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• Quick Facts: Strawberries

  Quick Facts: Strawberries

  • There are approximately 200 seeds on the outside of each strawberry.⁴
  • One acre of land grows about 50,000 pounds of strawberries, which equals the weight of four elephants.⁴
  • Strawberries were regarded as an aphrodisiac in provincial France, so newlyweds were traditionally served a soup of thinned sour cream, strawberries, borage and powdered sugar.⁴
  • Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII’ssecond wife, had a strawberry-shaped birthmark on her neck; some claimed this proved she was a witch.⁴
  • Legend has it if you find a double strawberry, break it in half and share it with the object of your affection, and you will soon fall in love with each other.⁴
  • The strawberry represents absolute perfection in the Victorian language of flowers.⁴
• Recipe: Grilled Duck with Strawberry and Fig Sauce

  Recipe: Grilled Duck with Strawberry and Fig Sauce

  From Executive Chef Jim Palmeri of Mohonk Mountain House, New Paltz, New York

  Makes four servings, 650 calories, 5 grams of fat

  Ingredients:

  1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

  ¼ cup shallots, sliced

  3 fluid ounces of port wine

  2 tablespoons dried figs, chopped

  2 ½ cups fresh strawberries, halved

  1 cup and 2 tablespoons chicken broth

  2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

  ½ teaspoon salt

  ½ teaspoon freshly ground pepper

  1 teaspoon cornstarch

  1 ½ pounds skinless, boneless duck breasts

  1 tablespoon fresh basil, chopped

  Preparation:

  1. Heat oil in a saucepan over medium heat; add shallots and cook until soft.

  2. Add port wine and figs; simmer for one minute.

  3. Add 1 ½ cups strawberries, 1 cup chicken broth, balsamic vinegar, ¼ teaspoon salt and pepper.

  4. Continue to simmer until strawberries begin to soften, stirring occasionally. Strain solids from sauce and discard.

  5. Return remaining sauce to saucepan and continue to simmer until approximately 1 cup remains.

  6. Combine cornstarch and two tablespoons of cold chicken broth, and add to sauce mixture. Simmer until thickened, then remove from heat.

  7. Preheat grill to medium and coat with oil.

  8. Season the duck breast with remaining salt and pepper.

  9. Mix one tablespoon of sauce with one tablespoon vinegar and baste duck.

  10. Grill 4–9 minutes per side, until internal temperature is 150 degrees, basting twice.

  11. Remove meat from grill and let rest five minutes.

  12. Chop remaining strawberries, then slice duck and serve it with the sauce. Garnish it with strawberries and basil.

• Treatment How-to: Wild Honey and Strawberry Manicure

  Treatment How-to: Wild Honey and Strawberry Manicure

  From The Spa at Four Seasons Resort Jackson Hole, Teton Village, Wyoming

  Treatment duration: 80 minutes

  Treatment cost: $90

  Products needed:

  1/2 cup organic strawberry seeds

  1/2 cup organic wild liquid honey

  Organic coconut oil

  Shea butter

  Polish remover

  Base coat

  Polish

  Top coat

  Quick dry

  Cuticle remover

  Supplies needed:

  4 hot towels

  Extra dry towels

  Nail brush

  File

  Birchwood stick

  Nippers

  Pusher

  Nail clippers

  Hindo stone

  Equipment needed:

  Manicure bowl with hot, soapy water

  Towel warmer

  Step 1: Analyze nails, and discuss length and shape of nails with client.

  Step 2: Remove old polish

  Step 3: File nails on first hand, and check free edges for any roughness. Place hand in manicure bowl with hot, soapy water.

  Step 4: Repeat step on second hand.

  Step 5: Apply cuticle remover to all 10 fingers. With a metal pusher gently push back cuticles, and clean under nail edge.

  Step 6: Remove dead cuticles and any hangnails with nippers on each hand.

  Step 7: Using a nail brush and soapy water, gently brush under nail and around the cuticle. Dry client’s hands.

  Step 8: Add a small amount of coconut oil to the strawberry seeds and make a paste. Gently work over the top and underside of the hands and wrap them with hot towels, which should remain on for 3–5 minutes.

  Step 9: Put honey in the towel warmer.

  Step 10: Remove strawberry paste by wiping with the towels that you used to wrap the client’s hands. Make sure all of the seeds are removed. Wash your hands and bring honey to the station.

  Step 11: Using half for each hand, massage warm honey into the client’s hands. Wrap hands with hot towels.

  Step 12: Remove hot towels after 3–5 minutes and make sure to remove all honey.

  Step 13: Use approximately ½ teaspoon of shea butter for each hand and arm, starting at the elbow and working down by massaging each arm and hand.

  Step 14: Clean nails with polish remover to remove all shea butter from nail bed.

  Step 15: Apply to all 10 nails: base coat, two coats of color, top coat and quick dry. Make corrections with a birchwood stick soaked in polish remover.

  Step 16: Thank client and escort her to the front for check out.

  Step 17: Clean, disinfect and reset station.