Berries & Cream

Just back from a weekend break which, we took to Panchgani and like you’d have already guessed we did get back with loads of (almost end of season) strawberries as well as a decent share of raspberries. It would’ve been a shame if we were to get back without some of these yummy berries!

For the first time ever I actually set foot into a strawberry farm. This farm resembled a sight out of some space-ship yard. The soil looked plastic and I ran down to verify. It actually was plastic! This was a ‘plasticulture’ farm, a kind of farming used for commercial strawberry produce. In this method, raised beds are formed each year, fumigated, and covered with plastic to prevent weed growth and erosion.

The next interesting sight was the flower. Strawberry is kind of a shrub plant with irregular dark green leaves and I was absolutely awestruck looking at the light violet and white flowers with a healthy bunch of strawberries in the backdrop. It reminded me of my bougainvillea plant at home. This is the only other plant which can produce a multi color flower bunch! I had a field day exploring through this farm and got back very pleased with my discoveries.

So now that I have shared my excitement of the strawberry farm here are the first most obvious sinful indulgences with this seductive fruit- Berry & Cream!

Ingredients:
Handful of raspberries
1 ½ cups of sliced strawberries
1 ½ cups of fresh cream
4 tablespoons of Powdered/icing sugar

Method:

Mix the berries in a bowl with 2 tablespoons of the icing sugar. Set aside.

Whip the cream just till they bubble up. Add the rest of the sugar and whip once more.

Now mix the berries and the cream.

Transfer into the serving bowl. Cover with cling foil. Refrigerate for a couple of hours.

Serve chilled!

Suggestions: You can serve this on a melted bed of vanilla ice cream