Celebrate Mother's Day

From the moment she wakes up to the moment she lays her head on the pillow at night, she is always on the go. She is busy making life easier for everyone around her. Her own needs can wait; her first priority is you and her family. Who do you think of when you hear these words? 

You’re right—it’s your mother! 

Now think about your mother for one moment.How did she raise you despite the challenges she faced? As you’re growing up and even after leaving home and needing advice, your mother is there 24/7. Your mother did not get paid, did not get a vacation away from the family and did not get performance-related incentives. Her only reward was your welfare and happiness; your mother will never stop caring for you and her loved ones. She is dependable, loving and always forgiving; she is fun and encouraging, despite the harsh realities of life. She has seen it all: the poor grades, lost races, grazed knees and of course the broken hearts. Her smile lightens your day and brings back childhood memories of summer vacations, birthdays and special occasions and happy times. 

She is your confidant, mentor and best friend all rolled into one amazing person. So let’s do something amazing (and simple) on her special day!!! 

Roll up your selves, melt some chocolate and dip some fabulous DOLE® Strawberries to create a simple, delicious and nutritious snack or dessert for her and the rest of the family. Allow strawberries to cool and harden and you have a crisp shell to bite into revealing a soft sweet center that the whole family with love. Or skip the final step and eat the warm berries straight away—my all-time favorite way to enjoy strawberries. 

Strawberries aren’t just for special occasions; they make a healthful addition to your diet. The sweet little berries are packed with vitamin C, fiber, and manganese. One cup of strawberries provides more vitamin C than an orange—and leaves less juice running down your forearms. 

When choosing strawberries, look for those that are a vibrant red and a little glossy; just smelling those bright red berries induces early onset thoughts of happy spring and summer days ahead. 

For the best taste and most nutrition, my advice is to buy strawberries on the day you’re going to eat them. If not, rinse the strawberries and put them in an air-tight container lined with paper towels and store in the refrigerator. If you think you won’t eat them all in a few days, cut off the leaves, hull them and freeze them in a plastic bag and add to your daily smoothies. 

A perfect way to use fresh strawberries is in a salad, which balances the sweetness of the berries with the savory bitterness of arugula when tossed with tangy balsamic vinaigrette. For dessert, pair strawberries with rich vanilla Greek yogurt and dainty biscuits—a lightened-up spin on traditional strawberry shortcake.Remember to always have fun in the kitchen and enjoy Mother’s day with your best friend!!! 

Mother’s Day Chocolate Covered Strawberries 

Ingredients: 

• 12 large DOLE® Strawberries 
• 6 ounces dark chocolate, chopped 

1. Line a baking sheet with waxed paper. 
2. Melt chocolate in the top of a double boiler over simmering water; stir until smooth; remove from over hot water.  
3. Dip strawberries halfway into melted chocolate. Gently shake off excess chocolate; place on prepared baking sheet.  
4. Chill until chocolate is set, about 30 minutes and up to 6 hours. 

Published May 1, 2016