Strawberry-Lemon Fool Serves 4 to 6 Those of us who adore strawberries think that they are just about the perfect fruit. Let's get our terms straight, though. Technically speaking, strawberries are what scientists call a "false fruit." This means that strawberries are borne from the base of the plant's blossoms, rather than from the ovary. The true fruits of strawberry plants are what seem to be the microscopic brown seeds covering the surface of the berry. These are called achenes, and each is, by itself, an individual fruit bearing a solitary seed. Strawberries are easy to cultivate. They have been grown and hybridized since the Roman empire was at its height, and are found naturally in the Americas, Europe and Asia. Most of the modern varieties seen at market derive from a Chilean strain, which had been taken to Europe in the early 18th century by a French military engineer fortuitously named Frézier (the French word for strawberry is fraise). A fool is typically mashed or puréed fruit into which whipped cream has been folded. It is considered to be an English dessert, although the name may have originally stemmed from the French "fouler," meaning "to mash." With the strawberry season comes the heat of early summer, so this recipe is cool, cool, cool. 1 quart fresh, very ripe strawberries, washed, stemmed, and hulled Juice of 1 lemon 1/3 cup sugar 1 cup heavy or whipping cream -- Purée together in a blender or food processor the strawberries, lemon juice, and sugar. Set aside. -- Whip the cream until it forms stiff peaks. Fold a large dollop of the cream into the strawberry mixture to help lighten it, then gently fold in the rest of the cream. -- Spoon the mixture into cups or glasses and chill for at least 4 hours (or overnight) before serving. Storage Strawberry-Lemon Fool keeps in the icebox in an airtight container for up to 2 days. OTHER FRUIT, NUT AND SPICE DESSERTS Catherine S. Vodrey is available for freelance writing, editing, fundraising/development, and photography projects at: Post Office Box 835 East Liverpool, Ohio 43920 USA E-MAIL: WordBanquet@gmail.com Thank you for visiting www.WordBanquet.com!