No fruit symbolizes more the arrival of summer to Finns than Strawberries. The open air markets begin in early June with imported berries from mainland Europe. However, it is the arrival of the superior Finnish strawberries, in the end of June beginning of July, that really signals the start of summer for the Finns. Finns consume bag after bag of the fruit while walking along the streets or sitting in the park. This recipe comes to us from the “land of the midnight sun” and is a grandly simple way to celebrate summer.
1 pint fresh strawberries
1/2 cup water
1/2 teaspoon unflavored gelatin
2 egg whites
1/2 cup sugar
1 container fat free Cool whip
Soak the gelatin in 1/4 cup water until soft. Heat the remaining water to boiling and add dissolved gelatin to it. Let cool and refrigerate for 5 minutes. Clean and finely chop the strawberries by hand or in a food processor. Then beat the egg whites until soft peaks form and gradually add the sugar. Continue beating until soft peaks form when the beater is lifted. Stir gelatin mixture into the strawberries and fold the strawberry mixture into the egg whites. Fold in the Cool whip and serve. The mixture may also be frozen and served at a later time as a kind of ice cream like mixture.