Ontario Strawberries are the Berry Best! It is time to celebrate the first days of summer with a basket of ripe, red and juicy Ontario strawberries. Their sweet-tart flavour makes them the perfect ingredient in many sweet and savoury recipes everyone will enjoy. Make It Local when shopping at your grocery store, farmers’ market, pick-your-own farm and on-farm market and cook with local ingredients. Start the day with this easy-to-make Strawberry Basil Ricotta Toast, which is equally great for lunch with a side spinach salad or served as an appetizer. This new fresh twist to toast is topped with ricotta seasoned with fresh basil and topped with juicy, tangy-sweet Ontario strawberries. You can change up the topping as other Ontario fruits come into season. Prepare the components ahead and enjoy this yummy main course Chicken Strawberry Salad with Feta Dressing for dinner. A yogurt marinade keeps the grilled chicken juicy and the zesty feta and yogurt dressing accents sweet strawberries and vegetables wonderfully. These pretty-as-a-picture Chocolate Strawberry Pavlovas are restaurant worthy, yet easy to make at home. You can prepare the meringues up to two days in advance, which makes for a fast and easy dessert everyone will love. Ontario Strawberries are the star of the show in this combo of two favourites–cheesecake and ice cream cake–in this easy-to-make frozen dessert. Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream Cake can be made ahead and waiting in the freezer to serve as the finale to a family meal or summer celebration. We are here to help. There is a lot available from Ontario during the summer months. Visit us at foodlandontario.ca to find out what is in season, and for more quick and easy recipes you can make with food you have on hand in your pantry, fridge and/or freezer. Celebrate summer with sweet, ripe Ontario berries. During the upcoming weeks, the Town Crier will feature the recipes for the above mentioned dishes – we hope you enjoy them!
Strawberry Basil Ricotta Toast Preparation Time: 10 minutesBaking Time: 5 minutesServes 4 1 cup (250 mL) Ontario Ricotta Cheese2 tsp (10 mL) chopped fresh Ontario BasilSalt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste4 mini naan or small pitas8 Ontario Strawberries, thinly sliced1 tsp (5 mL) Ontario Honey2 large fresh Ontario Basil Leaves, cut into thin strips In small bowl, combine ricotta, chopped basil and a pinch each salt and pepper. Toast naan until golden and slightly crisp. Place on serving plates. Spread ricotta mixture on toast, arrange sliced strawberries on top. Drizzle with honey, sprinkle with strips of basil and salt and pepper. Tip: Change up the topping as other Ontario fruits come into season. Try this with raspberries, mashed blueberries or thinly sliced nectarines, peaches or plums. Nutritional Information:1 ServingPROTEIN: 12 gramsFAT: 8 gramsCARBOHYDRATE: 31 gramsCALORIES: 248FIBRE: 1 gramSODIUM: 350 mg – Printed with permission from Foodland Ontario___________
