home about link love contact
Photobucket

Monday, June 6

monday munchies. - strawberry delight.

This is definitely one of my favorite times of the year! The weather is perfect - not too hot, not too cold. And the produce ... the best! 
Now I love root veggies, but after a winter full of them I'm ready for some juicy fruits! :) 
And strawberries are one of my faves!

So this week's monday munchies is dedicated to those perfect red berries!

Strawberry Chocolate Chip bread


Ingredients:
2 cups fresh strawberries, divided
3/4 cup white sugar
1-1/2 cups all purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
    Directions:

    ~ Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease bottom and sides of a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan; dust with flour, tapping out excess.
    ~Puree 1 cup of strawberries in a blender. Transfer to a medium bowl. Slice remaining 1 cup of strawberries and place in the medium bowl with the strawberry puree. Sprinkle with 3/4 cup sugar; set aside.
    ~In a large bowl, whisk together flour, cinnamon, salt and baking soda. Add oil, eggs and vanilla extract to the strawberry mixture, stir to combine. Add strawberry mixture to flour mixture, blending until dry ingredients are just moistened. Fold in chocolate chips. Scrape batter into prepared loaf pan and smooth surface with a rubber spatula.
    ~Bake until top is golden and toothpick inserted into center comes out clean, about 45 to 50 minutes.  Let cool in pan on wire rack for 10 minutes. Turn out onto the wire rack, and cool completely.{via}



      Strawberry & Avocado Salsa

      Ingredients:
      • 1 cup finely chopped strawberries
      • 1/4 cup finely chopped peeled avocado
      • 2 tablespoons finely chopped red onion
      • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
      • 1/2 teaspoon grated lime rind
      • 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
      • 2 teaspoons finely chopped seeded jalapeño pepper
      • 1/4 teaspoon sugar
      Directions:

      • 1. Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl; toss gently. Serve immediately.{via}


      Strawberry Layer Cake
      Ingredients:

      Cake:

      1 1/4 cups sliced strawberries
      10 ounce all-purpose flour (about 2 1/4 cups)
      2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
      1/8 teaspoon salt
      1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
      1/2 cup butter, softened
      large eggs
      large egg whites
      1 cup low-fat buttermilk
      1/4 teaspoon red food coloring
      Cooking spray
      Frosting:
      1/3 cup (3 ounces) 1/3-less-fat cream cheese
      1/3 cup butter, softened
      2 tablespoons Grand Marnier (orange-flavored liqueur)
      3 cups powdered sugar
      12 whole strawberries (optional)

      • Directions:
        • 1. Preheat oven to 350°.
        • 2. To prepare cake, place sliced strawberries in a food processor; process until smooth.
        • 3. Weigh or lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour, baking powder, and salt, stirring with a whisk. Place granulated sugar and 1/2 cup butter in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until well blended. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in egg whites. Add flour mixture and buttermilk alternately to sugar mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Add pureed strawberries and food coloring; beat just until blended.
        • 4. Divide batter between 2 (8-inch) round cake pans coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 30 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove from pans; cool completely on wire racks.
        • 5. To prepare frosting, place cream cheese, 1/3 cup butter, and liqueur in a medium bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until blended. Gradually add powdered sugar, and beat just until blended.
        • 6. Place 1 cake layer on a plate; spread with 1/2 cup frosting. Top with remaining cake layer. Spread remaining frosting over top and sides of cake. Cut 1 whole strawberry into thin slices, cutting to, but not through, the stem end. Fan strawberry on top of cake just before serving, if desired. Cut remaining 11 strawberries in half. Garnish cake with strawberry halves, if desired.{via}


      Don't these just make your mouth water?!?! 
      I need them ALL right now!!! :) 
      What's your favorite Spring/Summer produce?! 
      Happy Monday Y'all! 



      **linking up to**


      **oh and you can follow me on bloglovin' now too!**
      Follow my blog with Bloglovin

      21 comments:

      Shannon said...

      that bread look DELISH!!

      jillian :: cornflake dreams. said...

      yum! i want that cake :)
      xo jillian:: enter to win a $100 shopping spree!

      Christina said...

      I insist you make the strawberry spaghetti on my blog!! Here are some more strawberry recipes you might like: http://feeds.seriouseats.com/~r/seriouseatsfeaturesvideos/~3/YvsdPPwwYZ4/in-season-strawberries-choosing-picking-storing-20110605.html

      Jenn @ Peas and Crayons said...

      ummmm.... so when are we going strawberry picking? =)

      xoXOxo
      Jenn @ Peas & Crayons

      natasha {schue love} said...

      That avocado salsa looks so so good!!! Must try that out stat!

      Faith said...

      i HAVE to make that bread! i've never made bread before but that makes me want to give it a try!

      strawberries are def. my favorite! :)

      Megan said...

      I just love strawberries! YUM!

      KT @ KT's Refinishing School said...

      Strawberry and avocado salsa--yes please! We had some delicious strawberries this weekend fresh from the Farmer's Market. Nothing says summer quite like strawberries :)

      Kristen said...

      Oughh I have to try that strawberry choco chip bread! looks so good!

      Ashley said...

      with such an abundance of strawberries around these are the perfect recipes to try. Thanks for sharing!

      Katie @ This Chick Cooks said...

      That strawberry chocolate chip bread is calling my name. And that cake. Yum! I just love your photos and I'm your newest follower. I wanted to invite you to come over and share your recipe at These Chicks Cooked Recipe Spotlight today. Have a great day :)
      Katie

      Unknown said...

      that strawberry salsa looks SO GOOD! i can't wait to try it... this weekend, i think!

      thanks so much for linking up to mangia mondays!

      -kristin

      Drew {Coral Cafe} said...

      Oh my goodness! These all look so incredibly good!!

      Katie @ This Chick Cooks said...

      Thanks for coming by to share your recipe :) Have a great weekend!
      Katie

      jessica // union shore said...

      i seriously have to make all of these! ASAP!!!

      strawberries are my all time favorite summertime treat!

      Carol@easytobeglutenfree said...

      I'm not sure which I like better - the cake or the cake stand! Both are beautiful!

      Anonymous said...

      What a beautiful Strawberry Cake!
      I'm hosting my first link party today Cast Party Wednesday and would love it if you came over and shared this sinful recipe with us.
      http://www.ladybehindthecurtain.com/
      Thanks,
      I hope to see you there!

      Katie @ This Chick Cooks said...

      Your recipe is in the spotlight this week on These
      Chicks Cooked! Thanks for sharing :)
      Katie

      Lyuba @ Will Cook For Smiles said...

      Sounds scrumptious! All of them! Love strawberries :)

      Hope you can come see me at http://www.willcookforsmiles.com/

      sherri lynn said...

      That strawberry layer cake looks SO pretty! And I'm kind of obsessed with that cake plate :)

      Roz | La Bella Vita Cucina said...

      Hi Lauren, Just found your blog and now your newest follower! Hope you can stop by and share one of your great recipes on my weekend foodie blog hop -- Fresh Food Friday/Seasonal Saturday. Would love to have you over! (PS...my daughter, also a Southerner, is named Lauren!) :-D