There is almost nothing that says springtime more than fresh strawberries. When I noticed that a local grocery store had strawberries from Florida, I had to have some.
I decided to create a tablescape featuring a classic strawberry shortcake as the dessert.
My centerpiece is a little red tool box that I recently painted. You can read about that here. The tool box is sitting on my new table runner made by Ann from Sutton Place Designs.
The tool box is holding some real strawberry plants. Can you see the little baby strawberries?
I used some red napkins as placemats, but I’m looking for more of these vintage strawberry placemats.
I was only able to find one of them at a local consignment store, but I’m on the hunt for more.
Since I was setting the table for just dessert, I used some ice tea glasses that I have.
The napkins and the dessert plates were found at Target. The same consignment store where I found the strawberry placemat had the red napkin rings.
It is so easy to make strawberry shortcake. A shortcake is just a sweet biscuit, but you don’t even have to roll or cut them out. It only takes a little bit of time to make your own, and they are so much better than those spongecake things that they sell beside the strawberries in the grocery store. To make strawberry shortcake,
first, rinse your strawberries.
Slice them and then
sprinkle them with sugar. Since we are cutting back on sugar at our house, I used Splenda.
Next, preheat your oven to 425 degrees.
In a medium bowl, whisk together 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour, 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder, and 4 tablespoons of sugar. I used real sugar here because I don’t like to bake with Splenda.
Using a pastry blender or a fork, cut 1/3 cup of butter into the flour until it looks like coarse crumbs.
All at once, add 1/2 cup cold milk and lemon extract to the flour mixture and stir until it is combined.
Using a large spoon, drop the mixture into 4 equal piles on an ungreased baking sheet.
Bake 12-15 minutes at 425 degrees.
While the shortcake is baking, whip some heavy cream and add 2 tablespoons of powdered sugar once whipped.
When the shortcake is done, split the biscuits, place a layer in the bottom of a dessert dish. Spoon some sliced berries over the biscuit, add the other part of the biscuit, and add whipped cream on top.
Garnish with fresh mint.
It was so good, and those strawberries that were in the tool box, they are now
in the garden!
Hopefully, I’ll have more strawberries to make more strawberry shortcake soon!
I’m joining:
Debbie’s Spring’tacular Tablescape Party@RefreshRestyle
Kathy’s Home and Garden Party@A Delightsome Life
Susan’s Tablescape Thursday@Between Naps on the Porch
Shirley’s Egg-Xellent Spring Tablescape Party@Hospitality Designs
Mary says
March 22, 2012 at 5:16 amJane~ I thought your painted strawberry tote was adorable in your previous post! Strawberry Shortcake is definitely a treat! We’ve enjoyed some delicious Florida berries recently too, but nothing compares to local ones. Do you have problems with bunnies or deer in your garden?
Jordan@the2seasons says
March 19, 2012 at 7:38 amYum this sounds and looks amazing. Now my mouth is watering.
Entertaining Women says
March 18, 2012 at 9:53 pmThank you for the shortcake recipe! I look forward to making it soon. Cherry Kay
Dee says
March 18, 2012 at 8:59 pmOh yum! I just bought a huge container of strawberries from Costco.
Dee
Jean Windham says
March 17, 2012 at 11:04 amI think I will try your strawberry shortcake recipe. We are all looking forward to the strawberries grown here and sold at Four Oaks Farms yearly. You will have to take me to the consignment store where you found all the red items. I did go Sutton Place Designs and saw the table runner and other items she had on her blog. Thanks for sharing. Jean
Cathy Farquhar says
March 16, 2012 at 11:19 pmNow I know how I can use all those strawberries left from the wedding. Just need a feeeew friends to drop by.
<;) Cathy
Tess says
March 16, 2012 at 8:22 pmOh you are a girl after my own heart!! We won’t have local strawberries for a few months up here in upstate NY, but that is REAL strawberry shortcake like we do here with real whipped cream!! (none of that spongy cake stuff!!!) My mom used to make this for me for my June birthday when our local strawberries are in season…the best. Your dessert table looks adorable. The perfect setting for that luscious strawberry shortcake!!
