In the spotlight - Strawberries

When you think about what fruit you might associate with love - it was Valentine's Day yesterday in case that slipped anyone by and they're wondering why on earth I've launched into this first sentence - what would it be? In Greek mythology, it would be quince, but being unable to recall ever seeing this fruit on sale, I thought I'd go with strawberries. Red and heart shaped, they're a strong contender and am sure they featured on many a menu last night.

And following on from childhood memories of podding peas, who didn't enjoy going to a pick-your-own for strawberries in the summer holidays? One for the basket, one for me - I think that's probably why pick-your-own isn't that cheap!

•  They belong to the same family of plants as roses, the sub-group being Fragaria, derived from the Latin for fragrant.
• Each strawberry can have around 200 seeds, but as they have their seeds on the outside, they aren't classed as a true berry.
• 7 strawberries count as 1 of your 5 A Day, which provides a whopping 150% of the recommended daily intake of Vitamin C. They are also a good source of folate and like most other fruit and veg, potassium and fibre.
• If you're short on space in your garden, but fancy growing strawberries, they do well in pots or hanging baskets.
• Served with sugar and cream as a summer treat, try them with natural yoghurt, to top cereal, in smoothies or part of a fruit salad on a more regular basis. They also work in savoury dishes such as salads or as a sauce.

A bit of a kick - a sauce for meat, fish or veggie dishes

• Remove the stalks and chop a good handful of strawberries.
• Add to a pan and begin to cook gently in a little oil.
• Now add half a small onion (finely chopped) and a small diced chilli, stirring constantly.
• Once the strawberries have cooked down, add a teaspoon of sugar and pepper to taste, cooking for a few more mins.

Morning fruit booster

• Chop 1 small banana and a handful of strawberries, adding to a blender with 200ml (third of a pint) of milk - you can use soya, rice or oat milk if preferred.