Strawberry Black Pepper Sorbet

Strawberry Sorbet | Photo: Kelly Hunt Maybe you still have some strawberries in your freezer because you went a little crazy buying them up at the market last year and maybe you did not eat them all up by the time the next strawberry season came in. It”s just a guess, but maybe you want to use up those berries so you can buy fresh berries before the season is over for this year. Okay, you caught me, it”s me! I bought way too many berries last year and I needed to justify buying some fresh ones, so I hauled these out of the freezer and make this lovely creature (look at that hue!). A bit sweet, a bit puckery” and a whole lot refreshing, all rolled into one fantastic strawberry sorbet. It is very hot today, actually it is very hot these past few days and this is the perfect treat for a little July cool down. Do not be afraid of the pepper (I actually think it could use some more) but the pepper taste is there –  so slight, you only taste it after two spoonfulls, it just lingers there on the tongue. Lovely. I doubled this recipe and it turned out just great. Of course it is probably even better with fresh strawberries which only have about one more week until they are gone. You can find them at Heemans, Trails End Market, Masonville Farmer”s Market, Western Fair Market, Covent Garden Farmer”s Market, O”Sheas Farm Market and many other places, but only for a short time. Spiced Strawberry Sorbet from Gourmet Magazine, August, 1995 full recipe found here For the sorbet: 2/3 cup sugar 2/3 cup water 3 tablespoons black peppercorns, crushed coarse 1 quart strawberries (preferably local), hulled 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar, or to taste To make the spiced strawberry sorbet: In a saucepan combine sugar and water and bring to a boil, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Stir in peppercorns and remove pan from heat. Cover pan and let syrup stand 1 hour. Strain syrup through a fine sieve into a food processor or blender and discard peppercorns. Purée hulled strawberries with syrup until very smooth and force though sieve into a bowl, discarding seeds and other solids. Stir in vinegar and chill, covered, until cold. Freeze mixture in an ice-cream maker.  Read More

Strawberry Jam Session!

I grew up in London. To me, London does not feel too large or too small. It just feels like what I have always known, I guess it feels just the right size. Actually, I feel a bit privileged to be the owner of that feeling. You see, I have made many connections with other Londoners starting from a young age – through school life and then later on in life – through work. Unfortunately, sometimes living in London you may find yourself feeling unconnected. Perhaps this is because when it comes down to it, London is in fact quite a large city. When I meet people that have come from smaller towns and then have re-rooted themselves in London for a new start, it is common to hear a little frustration. I hear that the city is “too big” to make some of those real “small town” types of connections. It seems that people begin to miss that sense of community and unfortunately it sometimes gets even more lost as the city grows larger. That “small town feeling” is a hot commodity. For instance, as you drive North out Highway 4, you will witness large billboards and slogans that housing developments are using to entice people to live in certain areas – “Lucan, come get that small town feeling”. I am guessing that this is a clear indicator that we are all on some level missing that “small town” feeling if it is being preyed upon my thirsty marketers. I believe most of Londoners are especially unconnected with another part of our community that is sometimes taken for granted and sadly, even forgotten – the vast,fertile farmland that surrounds us as a city. That is one of the main reasons I choose to write this little blog – I want you all to know it and live it. No matter which direction you take out of London – North,South, East or West, you will be met by cow barns, fields of hay, various croplands, sweeping green pastures and really, really friendly people that are working hard on farms – big and small. So what has me nattering on about feelings and small towns you wonder? Well, last night I enjoyed the company of about 10 woman in a large country kitchen and I felt I was transported to that very “small town” sense of community. It was a get-together at Duenk Farms to harvest and preserve the bounty of the current crop – strawberries! We knew that we shared a common goal, that we all wanted to know how to preserve jam. Strangers I thought, with a common interest – jam making. Strangers I thought, until we all started talking and getting to know one another. You see, as the evening progressed we learned that we all knew someone from somewhere or perhaps had worked at the same place at sometime or another – we were connected. As I said, I grew up in London and it does not feel too big to me, it feels just right. That said, I feel that the past two years on this little local food adventure of mine has really connected me to new people. Funny as it turns out, they were people that were there all along in my life – they were even feeding me dinner at times and I just was not aware of it. This new feeling and these new people, I can only explain it as more enriching, more rewarding then anything before. I am a foodie for sure, so I will admit I am quite a bit more obsessed with food than most people, but you all should try this adventure, I promise you will like it! Start at the market, introduce yourself to a farmer and you will make one new friend and then another and another and your own “small town” adventure will have begun. Details about last night: Our canning expert was Joan Brady who runs “Smokey Hollow Farm Market” in Dashwood (near Grand Bend). Joan can be found selling strawberries, lettuce, raspberries, peas, onions, beans, frozen pork and much more out of the St. Mary”s Farmers Market on Saturdays. She also frequents the Grand Bend Market and the Exeter Farmers Market. Joan”s farm includes a small strawberry portion that next year will be officially Certified Organic. The berries that she brought to the jam night were the small, sweet variety. Delicious! Oh, and she even whipped us up some fresh strawberry juice on our arrival. Our host for the evening was Karen Eatwell and it all took place in her lovely farm kitchen at Duenk Farms. Karen even treated us all to a burger when we arrived that was directly farm to plate. Thanks Karen! Our berry was the Strawberry. For anyone that is interested, Karen may host more of these events in the future and I will be sure to let you know about them through the blog. The Duenk Farms has fresh eggs, chickens and all cuts of Angus Beef for sale anytime – just call to arrange an order: 519-232-4105 I will be posting about the Duenk Farm in detail at a later date, I just have to get my pictures in order!  Read More

Saturday Strawberry Pancakes

Even the rain cannot suck away my happy spirit today, for today is a good day! You see, this morning I got up and whipped some pancakes together and then topped them off with strawberries that I picked up last night at Heemans. The only thing that would have made me happier is if I rolled out of bed and someone else had made me the pancakes! Oh well, one thing at a time :,,) Just in case you have not seen them out yet, Ontario strawberries are definitely in right now – you need to get out there and get some! Right about now they are kind of small, which makes them sweet and delicious! I think most of the berries out there at the moment are the Veestra variety. The veestra is a small, sweet berry with the earliest ripening time. Keep in mind strawberry season is short – way too short, so you really should have them everyday until they are gone for good! Strawberries are low in calories (who cares!) and they are also packed full of fiber and vitamin C. My strawberries are from Heemans, but they also grow in the wild. In 1535 several thousand miles across the Atlantic Ocean, French explorer Jacques Cartier was noting “vast patches of strawberries” along the St. Lawrence River in Canada. Cartier was on a voyage to find gold, as well as chart territories unfamiliar to the French. - www.foodmuseum.com Go on all you “Locavore Cartiers”, get out and get your strawberries!  Read More