Spring is the unofficial start of salad season in my world. Rising temps means eating less heavy, creamy soups and more fresh fruits and vegetables – something this Brussels sprouts and berries salad has plenty of.
While I love a good salad, I get frustrated when my greens go bad. Who else has has bought baby spinach, romaine lettuce, or a bag of spring mix at the store only to open it a few days later and it’s spoiled? Not only are you wasting food, it’s a bummer when you can’t make that perfect salad you crave.
That’s where Brussels sprouts come in. If you haven’t tried using Brussels sprouts to replace your go-to greens in a salad, now is the time. Not only are shaved Brussels sprouts extremely filling and add tons of texture to any salad creation, they don’t spoil as quickly. You can easily shred a big batch of Brussels sprouts using your Hamilton Beach® food processor over the weekend and store them in the fridge for salads during the week.
For this salad, we put a twist on Brussels sprouts. We took them them out of the cold-weather box some people place them in and dressed them for spring. Instead of topping our salad with fall favorites like sweet potatoes, cranberries, and goat cheese we freshened things up with bright, seasonal berries.
Using a food processor fitted with the slicing disc, slice Brussels sprouts. In a serving bowl, top the shaved Brussels sprouts with strawberries, blueberries, grapes, and sliced almonds.
The plump, sweet fruit perfectly complement the crunchy Brussels sprouts. Serve this beautiful spring salad at a bridal shower or for brunch. Or throw it together when you have plenty of seasonal fruit in the fridge. It’s truly salad goals.
Smoothies are everywhere these days, and it’s easy to see why: they are quick, healthy, and delicious. We made this berry-based smoothie in the test kitchen the other day and got a lot of “oohs” and “ahs” about the bright colour and the refreshing taste. This recipe makes enough for up to a family of six, so it’s great for mornings when you are trying to get everyone out the door. Or, if you have extra, you can freeze the leftovers in ice cube trays and save them for another day. Go ahead and pick up some frozen berries on your next shopping trip so you’ll be ready for this Berry Berry Smoothie the next time you need a quick breakfast on a warm morning.
Test Kitchen Tip: Place liquid ingredients into the blender first. This way, the blending process will start and pull the chunks of fruit down into the blades. In the end, the drink will be smoother.
Berry Berry Smoothie
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This delicious berry smoothie is naturally sweet because it contains bananas. We made this in our Smoothie Smart Blender because it has a convenient one-touch smoothie button and powerful ice-crushing blades.
Berry Berry Smoothie
Votes: 0
Rating: 0
You:
Rate this recipe!
Print Recipe
This delicious berry smoothie is naturally sweet because it contains bananas. We made this in our Smoothie Smart Blender because it has a convenient one-touch smoothie button and powerful ice-crushing blades.
In season berries taste so much better than out-of-season berries, and this time of year the grocery stores, berry farms and farmers markets are teeming with them. We stock up on the red, blue and purple fruits, and then we realize we have no idea how to store them properly. What are we to do? How can we possibly eat this many berries before they all go bad? Today, we will teach you how to take fresh, ripe berries and store them properly so you can avoid those moldy disappointments and last-minute rushes to make as many cobblers and muffins as possible for your neighbors. You’ll be able to use your gorgeous berries in all kinds of fresh dishes and smoothies, and you will know exactly what to do next time the kids come home from a berry farm field trip.
The instructions we have provided for cleaning and storing your berries are for strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries and the like.
If you are planning to store your berries in the fridge…
keep them in their original container so they can breathe at around 32-34°F. Keep your berries dry. If they look too crowded or humid, you may want to lay a paper towel under the berries in the bottom of the container. As a general rule, avoid the crisper drawers at all costs as they are much too humid for sensitive berries. Wait to wash berries until just before you are ready to use them, then rinse gently under cool water. You can let them get closer to room temperature before serving to enhance their natural flavors. Berries typically keep in the fridge for two to seven days, depending on the type of berry. Generally, the more fragile the berry, the shorter it will keep.
If you are planning to freeze your berries for later use…
rinse them in cool water as you would before serving berries stored in the fridge, then allow them to dry completely. (Blueberries, by exception, should not be washed before freezing, as their skins become tough. Instead, wash them right before using after they’ve thawed.) It’s not necessary to freeze the berries individually on large, wax-paper lined cookie sheets first, though some sensitive berries, like raspberries and blackberries, can benefit from it. For heartier berries, just place them in a sealed container and freeze until ready to use.
