Strawberry Gelato (from "Recipes for Health")

Here is a lovely sweet treat that's good for you. Use frozen strawberries or fresh ones--it won't be long, maybe another month in our area, before local berries start coming in.

This is from the NY Times Health pages, and it avoids cream by substituting lowfat milk. Or you can use whole milk.

Recipe: Strawberry Gelato
Serves 6-8

Ingredients:

1 1-pound bag frozen strawberries; or 1 pound ripe, sweet strawberries, hulled

1/2 cup sugar, preferably organic fair-trade sugar

1/4 cup water

2 cups milk (2 percent or whole)

2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

Pinch of salt

Instructions:

1. Place a 1-quart container and one smaller container — for any extra gelato — in the freezer. Combine the strawberries, sugar and water in a medium saucepan, and bring to a simmer. Simmer until the strawberries thaw and become very soft, about 15 minutes. Remove from the heat, and transfer half the mixture to a blender. Since the mixture is hot, just cover the top of the blender jar with a dish towel pulled down tight. Blend until smooth, and then add half the milk. Blend again until smooth. Repeat with the remaining strawberries and milk. Transfer to a bowl, and chill in the refrigerator.

2. Stir in the lemon juice and salt, and transfer to the container of an ice cream maker. Freeze according to the manufacturer’s directions. Scrape into the chilled container, and return to the freezer for at least two hours before serving. If frozen solid, allow to soften in the refrigerator for 20 to 30 minutes before serving.