Did you know that strawberries are the only fruit to grow their seeds on the outside? I like to think of it as wearing their hearts on their sleeves. Given that, if strawberries had a personality I'm sure we'd be great friends.
That hasn't always been the case though. Would you believe me if I told you that this time two years ago I didn't like strawberries? Crazy wasn't I? How could anyone not love such a friendly fruit? My fruit repertoire is still rather limited but berries are now a favourite of mine.
When I saw that this month's Sweet Adventures Blog Hop theme was 'berry nice to meet you,' I was seriously excited. I might, in fact, have used it as an excuse for a trip out to the strawberry farm last week. I couldn't wait to get home with my bounty and start creating.
What I should have done, was research and plan all the recipes I wanted to make with my berries before I headed to the farm, instead of bringing them home and then digging through the collection.
There were just so many options that the stress of choosing sent me straight to the fridge to eat 'just one more' strawberry all in the name of flavour research.
Strawberry sour cream bread (from Closet Cooking) was one recipe that managed to save a few berries from my mouth. I liked the sound of combining sour cream and berries in a loaf. The addition of walnut pieces and cinnamon made it sort of like a berry version of banana bread - perfect for morning tea.
I served it to a friend I was welcoming home to Brisbane after 2 years in London town and I think it was the perfect re-introduction to delicious Queensland produce.
A smear, ok generous spread of strawberry curd, made using Le Delicieux's perfected it. I tried it with butter and with curd but the curd. On toasted bread, the butter was better as it melted into it but on a room-temperature slice, the curd was the winner.
In honor of the berry nice to meet you blog hop I thought I'd share a few of my other berry creations:
Strawberry fairy-floss cupcakes
Passionate strawberry parfait
Recipe

Ingredients
- 125 g 4.4ozunsalted butter
- ¾ cup caster superfine sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups plain AP flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ cup sour cream
- 2 tablespoon chopped walnuts
- 2 cups strawberries fresh or frozen, diced
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 160C(320F) fan-forced.
- Grease and line a large loaf tin with baking paper so that it extends over the long sides.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar together until smooth and creamy.
- Add the eggs one at a time and beat them through then add the vanilla.
- Scrape down the sides and beat again.
- Take the bowl off the stand.
- In another bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and cinnamon.
- Add ⅓ of the dry ingredients into the big bowl and stir them through.
- Add ⅓ of the sour cream and stir it through.
- Continue like this until the dry ingredients and sour cream have been mixed in.
- Stir in the strawberries.
- Spread the batter into the pan.
- Bake the loaf for 60 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean.
If you'd like to be a part of the blog hop, head over and visit The Hungry Australian, this month's host, to find out more.
Moya says
What a delicious looking bread... would love a piece right now with my cup of coffee! :)
Sugary Flower says
This looks yummy, I think I'll definitely have to try it - the strawberries at the shops are looking so good right now, after months of just winter fruits!
Claire says
Isn't it exciting to see?!
Chris says
That strawberry curd sounds interesting!
Claire says
You have to try it Chris it's perfect on just about anything!
Monica (@gastromony) says
What a great combination :) Will try this when I next get bored with banana bread :)
Claire says
You might have to try it as well as Monica. I can't imagine ever getting bored with banana bread!
Kylie @ Octavia and Vicky says
Yum, a perfect bite for afternoon tea. Visiting from the Berry blog hop :)
Claire says
Thanks for visiting Kylie!