It was the ‘we’ in ‘when we have breakfast’ that caught my attention. My son does not usually take it for granted that I will share that meal… and to be fair, given the vile seaweed sludge he calls a smoothie and the birdseed cereal he prefers, that is fine by me. He’d obviously bought something special, but after being disappointed in the ensuing guessing game, but reassured that I wouldn’t be cooking, I had to simply wait and see.
When the shopping was delivered, the mystery resolved itself… There appeared to be a lot of strawberries… a little over two and a half pounds of them. Even with my son’s appetite and my passion for this fruit, this was ambitious.
Was I complaining as I hulled and washed them? No, I was not.
Strawberries are good for you. Low in calories, a fat content that is almost non-existent, packed with more vitamins and minerals than I generally see in a week… I mentally polished my halo. The resulting mound was tempting, though less than half the total volume had been used. Even more so when what I would like not to call greed piled the bowls high. I am not averse to getting all my ‘five a day’ in one mouthwatering hit. In fact, the five looked more like seven, but I could still feel virtuous at this point, seeing them glistening in all their naked scarlet glory.
But we were not just having strawberries; we were having strawberries and cream. Not just any cream, mind you, but Chantilly, a thick double cream slightly sweetened with good vanilla…
My son had done his shopping online. Hence the unexpected size of the strawberry haul. The pot of Chantilly was tiny by comparison. ‘Serves 8’ it said on the carton as I squinted to read the small print… I spooned an eighth of the pot onto the fruit and decided it looked puny… an insignificant and inadequate accompaniment. I allowed aesthetics to rule and dug a little deeper, without…quite… emptying the pot. Maybe it was a misprint… serves 3 would have been more accurate, and an 8 looks like a 3….
A quick calculation decided the calorie content was still surprisingly low… my son’s breakfast normally contains more calories than a woman my age dare consume in a day. This was positively saintly in comparison.
I perched on the bed with my bowl as he delved into his breakfast. We were running out of cream long before the strawberries had significantly diminished. ‘There’s a bit left…’ No more than a spoonful each, of course, but still… I divided the remainder of the cream between the two bowls and we continued our repast as my son commented on the low calorific value…
I, meanwhile, had the left the pot on the windowsill…in sunlight… at eye level. At some point it dawned on me that I had omitted to multiply the nutritional information by the requisite two and a half times to match the volume of the pot…and while my son was still well under his normal breakfast intake, I might just about squeeze in a coffee and a stick of celery for the rest of the day…
Wilful blindness? Had my normally useful mind failed to make that calculation on purpose? Who knows…. Who, in fact cares? I refuse guilt. I have no regrets. I had strawberries and cream for breakfast… and some things shouldn’t be counted, just enjoyed.
Sue Vincent's Daily Echo 
Sounds heavenly, and so very much better than what I had for breakfast this morning
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I can’t see how you could beat it 🙂
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Reblogged this on oshriradhekrishnabole and commented:
Lychee fruit is a beautiful name,
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Brought some home yesterday. Strawberry fragrance – can’t help but be lured and lulled ….certainly a breakfast delight.
(Besides rules are made to be broken, right. Enjoy the remaining summer crimson!)
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I may have to pick up more cream on my way to my son’s tomorrow 😉
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Definitely….long awaited BlueBell homemade vanilla ice cream returned to the stores just in time for the strawberries. Sometimes, like relishing the closing days of summer breakfast has to be special. (drool…sorry…those strawberries)
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It was certainly a lovely surprise, I have to say 🙂
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Sounds delightful! I agree, no guilt allowed 🙂
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None felt either, Alethea 🙂
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Delish!
I had baked Camembert and fresh bread for lunch… Naughty by nice!
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Camembert is a necessity, not a luxury 😉
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And to think I only discovetey it last Christmas!
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No! That’s a terrible waste of time 😉 (Cranberries go well with it… 😉 )
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I tried it with chorizo today!
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Not tried that, but I can see it would work 🙂
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It was a special pack in Asda that I saw this morning, and just had to try…! Not bad!
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I’ll bear that in mind… but if you are melting french cheese with sausage, try the little picked cornichon gherkins with it 😉
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Oooh! Sue stop tempting me!!! I need to lose weight, not put it on!! Lol!!
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Very few calories in cornichons 😉
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Its the rest that’s the problem lol!!! 😜
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The rest is just by way of a garnish … 😀
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The rest is just by way of a garnish … 😀
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Good excuse! I’ll use that!
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😀
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Nothing better than strawberries and cream (maybe raspberries and ice cream?) Lovely start to the day.
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Strawberries and rasperries and cream works very well 🙂
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Great start to the day sue, and why not indeed. We all know a little bit of what you fancy does you good! Especially as you are normally so mindful. I hope you both enjoy a similar breakfast tomorrow morning too!!! 🙂
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Only if I remember to get cream… there are plenty of strawberries 🙂
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Oh surely you can’t have one without the other? 🙂
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Well it is almost sacrilege… but the homemade yoghurt would work… 😉
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Yes, yogurt and strawberries go well together, 🙂
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Cream goes better though 😉
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Ha! 🙂
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🙂
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Now that’s what I call Breakfasting with Son!
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It worked for me 😉
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Cute post, Sue. Strawberries and cream sounds wonderful and English. We don’t eat cream much in the US (speaking for myself, perhaps) but it sounds yummy – despite the calories 🙂
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To hell with the calories… it is a gorgeous combination 😀
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😀
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Heaven!
