This is one of the recipes that has been provided by Shirley Cline from San Fransisco in response to my quest for recipes using Balsamic Vinegar. (You can contact Shirley by emailing her - click here).

"This is a dish that is very popular in Italy. This particular recipe comes from Nick Stellino's 'Family Kitchen'. My grandmother made this a lot when I was growing up. This should be made when strawberries are in season".

Ingredients

3 lbs. fresh strawberries, hulled and quartered
4 Tblsp. balsamic vinegar
5 Tblsp. sugar
2 Tblsp. chopped fresh mint

• Place the strawberries in a large bowl, add the remaining ingredients, stir well to incorporate the flavors.

• Marinate for at least one hour, stirring well every 20 minutes.

• Serve over ice cream or by itself in a dessert cup.

Note:
The vinegar will extract juice from the strawberries and this will mix with the sugar to create a thick syrup at the bottom of the bowl. It is very important to stir well every 20 minutes to ensure that the strawberries are marinating uniformly.

Shirley Cline