Strawberries with Homemade Crème Fraîche and Brown Sugar

This dessert brings back such memories: living in the foothills of the Sierra's; the dry heat of summer; picking fresh ripe strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries from our lush organic garden. My mom and step dad headed back to the land in the mid eighties and worked tirelessly growing loads of veggies and fruit. I was a young teen, more interested in punk and smoking cloves with my friends than tending the garden. Still, food was a lure for me even then - promise of mom's fresh berry pies or this simple dessert would get me to put down my Walkman and start picking berries

My step dad introduced us to this dessert and I think it is one of those simple revelations that should be shared. Back then we used sour cream. My husband adamantly refuses to eat sour cream, but loves crème fraîche, so that's what we use now. Either one does the trick. Eating strawberries with your fingers to me is what summer is all about and I love serving this spread at a picnic or barbecue with friends.

INGREDIENTS

• strawberries, leave the stems on
• crème fraîche (see homemade recipe here)
• brown sugar

Set out a platter with strawberries with a bowl of crème fraîche and a bowl of brown sugar. Everyone should help him/herself. Using the strawberry stem as a holder, dip the berry's tip into the crème fraîche then dip into the brown sugar.

Repeat until you can eat no more.