Strawberry Shortcake, and Bitty Chicken Scratch

More with the strawberries. I just wanted to see them one more time. You know I do love to take pictures like these and these and these of them. (And, because a couple of people have asked me recently, I take all my still life photos at home with the Fuji, and I usually use the Canon when I am out and about around town, on bike rides and stuff. But I did bring the Fuji with me to the farmer's market this weekend, so those photos were shot with that one. But usually I bring small silver when I go out 'cause I don't want to carry big black. But also I think I am learning to love the Fuji more than I used to.)

Now, THE SLICER.

It is the awesomest. It worked beautifully. Why this is my very first time (well, second; the first was the 'shrooms, but as I mentioned I stupidly deleted all my photos of those) using the slicer I don't know. What is my problem! I always see them using this thing on the Food Network but for some reason I never thought it would really work. I thought it would crush something fragile like a strawberry. But it doesn't. At least my neighbor's doesn't. When faced with two pounds of mushrooms at the end of a busy Friday, I ran next door to borrow hers, and I still had it on Saturday. Hers is super-cool, pretty old, works perfectly. Sliced two pounds of 'shrooms in probably five or ten minutes, a whole colander of strawberries in five. Alas, I have to give this one back to her, and use the new plastic one I got on Sunday, which doesn't work as well, but still works faster than a knife for this. I'll be looking for one of these older ones at Goodwill now.

To make sweetened berries for shortcake or to top ice cream, just slice and then toss up two pints of strawberries with 1/4 c. sugar, more or less. Depends on how sweet your berries are. Stir them up in the Texasware bowl your mom bought for you off of eBay since you loved the one you "borrowed" from her last summer when she left it at your house one time (don't lend me anything, people), then put them in the fridge for an hour or two.

When we were growing up, my mother, who loves strawberry shortcake, always bought those spongy golden pucks that come in the celophane, sold near the strawberries in the produce section of the grocery store. That was just what we always did, summer after summer. I didn't make shortcake from scratch until long after I moved away. I told my mom it was better. She was very skeptical; you don't mess with the Family Favorites, baby. Eventually I did make it for her, only a year or two ago, and essentially ruined packaged shortcakes for her forever. Allow me to ruin them for you, too, with this:

Shortcake

2 c. flour
2 T. sugar
1 T. baking powder
1/2 t. salt
1/2 c. cold butter, cubed
1 beaten egg
2/3 c. half-and-half

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. In mixing bowl, stir together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Cut the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Combine the egg and half-and-half, and add all at once to the dry ingredients, stirring with fork just to moisten. Spread dough in a buttered 8" round cake pan, building up the edges a bit. Bake for 15-18 minutes. Remove from pan and cool slightly. Slice cake horizontally and spread butter on inside layer. Add sweetened strawberries and whipped cream.

I'm really not a total shortcake snob, really. I have also been known to pop some refrigerator biscuits in the oven — sprinkle some sugar on their tops before they go in and they do great as a strawberry foundation. However you do it works when it comes to strawberries, you know?

And! The Country Girl Clothespin Doll Kits are back in the web shop! We've made up lots and lots of kits this time they are totally ready to go. Yee-haw!

And just a note: Please make sure your address is correct on Paypal before placing your order. If you need to change it for any reason, or if you are sending a gift to another address, it's no problem, but please email me directly, with the first and last name used on the Paypal account included (some people use a business account, or their husband's account, and it's hard for me to find these if the name and email is different than the one you're using to email me). And yep, overseas orders are no problem — Paypal will now charge the appropriate shipping charge depending on where you are. (Only took me six months to figure that out.) Thank you!

Comments

[HeidiAnn]

Well, absolute yum. I may have to make some shortcake, too, after that post! Instead of just eating my strawberries with yogurt like I do nearly every morning.

[A Fanciful Twist]

I am so inspired!! I always fall in love with all of your photos!! And strawberry photos, make the world go round!! At least today, becasue I am inspired to work your recipe!!
Oh, and your adorable clothespin, lovely!! off to bake ;)

[Adrienne]

I swear I can smell those berries from here! Yum.

[Pam]

LOVE the Texasware bowl. My mom used to have one, but the last time I asked her about it she didn't know what happened to it. Maybe I need to clean out her pantry (again).

Your photos are always so beautiful, especially the still life shots. I need to go back and read your photography tutorials...I have a Nikon D80 and can't get shots as nice as yours!

