“There is greater relish for the earliest fruit of the season.”
Marcus Valerius Martialis, Roman poet
Fruits at work…Strawberry, Kiwi, Orange & Basil
The minute winter begins to go away, the mind defrosts & begins to work overtime again. There is so much colour in the fruits & veggies appearing on the shelves, that I find it impossible to sit back & relax!! This is the result of one such instance…one fruity dessert that I tried for the first time last year & we loved it. It’s very simple as there’s no cooking involved; full of fruit, full of flavour, & colourful as ever. Very tropical & summery feel to it…the addition of fresh basil leaves makes it even more interesting.
Colourful all the way…
I find this dessert just right to bid adieu to winter & to welcome spring. The zest is optional; I thought it added a slight but nice bitter taste, & thought I would run it past the kids. Amazingly they loved it, with just a drizzle of cream on it. The daughter, I was sure would love it, & she did. The son was the surprise element…he enjoyed it too, though he did ask for more cream, which he didn’t get! He also commented that the juice was like a mixed fruit juice…hmmmm, that was the liquid due to maceration of the fruit! Maceration means ‘to make soft by soaking or steeping in a liquid’. I chopped the fruit small because of the kids; adults would be fine with it diced a bit bigger too. The seeds from the strawberries & kiwi lent a nice gentle crunch! Refreshing indeed!!
Strawberries – 300 gms (chopped)
Kiwifruit – 2 (chopped)
Oranges – 4-5 (peeled; chop segments)
Zest of 1 orange
Basil leaves – 10-15
Powdered sugar – 3-4 tbsp
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Dice the fruit to the desired size, reserving some bits/slices for garnishing.
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Put them together in a serving bowl, add the sugar, zest & chopped basil leaves, & stir through. Taste & adjust sugar if required.
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Leave to macerate in the fridge for at least an hour. Chill well.
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That’s just about all you gotta do!
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Put into dessert bowls, garnish with slices of kiwi & strawberries, put in a sprig of basil & you’re set!! Serve with a whipped cream if you like (or without for a healthier option).
And that, in other words, is about me & also my first wierd fact…
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If I’ve been thinking of something all day long, which is quite often, I dream up a ‘solution or plan’ while sleeping, & will drive myself mad until I execute it the next morning. Did it with the Star Anise Swiss Roll, the Chocolate Strawberry Cake & many more. I always complete what I set out to achieve, come hell or high water, I’ll do it!
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I’m known to have a black tongue. It’s very wierd but I have started zipping my mouth of late, coz I’m not always popular when I spell the prophecy. My family & friends stand testimony to my sooth-saying…it’s uncanny & surprises me at times! No luck with the lottery though!!
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I love to bake, but believe it or not, I’m not fond of munching sweet somethings, & am a very uneggy person!! I rarely eat what I bake. I go by reviews of the eaters!! I’m a through & through coffee, bitterchocolate, savoury & fruit ‘n’ nut kinda person!
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Me & DH (& now the kids too) can watch the Die Hard series with Bruce Willis a 100 times again & again, & crack our sides laughing. We can also watch the Bourne series any number of times…& the same for Gone With The Wind (Mammy & all).
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I am not a TV person at all. TV for me is just to catch the news (even that’s limited thanks to the net) & maybe cricket or soccer matches. I have so much more to do, that sitting makes me feel that I’m missing out on something…
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I have a photographic memory; ask me for something that we stowed away 6 years ago, & I’ll just walk in some silly direction & find it.
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This is getting wierder…I am cookbook obsessed. I have a pile of baking books by my bedside, & can go through them time & time again, but only after I’m done with the days’ newspapers!
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And finally, I’m not superstitious at all, & will only get convinced if something is logical or scientifically proven. Very exasperating for some, but true!!
Enough said about me & my meme. And now to pass the baton onto some unsuspecting souls that I’m tagging for wierd meme’s…this is fun!
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Ivy @ Kopiaste (a wierd one in return Ivy)
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Miri @ Peppermill
- Arfi @ HomemadeS
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Arundati @ Escapades
“Wishing to be friends is quick work, but friendship is a slow ripening fruit.”
Aristotle