Miller County Newsletters
Haley's Comment
Strawberries, Oh So Good and Healthy
May 4, 2011
Nothing says spring like seeing fresh strawberries at the local downtown
farmers market, and this is the time of year to find them there. They are fresh
grown in Arkansas, from late April through the month of May, and can be a part
of any meal, from breakfast to dinner, snacks to desserts.
Strawberries are packed with great nutrition - everything from folate to
phytochemicals. Plus, they are low in calories and have no cholesterol or
saturated fat. A one-cup serving of strawberries, 8 medium, has only 45
calories.
They are an excellent source of vitamin C with 96 milligrams, or 160 percent
of the recommended daily amount. That’s more vitamin C than one medium orange.
Diets high in vitamin C from fruits and vegetables are associated with lower
cancer risk, especially for oral, esophageal, stomach, colon and lung cancers.
The folate found in strawberries provides 20 percent of the daily need for
folate. The recommended daily intake for folate is 400 micrograms, and
unfortunately most Americans don’t get enough.
To assure that you get the most nutrition from your strawberries, shop for
fully ripened, bright red strawberries. They do not ripen after being picked.
Once the berries are picked, use them as soon as possible to insure the best
nutritional value and taste.
Berries are very fragile, so proper handling and storage is important. It is
critical that you never wash strawberries or remove the caps until just before
using them. Removing the cap early can reduce the flavor, texture, and nutrient
quality.
Once home, refrigerate strawberries immediately. When ready to eat or use,
wash strawberries carefully. Place in a colander or large strainer and rinse
with a gentle spray of cool water.
Always remove bruised, rotted or molded berries before storing. Since they
are highly perishable, store only a couple of days in the refrigerator. If they
are held longer, a gray mold may develop.
For optional storage, remove berries from their containers and arrange no
more than two berries deep in a shallow container or tray covered with waxed
paper or plastic wrap.
If you have ever wondered how many strawberries you are getting when you
purchase a container, here is a simple guide. One basket equals 1 pint; 1 pint
equals about 3 and one fourth cups whole berries, 2 and one fourth cups sliced
or 1 and two thirds cups pureed berries; 1 pint of strawberries also equals
about 12 very large stemmed berries to about 36 smaller berries.
Learn how to make strawberry jam, May 21 at 10 a.m. at Ace hardware on
Richmond Road in Texarkana. See the tools to use and participate in a hands-on
demonstration.
Strawberries are nutritious and delicious and available at the downtown
farmers market at 9th and Jefferson. For more information on strawberries,
contact our office for your free copy of Enjoy Arkansas Fresh Strawberries at
the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture in Miller County at the
county courthouse, call 870-779-3609, or email me at
Chaley@uaex.edu. Follow me on
Facebook: just look for Carla M. Haley.
Surprise mom this Sunday with breakfast in bed, including fresh, homemade
strawberry scones, a bowl of fruit, and a cup of coffee. What a wonderful way to
let mom know how much you love and appreciate her.
Strawberry Scones
1 cup strawberries (hulled and cut into one half inch pieces)
2 one fourth cup all purpose flour (unsifted)
3 tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoon baking powder
one-fourth teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons margarine
Two third cup milk
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. In large bowl, mix together flour, sugar, baking
powder and salt. Add margarine. With a pastry blender, cut in margarine until
mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in strawberries; toss to coat. Add milk at
once. With a fork, lightly toss together until mixture holds together. With
floured hands, scoop approximately 1 and one half to 2 tablespoon of mix and
drop on a greased cookie sheet. Bake until golden brown, about 15 minutes.
Yields: 12 scones.
Tried and True Tip: Add one half cup pureed fresh strawberries to
fresh lemonade and stir. This will give it a great color and extra sweetness.
Handout
We appreciate your feedback!
|
Back to Miller County
News and Newsletters
|