Jana says
March 15, 2012 at 9:13 pmNever mind~I am already following via the linky. Still kind of confusing to me having several different avenues to follow folks. Oh well, glad I wasn’t losing my mind thinking I did it the other day. lol
Jana says
March 15, 2012 at 9:10 pmJane,
Your strawberry plants look so familiar. :0) Probably because I have 92 of the little jewels planted myself. Can’t wait to start getting some again this year. Your plants look great!!
Your strawberry shortcake and table-scape look very inviting.
BTW-I thought that I started following you the other day but looks like I didn’t. Now I’m your newest follower.
Pat@Back Porch Musings says
March 15, 2012 at 6:05 pmYum, strawberry shortcake. Cute table!
Liz @ A Dish Here, A Glass There says
March 15, 2012 at 3:39 pmThat’s wonderful! We won’t see strawberries here until June. My little cocker spaniel used to bite off my strawberries! LOL… I only had 5 plants too!
I love those kinds of biscuits for strawberry shortcake. That’s how my Mom did it . I loved to let them soak up the juice and get flavored with it!
I really like those red and white plates! Looks like your newly painted toolbox is going to get a lot of uses!
Ricki JIll Treleaven says
March 15, 2012 at 12:50 pmYummy! And I really do love your strawberry crate craft. I hope you have lots of strawberries in a few weeks!
I am linking from ReFresh/ ReStyle.
xo,
Ricki Jill
Tina says
March 15, 2012 at 12:40 pmYour tablescape is so cute. I really love the toolbox!
I love fresh strawberries. It won’t be to long and the farm down the road will be selling theirs, I can’t wait. Oh and they also make homemade strawberry ice cream too!
Shirley@Housepitality Designs says
March 15, 2012 at 11:50 amOh Jane..there is my favorite red toolbox on that spectacular runner!…Love, love strawberry shortcake…The table looks so fabulously in the Spring mode…Hope to see you at my Tablescape Party!
Shirley says
March 15, 2012 at 9:43 amJane, la mesa se ve fabulosa, la fresa es una de mis frutas preferidas, así que espero poder hacerme un postrecito como el tuyo. Saludos
Jocelyn says
March 15, 2012 at 9:13 amI love your table. I live in Florida and we have been enjoying the most delicious strawberries. Your table reflects our Strawberry season perfectly!
Barbara F. says
March 15, 2012 at 8:54 amHi Jane, this looks so good,I wishI could taste it. The toolbox came out really great. xo
Zinnia Blom says
March 15, 2012 at 6:22 amAfter lunch today I ate strawberries .. They tasted so good! I wish you a wonderful day! Zinnia
Kit Smith says
March 15, 2012 at 5:42 amI can’t wait to try your shortcake recipe. I love your table, but most of all, your enthusiasm for all you do!
Judy says
March 15, 2012 at 6:26 amI don’t know how I got here, but I sure am thankful that I did. What a beautiful blog you have! You raised strawberries to a whole new level. What a perfect centerpiece that carrier made with the strawberry plants. Thanks for the paint recipe too.
michelle says
March 15, 2012 at 12:34 amYour table looks great. I love the tool box.
Debbie says
March 14, 2012 at 10:51 pmYum! I love fresh strawberries and it looks like you will have more!! Your table is beautiful, you found some great stuff. I will have to try the recipe. Thanks for sharing everything at the great Spring’tacular linky party.
Debbie
Ellen says
March 14, 2012 at 9:54 pmI just bought strawberries today!!! I love your table. What a great idea. Thanks for sharing.
Lavender Dreams says
March 14, 2012 at 8:23 pmThe strawberries are in season here in Florida! I’ve been eating them for breakfast and for snacks! I love them any way! Enjoy your week! Stop by when you can…I mean HOP by! I’m making bunnies! ♥♥♥