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Whether you crave a healthy strawberry-avocado salad or a sugar free pie filling made with fresh strawberries, your heart will thank you.  According to RealAge.com, strawberries and just about any other colorful fruit or veggie you can find, like red grapes, cranberries, oranges, plums, and tomatoes are bursting with flavonoids — antioxidants that help quell inflammation. And that’s a good thing, because inflammation is one of the many processes involved in heart disease. Eat them fresh — sliced or whole. What could be easier? Aim for 2 1/2 cups of vegetables and 2 cups of fruit a day.

Try this delicious Strawberry-Avocado Salad:

Ingredients:

* 2 tablespoons white sugar
* 2 tablespoons olive oil
* 4 teaspoons honey
* 1 tablespoon cider vinegar
* 1 teaspoon lemon juice
* 1/4 teaspoon crushed celery seed
* 1/2 teaspoon chopped basil
* 1 Tblsp. minced red onion
* 2 cups torn salad greens
* 1 avocado – peeled, pitted and sliced
* 10 strawberries, sliced
* 1/2 cup chopped pecans

Whisk together the sugar, olive oil, honey, vinegar, lemon juice, celery seed, basil and onion. Set aside. Place salad greens on each salad plate and top with sliced strawberries and avocado. Drizzle the dressing over all. Sprinkle the chopped pecans on top and serve.

What heart-healthy recipes do you serve to family and friends?

Strawberry Pie ranks highly among all the pie recipes and you’ll know why once you take a bite.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups water
1/4 cup cornstarch
a few grains of salt
1 pkg. Strawberry Gelatin
Red food coloring, optional
1 1/2 – 2 cups Fresh Strawberries, halved (tops removed)
Baked 9″ pie shell
Whipped Cream

Combine sugar, water, cornstarch and salt. Cook until thick and clear. Remove from heat. Add a few drops of red food coloring, if desired. Add gelatin and stir until completely dissolved. Arrange fresh, cleaned strawberry halves in the baked pie shell. Pour cooked mixture over the unsweetened strawberries. Chill until set. Garnish with whipped cream.

Note:Strawberries only have about 40 calories per cup and are high in Vitamin C. Ounce for ounce they are higher in Vitamin C than oranges. The insoluble fiber in the seeds helps to prevent constipation. It’s best to wash strawberries just before using .

I’d love to try your favorite strawberry recipe.

Ingredients:

1 cup strawberries, sliced
1/4 cup sugar
1 pint strawberry ice cream
3 cups milk

In a small mixing bowl, combine stawberries and sugar. Beat to mash berries. Add ice cream and continue beating until softened; gradually add milk. Pour into large glasses and top with sliced strawberries. Yield: 5 1/4 cups.

Note: One (10 oz.) pkg. of frozen strawberries thawed but not drained may be substituted for fresh; omit sugar.