Sexy Strawberries for Valentine's Day

Strawberries from San Juan Capistrano's downtown farmers market served alone or with champagne, chocolate or angel food cake will be a romantic touch on Valentine’s Day. The mere fact that strawberries tease the appetite with health benefits is alluring, too. Who wouldn’t love a food that is rich in vitamin C and has only 50 calories in a one-cup serving?

Perhaps more important for Valentine's Day is strawberries' love link, dating back to about 200 BC. Strawberries’ reputation as an  aphrodisiac  stems from the fruit’s large quantity of seeds, which symbolize fertility. The strawberry’s love connection caught on in art and literature.

Even today, a strawberry is added to a glass of champagne or is dipped in chocolate for a sensual touch. A website devoted to eating something sexy, calls the strawberry “a perfect little red heart … an edible valentine.”

A simple recipe for strawberries involves minimum ingredients. The San Juan Capistrano Vons on Camino Capistrano sells a prepared 10-ounce angel food cake for $3.99 and Dolci Frutta hard-shell chocolate for dipping/coating strawberries.  Vons also carries Betty Crocker angel food cake mix for $3.99 to bake at home.

Here are two recipes to make for your valentine:

Ingredients:

1 angel food cake (pre-made or cake mix)

1 to 2 boxes of fresh strawberries (for decorating and  puree); 2 cups will be used for the puree

2 to 3 tbs sugar

Lemon juice

Whipped cream and/or chocolate sauce, optional

Directions:

Use the pre-made angel food cake or bake angel food cake mix according to package instructions. For puree, combine 2 cups of strawberries with 2 to 3 tbs sugar and a splash of lemon juice. Blend (food processor or blender) for about two minutes, until very smooth. Strain mixture through fine sieve. Chill puree until ready to pour over angel food cake. The puree can be poured/drizzled over individual slices.  Garnish slices with fresh strawberries. Drizzle with chocolate sauce or use whipped cream on cake slices, if desired.

(from the California Strawberry Commission)

Ingredients:

½ pound California strawberries, stemmed and halved

3 tbs sugar

1 tbs heavy cream

1 tbs Grand Marnier

1 tbs Brandy

½ tsp cracked black pepper

Vanilla ice cream

Directions:

In bowl combine ingredients, toss gently. Cover and refrigerate 1 hour. Serve over vanilla ice cream in stemmed glasses. Yield:  4 servings.