I find strawberry picking a very Zen activity. Which is fine, really, that I can do something in this crazy life of mine that brings me such peace. Except that I've now become the strawberry version of the zucchini neighbour. You know the type - plants an ENTIRE package of zucchini seeds in the spring, brings it over by the bushel load and eventually becomes the most feared person in the neighbourhood. That's me, with strawberries instead of zucchini. I get caught up in picking them and have to give most of them away. You wouldn't think that people could actually hate strawberries, but given enough of them they do.
This brings us to Strawberry Cake. Strawberry season is almost here in southern Ontario and I still have a freezer full of last year's berries. Well, not full exactly, but I still have many strawberries. Mr. Chef usually uses them to make a fruit sauce for our waffles but even he has been a little challenged by the sheer mass of all that fruit. Strawberry Cake is something I had heard of but never tried. A little panic, a bit of internet searching, and plain old cheapness brought me to this cake recipe. It calls for frozen strawberries, some jello, and a boxed cake mix. Peasant food at its best.
Strawberry Cake.
preheat oven 350*
greased 9x13, or see options below
serves many
1 boxed white cake mix
3oz box (4 serving size) strawberry or raspberry gelatin
2 Tbsp flour
1/4 cup oil
1/2 cup applesauce (I used strawberry applesauce)
4 eggs
1/2 cup water
350gr (about 12oz) frozen strawberries, thawed and mashed
Throw away the instructions on the back of the box. Mix everything listed here together in the bowl of an electric mixer if you have one, or a large bowl if you don't. Mix on medium speed for about 2 minutes, until well blended and somewhat increased in volume.
Pour into a greased 9x13 OR 8x12 OR a greased tube pan (angel food pan) OR a greased bundt pan. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes at 350 degrees, until a knife inserted in the centre comes out almost clean. A few crumbs sticking to the knife is fine.
This can be frosted with your favourite icing, or you can serve it just dusted with icing sugar. Personally I like it with whipped cream on top, but that's just me. Good eating, and now you have one less day to hide from your psycho strawberry neighbour - or you can bake strawberry cakes and start bringing them back to her. Hehe.
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