Wednesday, May 13, 2015

What Would You Do With. . . Strawberries???

It is time for another installment of What Would You Do with my girl Aubrey, also known as the only time I ever blog any more.
This month we're talking STRAWBERRIES.  You guys.  This is my favorite food of all time.  Except when my favorite food is perfectly ripe freshly picked peaches.  But according to the Miss Lancaster Pageant 2001, my favorite food is strawberries, so that's usually what I tell people.

So of course, I have SEVERAL recipes I want to share with you today.

First, my strawberry lemonade slush.  I wrote this frozen lemonade recipe when I was in college, but it was my friend Tiffanie that came up with the idea to add strawberries.  She's a genius.

1/3 c lemon juice
1/4 c sugar (you can do 3 T if you like it less sweet)
1/4 c water
2-3 strawberries
as much ice as it takes to get thick. . . like 4-5 cubes?  It just depends of the size of your ice.  You can always add more if its too liquid.

BLEND!  Enjoy!


Second, low calorie strawberry shortcake.  I made this recipe soon after Olivia was born and I was working to lose some baby weight.  I have found that I lose the most weight when I avoid all processed foods regardless of calories.  But if you like to count calories or maybe induldge in a processed food treat on occasion, here is a recipe for you ;)

Cupcake: (I broke down a cake mix into a smaller portion, because you KNOW what happens if you have extra cake lying around the house. . . and you're hungry. . . )
1 c Betty Crocker white cake mix (put the remainder of the cake mix in a Ziploc bag and back into the box)
1 egg white
2 T sugar free applesauce
1/3 c + 1 T water

Mix all ingredients, beat on medium speed for 1 1/2 minutes. Spoon into 8 cupcake liners. Bake at 350 for about 15 minutes. I let them cool, kept two for our dessert and put the rest in the freezer for another day. Because of the applesauce, these cupcakes will go bad faster than regular. I guess I could have made an even SMALLER batch, but I just didn't want to figure how to break down 1 egg white.
Cupcake: 100 calories

Strawberry topping:
2 cups fresh strawberries cut in half or fourths
2 T sugar (I'm going to try just 1 T next time)

Place strawberries in a bowl and sprinkle with sugar. Use two knives working like scissors to cut the strawberries into smaller pieces. The sugar will help draw out the strawberry's natural juices and make a really good topping.
1/2 c of topping: 45 calories

Whipped Topping:
1/2 c evaporated milk
1/4 tsp vanilla
1 T powdered sugar (must use powdered)

Place milk in a mixing bowl and place in the freezer until ice crystals form around the edges of the milk. (Consider freezing your beaters as well) Mix with a hand mixer on high for 1 minute until frothy. Add vanilla and sugar gradually. Mix on high for 2 more minutes until stiff. Serve immediately. (This can only be used on cool or cold desserts. It will melt on anything hot or warm) Makes 2 cups.
1/4 c whipped topping: 25 calories 


Next month we're doing the colors red, white and blue in anticipation of Independence Day!!!

Make sure you link up your strawberry posts!!