It's February 29th - a leap day in a leap year. This is a day to do something you normally would not do. Today is the day to be extremely original, extremely extravagant, or extremely funny, especially since it is a Monday and since for many people Mondays usually mean return to normality after a fun weekend.
I made an unusual breakfast salad. My husband did not even try it. Not because it was bad, but because it wasn't "his" cup of strawberries. It was definitely mine! For breakfast!
~ Strawberries with Black Pepper and Balsamic Vinegar ~
Ingredients:
- 2 cups ripe organic strawberries
- 2 Tbsp aged balsamic vinegar
- 1 Tbsp raw honey
- 1 tsp virgin olive oil
- 1/2 Tbsp freshly ground black pepper
- pinch pink Himalaya salt to balance the flavors
Method:
- Wash and hull strawberries. Many people love to leave the leaves on strawberries. I personally do not.
- Cut each strawberry into quarters and toss them into a bowl.
- In a small bowl whisk the dressing using all dressing ingredients. Use more honey if you prefer your salad to be really sweet.
- Pour the dressing over chopped strawberries and mix well.
- Serve in small cups or glasses and enjoy in good company!
Tip: Strawberry leaves can be eaten, but when strawberries are freshly picked, the green leaves contain hydrogen cyanide that strawberries exude as a deterrent to pests. In other words, they don't want to be eaten. Hydrogen cyanide does not penetrate the berries and is concentrated in the calyx. Eventually, hydrogen cyanide will dissipate. When the leaves are fully dried, however, they can be used to brew tea. Tannins in dried strawberry leaves may help alleviate upset stomach.
Ripe organic strawberries are one of the healthiest, tastiest foods that come to us in abundance in spring. They are rich in vitamin C and manganese, and contain significant amounts of anthocyanins, flavonols, phenolic acids, copper, iodine, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, vitamin B6, biotin, folate, omega-3 fatty acids, and fiber. They have a rather law glycemic index (GI) of 40, and glycemic load (GL) of 3.6 per cup which means that they will not cause immediate blood glucose spikes.
Remember to always buy organic strawberries and wash them well! They are on top of the "dirty dozen" list. Also keep in mind that they are extremely perishable. They not only spoil quickly, but their vitamin C content dissipates with storage.
In radiant health, passionately raw - Dominique
In radiant health, passionately raw - Dominique
Dominique Allmon©2016
*Information in this article is for educational purposes only. It is not meant to diagnose or cure a disease.