Monday, April 27, 2009

Organic Strawberry Fields Forever

Every year around this time, I start dreaming up all sorts of uses for fresh, juicy strawberries as I anticipate my first batch of hand-picked, organic berries from Windermere Farms. I've been salivating over thoughts of shortcake for weeks now. Thankfully, all my dreaming paid off on Saturday when I dove into this gorgeous Strawberry Shortcake:

You can find the recipe here. The "shortcakes" are actually sweet vegan biscuits topped with sugared strawberries and creamy Soyatoo. Yum, yum!

Stephanie (Poopie Bitch), her husband, and I hand-picked a combined eight pounds of organic berries (I got five pounds, she got three) at Windermere Farms on Saturday morning. Windermere is a small locally-owned farm in Raleigh, a suburb of Memphis. Farmers Frieda and Ken Lansing grow strawberries (and later lima beans and squash) every year, and they're certified organic!

Last night, I used more berries to make this Strawberry Pop from Vegan Soul Kitchen:

I won't divulge Bryant Terry's recipe since it's printed in his cookbook, but it's basically a carbonated, healthy version of strawberry soda! A tall glass of this was super-refreshing in our 80 degree temps!

30 comments:

Anonymous said...

I had some of the strawberries tonight, they were soooo good! I'm thinking of more ways to use them up... I'm thinking we might have to go back to pick more soon.

Also, I can't believe you gave The Brit credit for picking strawberries, when all he did was stand there and watch us do all the work! :)

The Voracious Vegan said...

Oooh! I would love that beautiful shortcake, such rich and gorgeous colors. Wow, I bet it was tasty! And I am so intrigued by the strawberry soda, I can just imagine how refreshing it is.

nora said...

dayummm Bianca, that shortcake is ab gorgeous! it's so vibrant and fresh. Nothing's ever screamed "summer" louder :)

Lisa said...

so pretty! I wouldv'e had trouble getting a photo of that dessert before digging in!

Anonymous said...

I want some Strawberries SO BADLY right now! They aren't in season here yet but I am waiting for that farmers market!

Sal - AlienOnToast said...

Mmm that strawberry shortcake looks delicious - perfectly summary. Strawberry soda sounds great too!

ChocolateCoveredVegan said...

Haha what a cute title, Bianca :)

miss v said...

i'm diggin' that shortcake. and hand picking your own strawberries?... nothing less than awesome.

Anonymous said...

Shortcake is one of my all time favorite desserts ever!
And I'll need to try that pop! (and yay for saying "pop" and not "soda", lol)

T said...

Oh my goodness, its heaven! Both of those look absolutely divine!

Macie said...

Ohh, delicious! I wish I had somewhere near me to get vegan whipped cream! Gah, I miss it so much.

Gena said...

Hooray for summer, and strawberries! Beautiful.

Leslie Richman said...

That strawberry soda is very intriguing!

A said...

*Mouth watering*
*thinking of the fastest way to get to the store to buy strawberries*
-A

Cyn said...

Oooh, I need to try that strawberry soda! And those shortcakes look awesome. I've been getting tons of strawberries from my CSA lately, so I'm on the look out for yummy things to make with them.

urban vegan said...

Thank goodness it's strawberry season. I don't think I could have eaten one more apple or pear.

aTxVegn said...

The fresh strawberries are so amazing now! I just made some strawberry shortcakes too, only I didn't have any whipped cream :(

A_and_N said...

I love the pictures. Calls out to me ;D

And the whipped cream - I went to heaven and came back to comment :D

MeloMeals said...

Strawberry fields indeed!

Anonymous said...

Holy wow! What a way to kick of berry season.

Chelsea said...

OMG!!! I haven't had strawberry shortcake since I was a kid and my jaw just hit the floor that looks so good!

Gina said...

Oooooh! I haven't gone strawberry picking since I was maybe 7 or 8. There is a great picture of me and my friend sitting on the front porch of my old house, after strawberry picking, with pints of berries in our laps and strawberry juice smeared all over our faces.

I don't know that I've ever actually *had* strawberry shortcake though...but that looks fantastic (and I love Soyatoo!)

Anonymous said...

I love strawberries! I am intrigued by this strawberry soda idea. Your shortcakes look yummy, perfect now that the weather has warmed up.

jessy said...

i haven't had strawberry shortcake in years! think i need to grab some local strawberries & make it happen! your shortcake looks awesome - totally gonna try the recipe! and the pop looks so refreshing and supppper tasty, Bianca! i need to get Vegan Soul Kitchen ASAP!

hooray for stawberry pick'n fun!

Kristen's Raw said...

uummm.... That looks YUM!

jb said...

Ahh I can't get enough strawberries! the shortcake looks delicious!!

Melisser; the Urban Housewife said...

Oooh, lookin' good! Did you know you can put unwashed strawberries in an airtight jar & they keep WAY longer?

Virginia said...

wow, i am craving strawberries now, that pic is so mouth-watering! i am loving this warmer weather!

Erin said...

Gorgeous! I don't think I've had a proper vegan strawberry shortcake yet, but now sounds like a good time for it.

Anonymous said...

I love berry season!!!! It hasn't quite started here in Portland, but soon!!!!! Your shortcakes and soda have me wishing for an 80 degree day so that I may lounge in the sun and enjoy them.