Produce Stand THIS FRIDAY 11 am - 3 pm!

Join us this Friday from 11 am to 3 pm for the Stanford Produce Stand! Come get your weekly supply of delicious, fresh, organic, and locally grown items. We are located in the front courtyard of Tresidder Memorial Union.

From the Stanford Community Farm and gardens: Cabbage, lettuce, parsley, beets, turnips, collards, Red Russian and Dino kale, & peas

From ALBA Organics: Strawberries, tangerines, cauliflower

Spotlight on: Strawberries!

"Do you have strawberries?" Without fail, this question pops up at the produce stand every week. For the past quarter, the answer has been an apologetic "no." But this week, finally, the answer is YES! Strawberries are back at the stand, and to celebrate their arrival, here's an unconventional but delicious way to prepare them.

Strawberries with Balsamic Vinegar

Strawberries and balsamic vinegar is a combination that may seem odd or off-putting at first, but give it a try and you might be surprised. The balsamic vinegar softens the fruit and brings out its flavor (a process called maceration), resulting in a sweet, tart, addicting dessert.

Ingredients:
1 quart strawberries, hulled and cut in half
1/4 cup sugar (may substitute brown sugar for extra deliciousness)
1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
optional: 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper for an extra kick
optional: fresh mint or basil leaves, for garnish Toss strawberries in a bowl with sugar and balsamic vinegar.

Let sit for 20 minutes at room temperature, and ta-da, you're done! If desired, add a twist of pepper or some chopped mint/basil leaves to garnish.

Try this Whipped Mascarpone Topping to serve with the berries:

Ingredients:
1/2 cup whipped mascarpone cheese
1/2 cup chilled whipping cream
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons sugar

Whisk together all ingredients until thick soft peaks form. Can be covered and refrigerated up to 4 hours.

If you don't have any mascarpone on hand, these berries go just as well with vanilla ice cream, or a slice of pound or angel food cake.

So whether you plan on going home and whipping out the balsamic vinegar or simply snacking on berries on your way to class or the office, stop by the Produce Stand to get your strawberry fix.

See you at the Produce Stand!

photo credit: Epicurious.com (http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/photo/Balsamic-Strawberries-with-Whipped-Mascarpone-Cheese-105321)