Welcome to Strawberries and Cream Day! Strawberries are simply bursting with summertime and cream – well who doesn’t adore cream?
I cannot help but to be carried back to a time long, long ago. Some 36 years ago to be exact. Although in the greater scheme of things, it wasn’t all that long ago – it just feels like a lifetime ago. Back then Hubby had a stressful job as the VP of Finance. He so needed to get away from it all, if only for a weekend. So I booked us two round-trip first class tickets to Los Angeles and a suite at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. (Yeah, that was a lifetime ago) The hotel sent a limo driver to meet us upon our arrival.
As we settled into our comfy seats for the next 45 minutes, the cabin steward brought our “brunch” fare – champagne, coffee, an omelette and a bowl of beautiful California Strawberries nestled in a cloud of lightly whipped cream, sprinkled with a kiss of raw sugar. These days I’m not sure air lines offer first class accommodations on flights this short. I doubt that you’ll get beverage service let alone something like this.
The limo driver was waiting at the gate and immediately took our luggage tags, handing them off to another fellow. He then whisked us through a doorway, down into a labyrinth of tunnels, and we immerged at a staging area for private cars such as the one the hotel had sent. We never even saw the inside of the airport. Our luggage was already in the car. As were refreshments for our drive to the Beverly Wilshire. Glasses of champagne and – you guessed it – strawberries in cream. We could not help but laugh.
Upon our arrival to the hotel, we were escorted to our suite. There were a series of elevator banks that made stops on certain floors. Ours had access to several of the lower floors, but not the upper floors. The penthouse had its own private elevator. The suite was beautiful, with a view of Rodeo Drive. And there was a welcome basket on the coffee table. Champagne in an ice bucket, some chocolates and – yup – more strawberries in cream. Once settled in, we politely ate a few berries before heading out for the day, leaving a tip just beneath the platter of berries along with our expression of thanks. Upon our return, there were more strawberries waiting. Never in my life have I had so many plump, beautiful strawberries. Needless to say, when National Strawberries and Cream Day rolls around, my thoughts drift back to a weekend in Beverly Hills.
Lemon Pancakes with Strawberries and Cream
Strawberries and Cream
1 cup Strawberries
1 cup Heavy Cream
2-1/2 tablespoons Sugar
1/4 cup Sour Cream
Clean strawberries, slice or leave whole as desired. Chill well.
Whip heavy cream with sugar until stiff peaks form. Gently fold in the sour cream. Chill until ready to use.
Lemon Pancakes
1 large Lemon
2 tablespoons Butter
1 cup Milk
3 tablespoons Sugar
1-1/2 cups Flour
1 teaspoon Baking Powder
1/4 teaspoon Baking Soda
1/4 teaspoon Salt
1 large Egg
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
Cooking Spray for griddle
Butter for serving
Syrup for serving, optional
Zest lemon, set zest aside. Melt butter, set aside to cool slightly.
Measure milk in a glass measuring cup. Cut lemon in half, juice directly into the milk. Let sit for at least 5 minutes or until ready to use.
In a large bowl, mix lemon zest and sugar until well combined. Sift flour with baking powder and baking soda, add to the sugared zest. Add salt, mix to combine and set aside dry ingredients.
In a another mixing bowl whisk together the egg, lemon-milk, melted butter and vanilla extract. Create a well in the dry ingredients, pour wet ingredients into the well. Gently stir untul just combined and moist. DO NOT over-work the batter.
Heat a griddle to medium heat. Coat with cooking spray or oil. For each pancake, with a ladle pour about a quarter cup of batter into a circle. Cook 1-2 minutes, until surface of the pancakes have some bubbles. Flip carefully and cook another 1-2 minutes. Transfer to a plate and cover loosely with foil to keep warm. Repeat with spray and ladling batter until all the pancakes have been made.
Pancakes can be served alongside the strawberries and cream in a small bowl or cup or topped with the strawberries and a dollop of cream. Serve with additional butter and syrup as desired.
Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices,
my body, too, abides in confidence;
Because You will not abandon my soul to the nether world,
nor will You suffer Your faithful one to undergo corruption.
Keep me safe, O God; You are my hope.
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