Farm Fresh Strawberry Shortcake

Summer Farm Fresh Strawberry Shortcake

Every June I look forward to my annual pilgrimage to Barthel Fruit Farm.  Amy or Erick usually join me and we pick strawberries like it is the last berry in the universe.  We enjoy the drive to the farm, picking up our empty fruit containers and eagerly walk towards the strawberry patch, wondering what goodness we will pluck from their vines.  During the picking we see families joyfully picking and visiting, just like us.  The best is when you see the little wee ones with strawberry stained hands, mouths, cheeks and chins. With just a day or two left in the season, it may motivate me to a 7:00 am picking before work on Tuesday. 

Strawberry Shortcake



Farm fresh picked strawberries



Ingredients:

• 2 cups flour
• 1/4 cup sugar, plus extra for the tops of the shortcakes
• 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 8 tablespoons cold butter, cut into small pieces
• 2 large egg yokes
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup heavy cream, plus extra for tops of biscuits

Directions:

• Heat oven to 425


Shortcakes brushed with cream sprinkled with sugar


• Combine flour, sugar, and baking powder and mix
• Add chilled butter pieces and use a pastry blender to cut and mix cold butter into flour mixture until it resembles coarse cornmeal with some small chunks of butter. 
• In another bowl whisk together egg yokes, vanilla and cream.
• Add egg mixture to butter flour mixture and mix until it comes together, careful not to over mix. 
• Gather the dough together by pressing with your hands and gently form the dough into a ball and then into a round disc.


Shortcake fresh from the oven


• Using a rolling pin flatten the dough to about an inch thickness. 
• Line a sheet pan with parchment paper
• Using a round cookie cutter (or clean tuna can) dipped in flour, cut shortcakes and place on parchment lined sheet pan.
• Brush tops with cream and sprinkle with sugar
• Bake until golden, about 15 minutes. 
• Serve warm with fresh fruit and whipped cream.
  



Can you see the juiciness of these berries?



Whipped cream anyone?



Oh yeah baby!  Farm Fresh Strawberry Shortcake