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Yep 😀
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Wonderful indulgence Sue, though I would have liked MUCH more cream! Although I ate strawberries neat in my car this morning while driving about and they were delicious, naked.
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I love them however they come, but with the Chantilly cream… they are something else 🙂
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It’s pretty much difficult to have all the kids on breakfast table. During summer holiday, they sleep late and waking up late, having the hours for themselves to play more and stay up a bit more (except for my 1 1/2 years old boy) and the disadvantage to it is – they do not appear to be on time at our dining table. Unless, when the school starts that is when they are all on the schedule and have their full discipline. 🙂
Oh, love strawberries! Yummy! 🙂
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As my sons are grown and have homes of their own, it is rare now that we all eat togethr.
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Yes, true. When they were small, we all sit at the table often because they’re learning their pattern of discipline and routine and they know their schedule very well enough.
Now, since a few of them are older, they seem to be quite rare spending much time at home like they used too. They are ALMOST everyday out there with their friends (esp when the weather is nice) but then I do really encourage my kids to go out there often enough and being active.
But gladly that during dinner is the time when they are really present all at the dining table and we have a lot of things to talk about. 😀
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Allowing children to explore and know the world is as important as fresh air 🙂 But I do like to sit and eat a meal with the family. 🙂
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Agreed! Last night we had fresh peaches and whipped cream for dessert (something we rarely have) and like you, I refuse to feel guilty over the occasional indulgence. It is good for the soul!
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Precisely, Eliza… and the hips can go hang … well, hopefully not, not after one bowl… 😉
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I grew strawberries in my garden this year. I have to fight the birds and the slugs, but I did get a few. Your sound marvelous! ❤
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They were wonderful… I grow them too, but Ani discovered that they look like tiny tennis balls when they are green and she picks them to play with…:)
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LOL! 🐕💗
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For some reason this made me exceptionally happy. 🙂 Strawberries….son….cream….. then it all came crashing down…..calories! 😉
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Calories be damned… as Eliza said, this is soul food 🙂
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Sounds wonderful!
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It was 🙂
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What a great post, Sue. I could really feel myself there. I still make a lot of fruit smoothies but a few years ago, I really got into the green smoothies and was adding spirulina. This was in the days before blogging and I have meant to write up my first experience of this green, gurgling smoothie. I swear that the spirulina had come to life and was chatting as it bubbled away. It really was kind of freaky and the khaki green colouring did nothing to enhance my appetite either. It took me 30 minutes to summon the courage to even taste the thing. I went on to drink them for a few months and lost 10 kilos but then found out that people with auto-immune diseases shouldn’t take spirulina so I just have fruit and the occasional handful of spinach leaves. They go down well with the kids after school.
Usually, we think it’s us teaching the kids as parents, however, I find myself going on all sorts of journeys through my children and they’ve extended me in ways I never thought possible.
I thought you’d like my recent post about my daughter’s upcoming audition for the Sydney production of The Sound of Music. She has been quite unwell and I did discourage her but she was adamant. She might be pint sized but she has alot of determination…like your Nick! xx Rowena
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Yes, the children do teach us an awful lot… teaching teaches us better than anything else.
I hope your chest clears up quickly, Rowena… and wish your daughter the best of luck with her audition!
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Thanks very much, Sue. I’m sure you must relate to this craziness in your household xx Rowena
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Yep.. Pretty much 🙂
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Reblogged this on Anita & Jaye Dawes and commented:
best breakfast of the week, (or month) but as you say, who cares when its this good?
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Reblogged this on Smorgasbord – Variety is the spice of life and commented:
Apart from the pleasure of her son for company for breakfast, there is the added delight of fresh strawberries and Chantilly cream.. mmmm
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Strawberries are delicious — and even with the cream certainly a lot healthier than the chocolate-covered peanuts I’m munching on as I type.
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No, no… peanuts are a good source of protein and fibre 😉
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That’s good to know. All I have to do now is scrape off the chocolate. 🙂
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That’s good for you too… lifts the mood.. 😉 (I’m getting good at this 😉 )
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I like your nutrition advice. I’m usually told I’m doing it all wrong.:-)
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🙂
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Reblogged this on Barrow Blogs: and commented:
A little of what you fancy – Er, who’s that crunching celery?
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Strawberries are the food of royalty or at least one f.e.e.l.s. royal enjoying them. Chantilly cream too? Double the pleasure. Sounds a fabulous breakfast to share with a mom. ❤ ❤ ❤ What a wonderful young man. 🙂
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It was, Tess… and I enjoyed every bite 🙂
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This post made me smile more than usual. S.w.e.e.t. ❤
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I could use a bowl this morning to get me going…
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Shall I run out and get us some? Me too.
💡
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Had them for lunch 😉
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Drat. I guess I’ll have to eat them alone. 😦
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I could probably help … 😉
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I bought for more than two. Come on down! 🙂
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An offer I can never refuse….
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😀 😀 😀 Anytime. The door is open…the strawberries and cream might be gone though.
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A cuppa would do.. 😉
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That too! Be ready in a shake.
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You can never go wrong with fresh strawberries and cream. And maybe even a bit of chocolate. Indulgence. No regrets ! ☺
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He and the lads are having the rest tonight with chocolate ice-cream… 😦
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That sounds so good. Now I’m hungry for strawberries and cream. 🙂
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Had them for lunch today 🙂
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A yummy story. Pun intended. 🙂
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I like that kind of story research 🙂
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