STRAWBERRIES

Strawberries- Ummm yummy and healthy.....

Fun Facts:

• Strawberries are the only fruit with seeds on the outside.
• Strawberries and raspberries are members of the rose family.
• There are about 200 seeds in every strawberry
• A 100g serving of strawberries are just 50 calories and 0g of fat
• Strawberries can help whiten your teeth. The acids in the fruit help to remove stains.
• Strawberries are full of a special substance called ellagic acid which can help fight cancers.
• They are also full of flavonoids, which form part of the strawberry's red colour. They are known to help reduce cholesterol from clogging up the heart's arteries.
• Strawberries are low fat, low calorie; high in vitamin C, fiber, folic acid, potassium
• Eight strawberries have more vitamin C than an orange, that's 140% of our daily recommended amount.
• Eating strawberries, which are rich in nitrate, can increase the flow of blood & oxygen to the muscles by 7%.  This prevents muscle fatigue, making exercise easier.
• The small seeds embedded in our skin provide a good source of dietary fibre
• A good source of folate (one of the B vitamins)
• Strawberries can also be white or yellow and some can even taste like pineapples.
• Strawberries should be eaten as soon as possible. Do not wash until you are ready to consume them. If you must store strawberries, place them on a paper towel in a tightly-covered container in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days.

Strawberry Parfait

Creamy and smooth strawberry parfait taste as good as they look. Top with sliced almonds for a real treat.

Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

4 cups sliced strawberries, divided

1 tbsp honey

1 cup fat-free ricotta cheese

1/2 cup (4 ounces) fat-free cream cheese, softened

1 tablespoon water

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup sugar free granola

2 tablespoons slivered almonds, toasted

Preparation

Place 2 cups of strawberry slices and honey in a blender or food processor, and process until smooth. Set strawberry puree aside.

Combine ricotta and next 4 ingredients (ricotta through vanilla) in a medium bowl; stir well with a whisk. Spoon 2 tablespoons granola into each of 4 parfait glasses. Top each portion with 2 tablespoons strawberry puree, 1/4 cup strawberry slices, and 3 tablespoons ricotta mixture; repeat the layers. Drizzle the remaining strawberry puree over each serving. Chill for 2 hours. Top each parfait with 2 tablespoons granola and 1 1/2 teaspoons almonds.