Strawberries…Umm, Umm, Good!

“Chawcherries!”

That’s what Grace called strawberries when she was two. She loved strawberries soooo much I decided her birthday theme would be “Strawberry Shortcake.” Aside from the fun Strawberry Shortcake decorations and cake, we made giant papermache strawberries (which I still have up in the attic) and went on a hunt for strawberries! And of course there was tons of chocolate dipped strawberries!

One year we even tried to grow our own strawberries! While the vines flourished across our garden almost taking it over, it produced very little strawberries…in size and quantity and well, they just didn’t taste as good as store bought.

So I decided to leave it up to the experts! The California Strawberry Commission is all about sharing, educating, and filling you up with strawberries. I visited their site and learned some interesting facts about strawberries. I also visited Strawberryville a fun, interactive site for  kids and teachers which includes downloads, screesavers and recipes. The Strawberry Breakfast Pizza sounds YUMMY! And there’s lots more recipes on their site like strawberry salad! So check them out.

Did you know:

Fun Strawberry Facts

Better Start Eating Strawberries
Respondents to a recent national survey labeled strawberry lovers as “health conscious, fun loving, intelligent and happy.” Non-strawberry lovers, on the other hand, were described as “weird, boring, stuffy–picky, fussy eaters who avoid healthy foods.”

Strawberry Lore and Legend
In provincial France, strawberries were regarded as an aphrodisiac of the highest quality. Newlyweds traditionally were served a soup of thinned sour cream, strawberries, borage (a European herb whose flavor is reminiscent of cucumber) and powdered sugar.
The second wife of Henry VIII, Queen Anne Boleyn (1507-36), had a strawberry-shaped birthmark on her neck. Unfortunately, some claimed this fact proved she was a witch.

The strawberry is recognized as representing absolute perfection in the Victorian language of flowers.

Medieval stonemasons carved strawberry designs on altars and around the tops of pillars in churches and cathedrals, symbolizing perfection and righteousness. During the same time period, strawberries were served at important state occasions and festivals to ensure peace and prosperity.

Ever eaten a double strawberry? Legend holds that if you break it in half and share it with a member of the opposite sex, you will soon fall in love with each other.

Strawberries in Literature
Sacred to the both Goddess of Love and the Virgin Mary, strawberries boast a long, dramatic history.

“Doubtless God could have made a better berry, but doubtless God never did.” –William Butler

“The strawberry grows underneath the Nettle, And wholesome berries thrive and ripen best Neighbour’d by fruit of lesser quality.” — William Shakespeare, Henry V

“My lord of Ely, when I was last in Holborn, I saw good strawberries in your garden there.”
— William Shakespeare, Richard III

When as the rye reach to the chin,
And chopcherry, chopcherry ripe within,
Strawberries swimming in the cream,
And schoolboys playing in the stream,
Then O, then O , then O, my true love said,
Till that time come again,
She could not live a maid.
— George Peele, The Old Wives Tale

Um, after all this strawberry talk, I need to run out and get me some! Does anyone have strawberry recipes to share?