There are several days over the course of the year in America that are reserved for remembering how we got to where we are as a country and a people. Independence Day, also known as the Fourth of July, is the day America celebrates the birth of our country. Being an American means something different to each of us. Since its beginnings, America has represented an opportunity for a life one perhaps could not have obtained elsewhere in the world. While I understand that this country is not perfect by any means, the life that I have been blessed with is greatly due to the fact that I was born and raised here in America.
Independence day is not only a day reserved to celebrate our nation’s birth and freedom from tyranny, but it is also on this day, thirteen years ago that my hubby and I first met. It took some time for me to realize the significance of it all, but years down the road I can now see how the life I have with my hubby has truly represented freedom for me.
I would need a novel to explain the difficulty that my hubby has helped me through, but the significance of us meeting on Independence Day and the freedom I have experienced because of his love for me, blows me away still to this day. So, in honor of independence & freedom, we celebrate. And, since red white and blue represent America- it is only natural that the foods we celebrate with represent as well and these naturally red white and blue dipped strawberries represent very well.
Making red, white and blue dishes can get tricky when you want to keep the food real. Red is easy with strawberries. White is easy with white chocolate. Blue…well, blue can be difficult. In most cases food coloring is really the only option for accomplishing a true blue. However, using blue food coloring is just not an option for us, especially considering the following findings of it’s dangers according to the Food Freedom Network:
BLUE #1 (Brilliant Blue)
An unpublished study suggested the possibility that Blue 1 caused kidney tumors in mice.
What it’s in: Baked goods, beverages, dessert powders, candies, cereal, drugs, and other products.
BLUE #2 (Indigo Carmine)
Causes a statistically significant incidence of tumors, particularly brain gliomas, in male rats.
What it’s in: Colored beverages, candies, pet food, & other food and drugs.
Considering all of the above, we are not going to consume an ingredient known to cause tumors, just for the nostalgia of eating something blue. Thanks to an out of the blue inspiration (pun intended) that struck me, I now know it is actually REALLY easy to achieve blue naturally, and that is with freeze dried blueberries. When you crush the freeze dried blueberries they become the perfect natural blue alternative to food coloring for these natural red white and blue dipped strawberries.
Farm fresh strawberries, coated in melted white chocolate and then dipped in crushed freeze dried blueberries makes for a simple, natural, and delicious patriotic treat. These natural red white and blue dipped strawberries are the perfect way to represent as you celebrate our country, independence & freedom.
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NATURAL RED WHITE AND BLUE DIPPED STRAWBERRIES
- Total Time: 0 hours
Ingredients
- 15 medium-large sized strawberries
- 125g (1 cup) white chocolate
- 40g (1 cup) freeze dried blueberries
Instructions
- rinse strawberries clean with cool water & let dry
- once strawberries are dry, place them on a dish and let them chill in the refrigerator
- in a double boiler, gently melt white chocolate, stirring occasionally
- once just melted, pour white chocolate into a small bowl
- crush freeze dried blueberries with a rolling pin or pulse in a food processor until you achieve small uniform crumbs
- stir slightly cooled white chocolate to ensure an even consistency
- take chilled strawberries and dip 2/3 of each strawberry into the white chocolate
- set dipped strawberries on a parchment lined baking sheet
- place strawberries in the freezer for approximately 5 minutes in order to set the white chocolate
- once set, re-dip 1/3 of each strawberry into the white chocolate and then dip into the crushed freeze dried blueberries, pressing the blueberries into the white chocolate to get and even coating if necessary
- return completed strawberries to the freezer to set for approximately 5 minutes more
- strawberries are ready to serve or can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator overnight and eaten the next day
- Prep Time: 0 hours
- Cook Time: 0 hours
