Add strawberries to your summer menus

Strawberries are now in season, the perfect meal accompaniment as days get warmer. Here are recipes from zonediet.com that should serve as an inspiration for creating strawberry treats.

Strawberry Soup

Zoners couldn’t stop singing the praises of the strawberry soup served on the Cruise to Bermuda four years ago. Dave Scheck experimented to come up with the recipe.

One four-block meal

Ingredients:
2 cups fresh or frozen strawberries
2 scoops Zone Protein Powder (14g)
1/4 cup 2 percent milk
1 cup plain low-fat yogurt
1 teaspoon Agave nectar
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
Cinnamon, pinch
1 1/3 teaspoons almond oil
Mint and strawberry for garnish

Instructions:

In a food processor add strawberries and pulse to chop finely. In a bowl combine protein powder with milk; blend. Add yogurt, Agave, vanilla, cinnamon, and almond oil. Add yogurt mixture to strawberries and pulse until smooth or until desired consistency. To serve, garnish with mint and a strawberry.

Strawberry Salad

One three-block meal

Ingredients:
1 cup ripe strawberries, capped and halved
2 tablespoons good quality balsamic vinegar
3 ounces reduced-fat feta cheese, crumbled
4 cups baby spinach, washed and dried
1/2 cup Mandarin oranges (rinsed/drained)
1 tablespoon slivered almonds

Instructions:

Place strawberries in a bowl and drizzle with the balsamic vinegar. Allow to marinate for 10 minutes. In a 325-degree oven, roast the almonds in a single layer on a small pan. Remove from the oven after seven minutes and cool. Assemble salad by placing greens in plate and topping with feta cheese. Add strawberries, vinegar, Mandarin oranges and chopped almonds.

Strawberry Orange Smoothie

Makes one four-block meal or four one-block snacks.

Ingredients:
7 grams protein powder
1 cup 1 percent milk
1/2 cup yogurt, plain low-fat
1 cup strawberries
1/3 cup Mandarin orange sections, in water, drained
4 teaspoons almonds, slivered

Instructions:

Place all ingredients except protein powder in blender. Blend until smooth, and then stir in protein powder. Pour into four glasses and serve immediately.

Strawberry Instant Breakfast

Eight blocks

Ingredients:
2 envelopes Knox Unflavored Gelatin
1/2 cup low-fat cottage cheese
2 cups 1-percent milk
1 cup low-fat yogurt 4 cups strawberries, sliced*
8 teaspoons slivered almonds

Instructions:

Place all ingredients in blender and blend until smooth. Garnish with a strawberry if desired.

*Fresh or frozen strawberries can be used. If using frozen strawberries, use whole or sliced berries without sugar or additives. If using fresh strawberries, use only those that are plump and have a solid color. Always store fresh strawberries covered in the refrigerator.