock and dismay of the evil steps, she returns to them with the lovely bouquet and abundant fruit. The sisters grab the apples and devour them, stomp the flowers and toss a aside the precious little strawberries.
Certain that this was a fluke, the girl is sent out on more missions returning each time with the requested items.
On the third mission she returns with only two apples, which the stepsisters quickly devour with neither thought nor thankfulness. Wanting to feed their own desires, these women of want head out into the elements to search for more apples.
They too come upon the council of the seasons and without manner warm themselves in the light of their fire. The council of the seasons are so offended by the rudeness of these women that January sends out a storm of ice and snow turning the women into frozen stumps colder than their own hearts.
The moral of the story is that it is better to be like the sweet and modest strawberry in life and character.
Strawberries have been used as a symbol of sweet modesty in various cultures and stories and these beautiful little spring berries offer a great deal of character taste wise and nutrition wise.
The first nations have used strawberries and their leaves medicinally to serve women in different stages of their lives for cleansing and strengthening their bodies.
Strawberries have an immense amount of vitamin C, and other valuable vitamins and minerals. The amount of C available is perfect for cleansing and fortifying your system.
These red beauties offer antioxidant powerhouses that protect your cells and organs. Anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogen, and heart protector all rolled into one should be enough motivation for us to eat as many as we can get our hands on.
Finding local strawberries is easy this time of year and you won't be disappointed by the taste as B.C. grows the best berries I've ever tasted. Also, buying local ensures the highest degree of phytonutrients available to your body.
Head out to Pemberton with your kids to pick a few buckets or check out the farmers market to find the best of these sweet yet modest berries.
Strawberry Crêpe with Orange Ragout
Ingredients:
Filling
Powdered sugar?
1 cup orange juice?
1/2 vanilla (piece)?ginger?
2-3 small pieces cinnamon ?small piece orange zest ?
1/2 cup butter?
2 cups strawberries
1 cup sliced oranges
Dough?
1 cup flour?
1/2teaspoon salt
?3 eggs?
2 cups milk?
1/3 cup butter
Directions:
Blend flour, salt, eggs, milk and melted butter in a blender until smooth. Rest for 30 minutes. Then bake four crepes in a buttered pan. Keep warm in the oven.
Meanwhile prepare the filling. Caramelize the powdered sugar in a pot till light brown. Pour in the orange juice, vanilla, ginger, cinnamon and orange zest and keep simmering about 10 minutes. Take out the spices, melt in a small piece of cold butter. Afterwards put in quartered strawberries and the orange slices to warm up.
Take the crepes from the oven and serve them with the filling on warm plates.
Serves 4
