Strawberries are hard to beat! Heart-shaped and juicy, they have also been scientifically proven to reduce the risk of a heart attack through their high content of flavonoids (antioxidants) and are rich in potassium, the mineral that helps to regulate fluids and blood pressure. Try them with a splash of balsamic vinegar, black pepper, rocket leaves and feta cheese for a healthy salad or quite simply on their own.

That said, having given you all those health tips, now I’m afraid we are going to destroy all that with some truly bikini mission-defying ingredients with ‘Strawberry Explosion’, which is refreshing in other ways!

You will need one loose-bottomed quiche pan tin, preferably non-stick. First, using a food processor (or in a plastic bag using a rolling pin) grind the biscuits to crumbs with the cocoa powder. Meanwhile melt the butter. Mix all the ingredients together and flatten down in to the base of the tin. Leave to cool in the fridge for about one hour.

Beat the cream until it forms soft peaks and stands up on its own. Fold in the condensed milk with a large spoon. The cream will flatten a bit but don’t worry as this will change when you add the lemon. Add the lemon bit by bit, leaving a little bit spare. Add the strawberry juice. Your mix will turn a ‘Princess Angel Delight’ pink and with the citric acid, the sauce should start to thicken once more. Taste to adjust flavours and possibly add more lemon if your cream is not thick enough, being careful not to go past the point.

Pile the cream mix on to the top of your prepared base and leave in the fridge for at least a couple of hours to set. When firm, decorate with strawberries. Apparently, strawberries will whiten your teeth so you can give a big smile as this treat goes down with a glass of sparkling cava!

Strawberry Explosion!
Ingredients
• 320 gm / 11 oz of digestive plain biscuits
• 50 gm / 1 ½ oz of cocoa powder
• 70 gm / 2 ½ oz of butter
• 400 ml double cream, whipped
• 300 ml condensed milk
• Juice of 2 lemons, to taste
• Juice from 10 strawberries (if you don’t have a juicer, extract the juice using a plastic sieve)
• Extra strawberries, for decorating the top

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Article copyright Helen Westwater of ‘La Ola Fresca’ / 24/7 Valencia