Balsamic Roasted Strawberries

There are a lot of things I don’t understand about the world and life. I don’t understand why cake and pie, sugar and butter can’t be healthy instead of spinach and carrots, quinoa and oatmeal. Don’t get me wrong, I really love healthy foods, but sometimes I just want a giant piece of cake without guilt. Wouldn’t the world be a better place and everyone be happier if instead of getting five servings of vegetables a day, we had to worry about getting five servings of pie? Just imagine saying “I have to get my daily dose of Lemon Meringue Pie today.”

I don’t understand why celebrities get tons of free stuff, yet can afford to buy it for themselves, and we, the regular people, can’t afford it, yet would never be given all that free stuff. I know celebrities are never allowed to keep the very fancy, very expensive jewelry they wear, but they often speak of keeping clothes and shoes and being given all kinds of free swag. What I wouldn’t do for a free Marchesa ball gown. I guess I’ll have to wait until I’m a famous screenwriter and novelist.

I don’t understand why we haven’t cured more diseases. The polio vaccine has been around a very long time, along with the one for measles and a multitude of others. With all the fancy colleges and crazy smart scientists in this country and across the world, I thought by now we wouldn’t have to worry about Alzheimer’s and cancer would be like getting strep throat – just take a little medicine and it will go away. Maybe this illness free world will come along with the flying cars we’re all waiting for.

I don’t understand why there are so many mean people in the world. Driving on the road, shopping in the grocery store, browsing the mall, I am constantly shocked at the number of rude people. The drivers who cut you off, the people who are in a huff about waiting in line at the butcher counter, the people who walk around simply angry at the world. I think days go better, life goes better when we’re all a little nicer. And don’t even get me started on the meanness that goes on online. It’s pretty insane.

And I still don’t understand why these beautiful, ruby red strawberries I bought at a local farm were tart and nearly inedible. But I couldn’t bear to throw them away, so I roasted them. Roasted Strawberries are super yummy and versatile. I sweetened them up and added some balsamic vinegar for depth of flavor. The end result is sweet, complex, soft berries with intense strawberry flavor. The juice is my favorite part – it tastes like strawberry candy. These are great as is, stirred into oatmeal, poured over ice cream, or in a recipe I’ll be sharing soon. Plus, add some frozen bananas to a blender or food processor with these and a little almond milk and you’ll have the best smoothie ever! So take some summer strawberries and roast them!