Strawberry Mint Salsa Food

STRAWBERRY-BANANA BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9- by 5-inch loaf pan.
• Roughly chop 1/2 cup of the walnuts, and finely chop the remaining 2 tablespoons, keeping them separate.
• Whisk together the flour, sugar, roughly chopped walnuts, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt in a medium bowl.
• Whisk together the oil, eggs, vanilla and zest. Fold in the bananas and strawberries. Fold the oil mixture into the flour mixture until just combined (it's OK if there are some lumps). Transfer the batter to the prepared pan, and sprinkle the top with the finely chopped walnuts.
• Bake until the bread is golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 1 hour to 1 hour 10 minutes. Run a knife around the edges, and let cool completely in the pan on a rack. The bread can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

STRAWBERRY CRUNCH ICE CREAM BARS

Steps:

• For the strawberry ice cream: Heat the heavy cream and half-and-half in a small saucepan over medium-low heat until bubbles form around the edges, about 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla.
• Meanwhile, beat the sugar, honey and egg yolks in a medium bowl with an electric mixer until pale yellow. While whisking, gradually add a little of the hot cream mixture to the egg mixture until combined. Gradually add the remaining cream until all is incorporated, whisking constantly. Return the mixture to the saucepan and stir in the freeze-dried strawberry powder. Cook, whisking constantly, over medium heat until the mixture is thickened and coats the back of a wooden spoon. Stir in a few drops of red food coloring, if desired. Cool completely over an ice water bath, then process in an ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's instructions.
• Spoon the ice cream into a 9-inch square baking pan lined with parchment paper or plastic wrap. Transfer to the freezer and freeze until very firm, at least 3 to 4 hours or up to overnight.
• Meanwhile, make the strawberry crunch: Place the sandwich cookies in a food processor and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs, 3 or 4 times. Add the gelatin and melted butter and pulse just until combined. Spread the mixture on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and let stand until dry.
• Remove the ice cream from the freezer. Lift the ice cream on the parchment from the baking pan. Cut into 8 bars. Insert a popsicle stick in the bottom of each bar. Dredge each bar in the strawberry crunch mixture. (Each bar should be evenly coated all over.) Transfer the coated bars to a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Freeze 1 hour to firm up before serving.

FRESH STRAWBERRY JAM

Steps:

• Combine the sugar, lemon zest, and lemon juice in a small saucepan and cook over very low heat for 10 minutes, until the sugar is dissolved. Add the strawberries and continue to cook over very low heat for 20 minutes, until the strawberries release some of their juices and the mixture boils slowly. Cook until a small amount of the juice gels on a very cold plate. (I keep one in the freezer.) Pour carefully into 2 pint canning jars and either seal or keep refrigerated. Use immediately, or follow proper canning guidelines below.
• Sterilizing Tips:
• Jars should be made from glass and free of any chips or cracks. Preserving or canning jars are topped with a glass, plastic, or metal lid, which has a rubber seal. Two piece lids are best for canning, as they vacuum seal when processed.
• To sterilize jars, before filling with jams, pickles, or preserves, wash jars and lids with hot, soapy water. Rinse well and arrange jars and lids open sides up, without touching, on a tray. Leave in a preheated 175 degree F oven for 25 minutes. Or, boil the jars and lids in a large saucepan, covered with water, for 15 minutes.
• Use tongs when handling the hot sterilized jars, to move them from either boiling water or the oven. Be sure the tongs are sterilized too, by dipping the ends in boiling water for a few minutes.
• As a rule, hot preserves go into hot jars and cold preserves go into cold jars. All items used in the process of making jams, jellies, and preserves must be clean. This includes any towels used, and especially your hands.
• After the jars are sterilized, you can preserve the food. It is important to follow any canning and processing instructions included in the recipe and refer to USDA guidelines about the sterilization of canned products.

FROZEN STRAWBERRY DAIQUIRI

Steps:

• In a blender, combine the frozen strawberries, rum, lime juice and sugar. Blend until smooth and divide among 6 highball or hurricane-style glasses. Garnish each glass with a strawberry slice and serve immediately.