Who Wants Botox if Strawberries Can Do the Job? - Part II

To continue with the interesting facts on these small giants, I would like to share with you some ways to make your strawberries last longer and some very interesting lore.

-Wash strawberries just before you eat them, never before. They are very perishable.

-To prevent strawberries from absorbing too much water, do not remove caps and stems until you have gently washed them under cold running water and patted them dry.

Ways to preserve strawberries:

-Wash, remove stems and caps and cut strawberries in four, place them in glass container and cover them with brown sugar; you might want to add some rum, brandy or port or simply some vanilla. Delicious. Place glass container in refrigerator until you are ready to eat them.

-After washing and removing stems and caps and dry the strawberries, you can put them whole in plastic bags.

-Better yet, start by following the same procedure and then line a cookie sheet with waxed paper and place them separated until frozen. This is the home equivalent of IQF (individually quick frozen). Place in plastic bags after freezing. Use them in pies, cakes, coulis, etc.

-Puree and freeze in ice cube trays to use in your favorite cocktails. Add sugar and a Popsicle stick and the children will have a healthy snack that is fun - and you don't have to call it fruit...

-Put one strawberry per ice cube and fill up with lemonade... mmmh... refreshing.

Interesting...

-Anne Boleyn, the second wife of Henry VIII, had a birthmark on her neck shaped as a strawberry; her enemies used this to claims she was a witch. By the way, it is said that her ghost can be seen in the Tower of London as an omen of bad things coming.

-Medieval stone masons carved strawberry designs on their works as a symbol of perfection and righteousness.

-The strawberry was the symbol of Venus, Goddess of Love.

-The strawberry was sacred to Frigg (or Fredja), the northern goddess of love.

-Mme. Tallien, of Emperor Napoleon's court, used twenty two pounds of strawberries to bathe... I wonder if she rinsed herself or just patted dry until next month...

-And, if you want the love of your life to love you as much, find a double strawberry, break it in half and share it with that person.