Zesty Strawberry Shortcake

When the birdies start chirpin' early in the morning and the sunbeams bounce off your warm bed blankets, you know SPRING is in the air which means picnic season is on its way! Although we enjoy picnics all year long {making picnic fare and eating at games, in the car etc.} warmer temps mean hikes, bike rides, adventure in the warm fresh air! What do you look forward to when the sun starts to shine and mornings start to become a tad bit warmer?

Here is a quick recipe that beats the storebought variety. It will take you less time to make these yummies than it will take you to take a trip to your local grocery store! The smell of the orange zest baking in these biscuits will entice your children to be members of "the clean plate club"!...with the promise of a healthy dessert to follow!



Zesty Strawberry Shortcake
Lisa Pearson

INGREDIENTS:

2 cups flour

2 Tbsp. sugar

1 Tbsp. baking powder

1 tsp. sea salt

Zest of 1 orange

1/3 cup unsalted butter, softened OR Organic All Vegetable Shortening {Spectrum brand}

1 cup whipping cream...sweetened a bit OR Vanilla Soymilk

Extra cream or soymilk
Coarse sugar

DIRECTIONS:

* Mix dry ingredients together.

* Cut in butter and add cream.

* Mix until dough is soft and ingredients are all mixed in. It will look like cookie dough.

* Place six to eight mounds onto a greased baking sheet or SILPAT. Flatten just a bit.

* Brush tops with cream and sprinkle with coarse sugar.

* Bake at 425* for 7-10 minutes or until golden brown.

Note: Let cool and wrap each shortcake in a cellophane bag. Tie with a string.

BERRIES:

*Slice four pints of fresh strawberries, add about 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup of sugar...depending on how   sweet the berries are.

*Sprinkle with a little lemon juice.

*Refrigerate until ready to serve.

*Slice shortcake in half, add strawberries, top with ice cream or whipped cream or BOTH!!

If you want to make these in advance, just bag the individual wrapped shortcakes by putting them into gallon Ziploc bags and freezing them. They will stay as fresh as the day you baked them!

...OR...you can make lots and lots and lots and have friends over and enjoy it outside!



                                                                            {photo credit...Rob Buster}



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