The strawberry season lasts from mid-May till mid-June in Hungary, and market stalls are now sagging under the weight of the queen of the fruits. Strawberries belong to the family of roses, and they are the only fruit that wear their seeds on the outside. That’s why they aren’t true berries, like blueberries or even grapes.
The first garden strawberries were grown in France during the late 18th century, but the ancient Romans already used wild strawberry species to treat everything from depression to sore throats. Though strawberries can’t cure every disease, but the medicinal power the Romans attributed to the strawberries was not so very far from the truth.
Strawberries offer a wide range of health benefits. They are low in calories and high in vitamins C, B6, K, fiber, folic acid, potassium and amino acids. Strawberries contain high levels of nitrate, and they are believed to help reduce the risk of heart disease and certain cancers.
In Hungary strawberries are used in several desserts and cakes, they are often paired with cottage cheese. The following light summer cake consists of a sponge cake, strawberries in whole, a cottage cheese-whipped cream combination and a strawberry jelly on top. If you don’t want to make the jelly, feel free to decorate the top of the cake with strawberries cut in half.

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