Cuisine

Balsamic strawberries with meringue
Instead of aged balsamic vinegar, you can use 4 tbsp ordinary balsamic, boiled until reduced by half then cooled before using

Fromage frais cake with strawberry ice
A scrummy teatime treat that’s full of goodness

Homemade strawberry ice-cream with balsamic vinegar
A drop of balsamic whisked into this ice cream and drizzled over gives a fantastically fruity kick

French toast filled with strawberry and Istara Ossau-Iraty
An irresistible mix of sweet and savoury, serve this as a dessert or snack. Istara Ossau-Iraty is a Basque hard cheese made from ewe’s milk with a soft interior

Beef steak with summer salsas
Take outdoor eating up a notch with this stylish dish – the addition of strawberries heralds the true start of summer

Raspberry pavlova
Switch to slices of strawberries for an equally delicious alternative

Rhubarb ripple ice cream
If you can’t get fresh rhubarb, purée some tinned fruit instead. Or use raspberries, strawberries, peaches or apple

Orange and blueberry zabaglione
Strawberries, raspberries or blackcurrants can also be used with the oranges, and you can use the leftover egg whites to make meringues

Summer sundae
For cooling down you can’t beat this seasonal treat. Substitute the Pimm’s with elderflower cordial for a non-alcoholic version

The Strawmellier