Featured Food: Strawberries

Strawberries

Editor’s note: The best way to eat strawberries is washed (by themselves).  The second best way to eat strawberries is dipped in chocolate.  The third best way to eat strawberries is in a smoothie.  The fourth best way to eat strawberries is what we used to call a strawberry breakfast; which consisted primarily of waffles, strawberry jams and syrups, fresh strawberries and whipped cream layered high. The fifth best way is…

Strawberry Chicken

Ingredients:

12 – 15 Fresh strawberries, washed and hulled, and cut into quarters
2 Boneless chicken breasts
1 Cup chopped toasted walnuts
2 Tablespoons butter
1 Tablespoon chicken stock
2 Tablespoons white wine
1 Tablespoon light soy sauce
1 Tablespoon crushed dried rosemary
1 Teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 Teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 Teaspoon minced garlic
1 Teaspoon minced ginger
1 Tablespoon lemon juice
Salt and ground black pepper to taste
10 to 12 ounces fresh spinach, washed and torn into bit-size pieces

Method:

Place the chicken in a bowl and combine with the garlic, ginger, light soy sauce, and wine. Marinate the chicken for 15 minutes. Heat the butter in a skillet over medium-high heat, and remove the chicken from the marinade, shaking off excess. Retain the marinade. Place the chicken breasts into the skillet and brown on both sides, about 5 minutes per side. Set the chicken breasts aside. Add the strawberries into the skillet, and then stir in the marinade, spices, chicken stock, and lemon juice. Bring to a boil, scraping up and dissolving any brown flavor bits from the bottom of the skillet. Lay the chicken breasts back into the skillet, cover, and simmer over medium-low heat until the chicken is no longer pink inside, (usually about 20 minutes). Stir occasionally. Place the chicken and strawberries on a bed of fresh spinach. Reduce any remaining liquid in the skillet until thickened and drizzle it over the top. Garnish with toasted walnuts. (Serves 2)

Resources:

http://www.vomcfm.com
http://www.drycreekvineyard.com

Recipe by Rachel Crockett

This time of year there are great strawberry stands all over the county.  One of the best is on the way to Sebastopol from Santa Rosa on Hwy 12.  The berries are always sweet, luscious, affordable, freshly picked and organic!