New Traditions

A birthday just isn't a birthday without a cake. At least, that's what I used to think. My boyfriend doesn't have much of a sweet tooth and with his birthday coming up I was trying to think outside the box. He mentioned loving the crepes he'd had while in Paris. So, a little Nutella, a few strawberries and viola, a bit of Paris was recreated in a Washington apartment.

Strawberry-Nutella Crepes

Makes about 10 crepes

1 cup milk

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled

3 eggs

1 cup flour

2 tablespoons sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

Nutella

2 pints strawberries, quartered

Powdered sugar for garnishing, optional

Place all ingredients in the container of the Vita-Mix container. Start on variable #1, increase to #10. Run for 20 seconds. Refrigerate crepe batter for at least one hour. Make crepes and fill with Nutella and sliced strawberries. Garnish with powdered sugar and more berries, if desired.

Hideaway Sherbet

Technically speaking tomatoes are a fruit. But that's being very technical. For the most part we use them in savory dishes and leave it at that. This unusual use of tomato brings a tart edge to the sweetness of the strawberries. The combination makes a very bright tasting sherbet with a mysterious difference. For yet another dimension try adding a teaspoon of fresh ginger or 1 tablespoon ginger or mint.

Strawberry-Tomato Sherbet

(Adapted from the Vita-Mix website)

Makes 4 cups

1 cup ripe tomatoes

1/4 cup milk

1/3 cup sugar

1 pound frozen, unsweetened strawberries

Place all ingredients in the container in the order listed. Secure lid and insert tamper. Select variable speed #1. Turn on machine and quickly increase speed to #10; then to high. Push frozen fruit into blades with the tamper until mixture is blended and frozen. Four mounds should form when mixture is done in about 30 to 60 seconds. Do not overmix or mixture will begin melting. Serve immediately.

Homemade CB & J

Answer: macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, cinnamon toast. Question: What are some of the most popular comfort foods? 

And one humble one I'd forgotten: the classic peanut butter and jelly. At the time I found it in my bag lunch on the playground I might have traded it for something more glamorous, but now it holds a certain homey nostalgia. Simple, honest and good.

After making the quick and delicious Whole Wheat Bread I started thinking of what I could smear on it. I started dreaming up an all homemade PB&J sandwich. I changed the peanut butter to cashew butter and used strawberry jam instead of grape. Of course, you can go with the usual suspects, but this twist is a nice way of making a kid's sandwich grow up fast.

CB & J Sandwich

Whole Wheat Bread

For Cashew Butter:

2 cups toasted cashews

1-2 tablespoons safflower oil (0ptional)

For "Strawberry Jam":

1 pound strawberries, stemmed

1/2 pound dried strawberries

For the Cashew Butter: Pour nuts in the Vita-Mix container. Secure lid. Select VARIABLE, speed #1. Insert tamper through lid opening. Turn on machine and quickly increase speed to #10; then to HIGH. Use the tamper to push the nuts into the blades. In 1 minute you will hear a high pitched chugging sound. Once the butter begins to flow freely through the blades the motor sound will change from a high pitch to a low laboring sound. Stop processing. Remove nut butter to a container and store covered.

For the "Strawberry Jam":

Put the fresh and dried strawberries in the Vita-Mix container. Secure lid. Select VARIABLE, speed #1. Insert tamper through the lid opening. Turn on machine and quickly increase speed to #10, then to HIGH. Use the tamper to push the dried berries into the blades. Run for 1 minute, longer if you want completely smooth "jam". Remove to a container and store in refrigerator. Best if chilled for at least 2 hours.