[amanda]

mmmmm, I love homemade strawberry shortcake! Next time you use the biscuit method try sprinkling a little cinnamon on them with the sugar, it is delish.

[Natalie]

That looks like comfort food to me. I could go for a double *dose.*

[JennyC.No3]

Just found this Metal Egg Slicer on Ebay. It looks similar to the one if your photo in case you're interested (great pictures by the way!). Link: http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-EGG-SLICER-NICE_W0QQitemZ310057299014QQihZ021QQcategoryZ983QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Sorry, hate to post with a link ...

[Tracey]

I have that egg slicer from my Grandmother and have never used it on anything but hard cooked eggs. Watch out strawberries- here I come!

[Kathy]

OMG - my mom used to buy those awful gold spongecakes in the package, too! And I just couldn't stand them when compared to true shortcake.

I think they must have been the "neat" thing in the 60s and 70s and our moms were thrilled they could buy it and not worry about having to make it from scratch.

Your food pictures are so beautiful. It just makes me drool and want to rush home and make it. (Although I know it wouldn't taste nearly as good!)

From Kathy (who's hoping Ms. Clover Meadow finds some fun playmates soon@)

[Agategoddess]

And here all these years I thought that wonderful kitchen gadget was just for slicing eggs?! My slicer was one of the first moving out presents I received at my first apartment, courtesy of my mother of course.

Can't wait to put it to the test with the berries now!

[Katie]

I got a nice metal slicer like your neighbor's at Ikea a few years back. Now that you have one in Portland (lucky!) you should check it out!

[Tara]

Thanks for the shortcake recipe! We've been rolling in gallons of strawberries for the last month or so (I love the South!) and I haven't been able to find a suitable (ie. easy) shortcake. Last week I was so desperate I got grocery-store angel food cake...it's just not the same!

[Bonnie]

This is my sons favorite and I love the idea of slicing the strawberry's with the egg slicer. I love your blog. I'm new at blogging so to celebrate I'm giving away an apron. If you would like your name in come by and leave a post.
Have a Blessed Day,
Bonnie

[Dawn]

Well, well, well....why did I not think of using the slicer for my strawberries???
I've had one for years and have only used it for eggs.
No imagination.
:oP
Beautiful shots...
I always love my visits here, Alicia.

[tiffany]

The country girl dolls are the cutest! I love them!

[Polly]

Ha ha, I have just read someone's comment from yesterday on their son using the egg slicer as an instrument, and it has brought back memories of me doing exactly the same! It seemed to be a very good miniature harp to me. The shortcake looks delicious but I'm confused as to what it is-is it a cake or a biscuit like a shortbread? (I'm from the UK) x x x

[Tandra Boyer]

HI ALICIA!!
I grew up with my Mom making shortcake from scratch!! I got her this Strawberry Shortcake sewing pin for Mothers Day-
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=12108436

Have you seen this Etsy site?? She has pin cushions with decorative handmade pins. I thought you would like the shortcake one! Adorable!
Have a sweet day!

[Ivy Mae]

This is totally off topic, but y'all know that cosmetics line Benefit? Well, they've come out with a new Benetint gel blush (which I have always loved) called PosieTint, which is a creamy, opaque, natural pink. Coincidence? I THINK NOT! You know some Benefit design staffers have Posie bookmarked on their browsers... :)

[teensleuth]

ok, you've convinced me to try your way. but oh, the pucks!

[Nita in South Carolina]

Yesterday I went to the library and checked out Rose Cottage for a re-read. Now I need to go get some strawberries. You are exerting waaaaay too much influence over me . . . Please try to use your power for good and not evil :)

[Toni]

Thanks for the short cake recipe...I buy those little spongie golden cups as well...love your little country girls.

[Marilyn]

You have to have the best camera in the cyber world. I think I'm going to pick up a strawberry treat after work. :)

[katelyn]

Oh my gosh, I dont' know if I'm just super hungry, if your pictures are amazing or if it's both of those...but I really want strawberries and whipped cream now!!

[Shannon]

I make a very similar shortcake--with the occasional addition of a handful of chopped-up chocolate (or chocolate chips) thrown in the dough. Unconventional, maybe. But delicious all the same!

[amy h]

I always use the shortcake recipe on the box of Bisquick, and it is actually really good. I've had people ask me for the recipe, and I have to sheepishly reply that it's just plain old Bisquick.