How to Make the Most of Early Summer Berries in Simple, Healthy Recipes
Juicy, sweet, refreshing and absolutely DELICIOUS!
Berries are the epitome of spring and summer; they're a healthy (and much more tasty) version of sugar-laden sweets, containing natural, unrefined sugars that don't go straight to one's waist… plus, they're pumped full of fibre!
If you've ever eaten too many strawberries, you'll know what I'm talking about…
Eating berries as is, where is (best at room temperature, of course - chilled berries aren't nearly so sweet and juicy) is unparalleled.
However, if your eyes were bigger than your tummy and you want to avoid the consequences of consuming too much fruit (again, large quantities of fibre…), incorporating them into recipes like these will also do them justice:
Smoothies.
The best smoothies employ berries for extra sweetness, flavour and colour. Toss in a handful of strawberries/ raspberries/ blueberries into the blender with a banana, some Greek yogurt, coconut milk and cinnamon, along with any other favoured ingredients. Whizz it all up and slurp to your hearts content.
Nice cream.
It's ice cream, without the preservatives, colouring, flavouring and processed ingredients. You know exactly what's going into it and where those berries came from! In a blender, whizz up strawberries and banana, along with a sprinkle of lemon zest and lemon juice. If you'd like, adding in fresh cream (of whatever dairy or non-dairy option suits your lifestyle) is a delicious variation. Toss it in the freezer, then whip it out and stir every hour or so, until it's transformed into a saliva-inducing homemade sorbet.
Fanciful drinks.
If you're abstaining from alcoholic beverages but still want to fit in with the crowd, slicing strawberries into your glass and topping with a mint leaf and a squirt of lemon juice will have your thirst quenched quickly.
Baking.
Blueberry muffins, strawberry tart, fruit loaf, berry cakes… they are the perfect accompaniment to your morning tea or coffee, they taste divine AND, thanks to the sweetness of the berries, they don't require too much additional sugar. Win, win, WIN!