Cookbook Challenge Week 9 - Berry
There are so many ideas and recipes from the cookbooks but I have opted for this simple strawberry granita from River Cafe Cookbook Easy by Rose Gray and Ruth Rogers. It was totally inspired by the heatwave that we were experiencing in Melbourne. After making the candy in 43.5C heat, this was the perfect cool down recipe.
River Cafe
This was the same strawberries that I bought over the weekend to make strawberry smoothie. They are naturally sweet. And the balsamic vinegar that I used was a 10 year old. It is a trick that I learnt while working at Lau’s. They seems to be the perfect partnership.
10 year old Balsamic
Fresh strawberries
Ingredients:
- 250g fresh strawberries
- 100g castor sugar
- 1/4 tsp lemon juice
- 1Tbsp of good and aged balsamic vinegar
- 25ml water
Strawberry and sugar syrup mixture
Method:
- Cut the strawberries and mix it through with 25g of sugar. Leave it aside for a couple of hours. It will turn really juicy and then smash it or blend it roughly with the lemon juice
- Make a sugar syrup with the water and 75g of sugar. Cool and add the vinegar
- Mix the rough blended strawberry mixture with the sugar syrup. Freeze in shallow container, stirring every 1/2hr or churn in a ice cream machine
- Once ready, serve it in a glass. Can garnish with more strawberries or mint
Strawberry granita
The house was very warm and so I had to work fast to take the photo before it all melted away. It looked a mountain of red crystals in the martini glass. It was deliciously cool and refreshing. I just wished I made more.
The rest of the cookbook challengers:
Rizka from ini, itu – Chopped fruit salad
Ange from Vicious Ange – Raspberry & strawberry smoothie; Frozen raspberry whip with strawberries
Anthea from What’s for Tea? – Raspberry scones; Grilled strawberries with Pimms
Kate from Something by Kate – Berry & yoghurt muffins
Shellie from Iron Chef Shellie – Eye fillet with raspberry sauce
Bri from Bri Eats – Berry sorbet
Agnes from Off the Spork – Blueberry & coconut muffins
Leigh from Chit Chat Chomp – Almond tart with blackberries; Cranberry & chocolate biscuits
Carolyn from Gluten Shmooten – Berry crumble
Yen from Food for Four – Strawberry tiramisu
Rilsta from My Food Trail – Strawberry frozen yoghurt
What is your favourite summer fruit?
{ 22 comments… read them below or add one }
Looks like just the thing I could have done with on Saturday… not so much today, so cold!!
.-= Iron Chef Shellie´s last blog ..Week 9: The Cookbook Challenge =-.
Lucky you to be in summer! strawberry granita must be such a treat during those hot summer days. I could have this even at -3C, wouldn't mind
The color is beautiful. I love granita and strawberries; they are really refreshing. I love all kinds of berries during the summer time.
.-= Divina´s last blog ..Ten in 10 Challenge: Week 3 =-.
This is cool! Have fwd this to my girl, she's complaining of the heat in Melbourne. Thanks for sharing!
.-= Cheah´s last blog ..Mung Bean Biscuits aka 'Luk Tau Paeng' – CNY =-.
Love this strawberry granita, cooling treat in the hot weather. It's too hot at the moment… really need more of this treat!
.-= Christine@Christine's Recipes´s last blog ..Braised Five-Spice Chicken With Vegetables =-.
Looks wonderful!
.-= Miriam/The Winter Guest´s last blog ..Daring Cooks' challenge January: Thai pork satay with peanut sauce =-.
Kudos to you for getting a photograph of it considering the temperatures you guys have been getting! Love that aged balsamic too
.-= Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella´s last blog ..The Crabbe Hole, Bondi Icebergs, Bondi Beach =-.
This looks very refreshing and cooling. I have to try this when summer comes. I love all summer fruits. I love all the bright colours which look so cheery and healthy.
.-= MaryMoh´s last blog ..Pan Fried Sweet Potatoes =-.
yum! i want summer!!!!
.-= Trix´s last blog ..Laganophake: Roman Lentil & Red Wine Stew =-.
MMMM strawberries with balsamic *droools* — I can't believe it's so warm in Melbourne!!! I think I am getting tired of this cold and ready for some spring weather ^_^
.-= Joy´s last blog ..Napa Cabbage Rolls with Enoki Mushrooms Chicken and Mango =-.
this so much reminds me of childhood freezer slushes – love it…the depth much be awesome
.-= Drick´s last blog ..Creole Skillet Supper =-.
oh yum! Looks like it would be great to cool down with. 10yr old balsamic you say? Never thought to use vinegar in granita but I bet it would be good
.-= Rochelle (Acquired Taste)´s last blog ..Food for Haiti =-.
It looks simple but delicious! Soudns interesting with the use of balsamic!
.-= Rilsta @ My Food Trail´s last blog ..The Cookbook Challenge: Week 9 Berry Recipe – Strawberry frozen yoghurt =-.
Looks lovely & sweet & refreshing. I'm in the midst of trying my very own first ever granita right now, waiting for the watermelon to freeze, hope it goes as well as yours
.-= Ange´s last blog ..The Cookbook Challenge – Week 9 – Berry =-.
Balsamic! What a fantastic idea to add this to the granita. I would say strawberries would also be my favourite – and made even better by the addition of that 10 year old balsamic vinegar!
.-= Trissa´s last blog ..The Beach House Banana Bread =-.
@Iron Chef Shellie – I sure there will be a time for this….
@citronetvanille – -3C – no problems with taking a long time for photos!
@Divina – Summer fruits are the best but usually quite short lived.
@Cheah – And now it is cold this week. Crazy!
@Christine@Christine's Recipes – Wait till my next showcase!
@Miriam/The Winter Guest – Thanks
@Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella – Need to be fast. Just snap!
@MaryMoh – Yeap. The colours are so vibrant and inviting
@Trix – And you shall have when I'm shivering in cold
@Joy – How cold over there?
@Drick – Good balsamic makes a great difference
@Rochelle (Acquired Taste) – Cannot sting on vinegar.
@Rilsta @ My Food Trail – Try making a strawberry ice cream with it. Very yummy
@Ange – Good luck! Watermelon sounds great.
@Trissa – I thought it was a nice touch too!
How beautifully refreshing! It's a gorgeous colour too.
.-= Agnes´s last blog ..Japan: Kyoto – Yakitori typhoon special =-.
Gorgeous dish, perfect for a hot summer's day. I love anything served in a martini glass too
Oh I have the "not easy" River Café cookbook and absolutely love it. I guess I didn't realise that there was an easy version – might be better suited to me! What a wonderful choice for that crazy weather you've been having!
Yeah, wow, that looks so good and refreshing! Strawberries are my favorite fruit so I will definitely be trying this out later. Thanks for the post.
.-= Chris´s last blog ..Bridgestone Motorcycle Tires =-.
that looks refreshing! I wish warm weather was here so I can have some of that
@Agnes – I do love the colours of summer
@Conor @ HoldtheBeef – Same here
@Mardi @eatlivetravelwrite – There is a NOT easy?!?
@Chris – No probs. Thanks for the visit
@Jessie – Soon my dearest!