When it comes to feeding our families, we seem to be spending more time reading labels and purchasing products that benefit not only ourselves but also the community around us.
As Ontario’s largest dairy cooperative owned by over 1200 dairy farmers, Gay Lea has released the cookbook Our Table. Shared Meals as a way to raise funds for the Co-operative Development Foundation (CDF). The CDF raises funds through Canadian Co-operatives and co-op members, to help alleviate poverty and create more secure lives by building and strengthening financial co-ops and/or community owned co-op in developing countries.
“Our Table: Shared Meals” is a collection of 150 recipes that feature a variety of locally produced Gay Lea products, from appetizers to entrées, and side dishes to desserts. At the same time the cookbook showcases the co-operative spirit and Gay Lea’s belief that “good food is better when it is shared.”
Within Our Table. Shared Meals you will find such recipes as this one for Strawberry Shortcake:
Strawberry Shortcake
Preparation Time: 15 minutes
This textbook-perfect pound cake can be made in either a 4” x 8” (1.5 L) or 5” x 9” (2 L) loaf pan. For best results, have your butter, eggs and sour cream at room temperature before starting.
Ingredients
1 cup (250 mL) Gay Lea Butter (Unsalted), softened
1 cup (250 mL) granulated sugar
4 eggs
1 tsp (5 mL) vanilla
2 cups (500 mL) all purpose flour
1 tsp (5 mL) baking powder
4 tsp (1 mL ) salt
2 cup (125 mL) Gay Lea Sour Cream
4 cup (1L) fruit topping (fresh strawberries, halved)
Gay Lea Whipped Cream
Instructions
Preheat oven to 325°F (160°C). Grease loaf pan; set aside.
Using electric mixer, beat butter with sugar for 5 minutes or until very light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time, beating for 2 minutes in between each addition. Beat in vanilla. In separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt. Using wooden spoon, stir half of flour mixture into butter mixture. Stir in sour cream and then remaining flour mixture. Scrape batter into prepared pan. Bake in centre of oven for 60 to 70 minutes or until toothpick inserted deep in the centre comes out clean.
Cool in pan on rack for 30 minutes. Remove from pan to cool completely.
Slice cake. Spray a generous portion of whipped cream over each slice. Spoon generous 3 cup (75 mL) of strawberries over them. Top with more whipped cream if desired.
Makes 10 servings.
Whether a cookbook to add to your own collection or to give as a gift for another cook in your life, Our Table. Shared Meals is one cookbook that benefits more than those eating at your table tonight.
Recipe reprinted with permission from Gay Lea Foods.