Strawberry season has arrived at the Saratoga Farmers’ Market. It’s a short season for local strawberries, so get some soon. These delicious sweet red berries can be found at several different vendors at the market. The strawberries at the market vary in size and flavor. Ask the farm vendors if you may sample their berries, so you can find your favorite before purchasing.
Strawberries are very nutritious. Each one-cup serving of strawberries has only 50 calories and is full of vitamins and minerals. One serving provides more than 100 percent of your daily recommended intake of vitamin C, making them a great antioxidant. Strawberries are also a good source or potassium, phosphorus and folate.
Choose strawberries that are deep red in color and free of blemishes or bruises. Store fresh strawberries in the refrigerator. Moisture increases spoilage, so only wash the amount of berries you will be enjoying at each sitting. Strawberries can be used in a variety of dishes. Make them into delectable desserts, like strawberry rhubarb pie or strawberry cobbler, or add them to a spinach salad. You can also blend up strawberries in a smoothie, make them into a sweet sauce, or simply top your morning yogurt with sliced strawberries.
You can also make and preserve your own strawberry jelly or jam. Cornell Cooperative Extension of Saratoga County will be holding a three-day Master Food Preserver workshop from June 24-26. At the workshop you will learn about the different techniques of food preservation and also how to prepare different jellies and jams. The workshop will be held at the Cornell Cooperative Extension office at 50 West High Street in Ballston Spa. For more information or to register for the workshop call the office at (518) 885-8995.
This week’s recipe for Fresh Berry Tarts is from the “Farmers’ Market: Favorite Recipes” cookbook, available at the Saratoga Farmers’ Market. These fruit tarts are low in fat because they’re made with wonton wrappers instead of pastry shells.
FRESH BERRY TARTS
12 wonton wrappers
2 tablespoons fruit spread, jelly or jam* (may use sugar-free)
2 cups (1 pint) berries* (may use one type or a mixture of berries)
1 cup non-fat yogurt, any flavor
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Press wanton wrappers into muffin tins (use regular or mini muffin tins; if muffin tins are not non-stick, grease them lightly). Be sure the corners of the wontons don’t fold into the center as they bake.
Bake wantons for 5-10 minutes or until lightly browned. Watch carefully, they brown quickly. Remove from oven and carefully take each wonton out of muffin tin and allow it to cool.
Lightly coat the bottom of each wonton with the fruit spread, jelly or jam. Fill each wonton “bowl” with berries. Top with a dollop of yogurt. Garnish with a berry or sprig of mint. Recipe makes 12 servings.
Nutrition per Serving: 50 calories 0g fat; 0mg cholesterol; 10g carbohydrate; 2g protein; 1g fiber; 55mg sodium.
Nutrition Bonus: Vitamin C (30% daily value).
The “Farmers’ Market: Favorite Recipes” cookbook is available at the Saratoga Farmers’ Market.
Ingredients marked with an asterisk (*) are available at the Saratoga Farmers’ Market on High Rock Avenue, open from 3 to 6 p.m. Wednesdays, and 9 a.m. to 1p.m. Saturdays. For more information about food and nutrition, contact Diane Whitten at 885-8995 or e-mail dwhitten@cornell.edu.
