Ever had the drink strawberry kiss? No okay, then you are in for a treat.
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Don’t strawberries just remind you of love and valentines and chocolates? It should be the official love fruit. If you could describe love in a taste or words I think what you would end up describing is a strawberry. Trust me! Okay, let s do it together describe a strawberry it is soft, it is sweet and juicy, melts inside your mouth, has crunchy seeds in the middle and has a distant tingly citric taste right? Great now let’s describe love it's sweet right the feeling of someone choosing you above anything and everything else, the random small things they do to make you feel giddy inside is such an amazing feeling.
They are your comfort your safe space your soft landing right when the world seems to be weighing you down right? Soft. The sweet messages they send you or their voice or simply their smile makes your heart melt doesn’t it? I see you love birds. And of course, with love, there are those random crunchy moments where you have fights or misunderstandings and you feel like a bitter or sour taste is left in your heart every time but somehow that doesn’t last you just want to kiss and make up and go back to the sweet, juicy heart-melting parts of the love. See what I mean? If I could describe love it would definitely be a strawberry.
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How cool is that? Why are strawberries so popular? Where did they come from? well, let us find out together.
Research shows that the first garden strawberry was grown in Brittany, France and this was during the late 18th century. Before this the common source of the fruit was wild strawberries and cultivated selections from wild strawberry species. Historians believe that the strawberry plant was first found in ancient Rome in 234 B.C., and was commonly used for medicinal purposes.
BENEFITS OF STRAWBERRIES.
They are very rich in antioxidants and plant compounds which may have benefits for heart health and blood sugar control.
They are very high in water so their total carb content is very low.
They may decrease the risk of cancer.
They improve vascular function.
They may reduce the risk of many chronic diseases.
They reduce the harmful oxidation of "bad" cholesterol.
They may reduce inflammation.
The antioxidant properties in strawberries may also help to prevent cataracts.
The power of vitamin C in strawberries is vital to the production of collagen which helps to improve the skin's elasticity and resilience.
They are an excellent source of vitamin C and manganese and also contain decent amounts of folate (vitamin B19) and potassium.
Strawberries are a good source of fibre.
They help to promote prenatal health because of the presence of folate, a vitamin B recommended for women who are pregnant or trying to conceive.
A 2012 study at Brigham and Women's Hospital found that regularly consuming berries can help you fight off the mental decline that
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The list just goes on but the common advantages for a foodie like me would be in its versatility in cuisine from making jams, and cakes, to smoothies and ice cream. Even more so for products such as soaps, perfume, lip-gloss, and candy because of their distinct aroma and taste. See how all these are items even used to express love, excluding teddy bears and roses, which takes you back to my initial point strawberry is the fruit of love. It however almost only gets its 15 minutes of fame in February for Valentine’s Day sitting at the side of chocolates for me anytime I want a dose of love infusion I get myself a strawberry kiss cocktail. Never heard of it okay great let me tell you what it is and how it is prepared.
The Strawberry Kiss is an easy-drinking, crowd-pleasing cocktail that combines vodka, strawberries, and basil with lemon and sugar. All that is topped with some sparkling wine, which adds effervescence and tames the sweetness. Best served chilled and with your lover on the side.
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DISADVANTAGES OF STRAWBERRIES.
They are high in sugar.
They contain a protein that can cause symptoms in people who are sensitive to birch pollen or apples, a condition known as pollen-food allergy.
They may contain pest residue.
They are low in proteins.
They contain goitrogens that may interfere with the function of the thyroid gland in people with thyroid problems.
They are low in vitamins A, E, D, and K.
If taken in large amounts, they might prolong bleeding time and increase the risk of bruising and bleeding in some people with bleeding disorders.
Oh, look at the time, feels like time for that strawberry kiss cocktail I gotta go but as a bonus al leave you with a simple Chocolate covered strawberries recipe you can try at home for your guests or that special someone you are trying to impress. Let me know how it goes. (wink wink)
Strawberry Dessert Recipe
Ingredients
16 ounces of milk chocolate chips
2 tablespoons shortening
1 pound fresh strawberries with leaves
Method
In a double boiler, melt the chocolate and shortening, stirring occasionally until smooth
Insert toothpicks into the tops of the strawberries.
Holding them by the toothpicks, dip the strawberries into the chocolate mixture.
Turn the strawberries upside down and insert the toothpick into styrofoam for the chocolate to cool.
Enjoy
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