Grandma’s Roasted Strawberries with Balsamic — “Don’t Tell Dr. Simmons”
- Sunny J Shores
- Sep 4
- 2 min read
Most of Grandma’s recipes were meant to keep the family fed or the neighbors happy, but a few were meant just for her.
Tucked into the pages of an old medical pamphlet on “Healthy Eating for a Healthy Heart,” I found this card. Across the top, in her sharp pen strokes, it read:
“Roasted Strawberries with Balsamic — Don’t tell Dr. Simmons.”
The backstory? Well, Grandma’s doctor, Dr. Simmons, was forever lecturing her to “eat more fruit and cut back on sweets.” She’d nod politely at his advice, then mutter under her breath the second she left his office.
So one spring evening, she decided to “follow doctor’s orders.” She took a pound of fresh strawberries, tossed them with balsamic vinegar and sugar, and roasted them until the fruit collapsed into syrupy, tangy-sweet perfection. Then she spooned them generously over vanilla ice cream and declared, “See? I’m eating fruit.”
When I tried the recipe myself, I thought she might’ve been on to something. The strawberries, once roasted, transformed into something richer and more indulgent than any raw fruit salad. Paired with ice cream, they were both decadent and technically “doctor approved.”
I could almost hear Grandma chuckling as I took my first bite, imagining Dr. Simmons’ face if he’d known how literally she’d taken his advice.
So here it is — the fruit that let Grandma bend the rules and keep her sweet tooth happy. Just don’t tell Dr. Simmons.
Grandma’s Roasted Strawberries with Balsamic Vinegar
Ingredients
1 lb (450 g) fresh strawberries, hulled and halved
2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
2–3 tbsp sugar (adjust to taste)
Optional: vanilla ice cream, yogurt, or pancakes for serving
Instructions
Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
Place strawberries in a baking dish. Sprinkle with sugar and drizzle with balsamic vinegar. Toss to coat.
Roast for 20–25 minutes, stirring once, until strawberries are softened and syrupy.
Serve warm over ice cream, pancakes, or yogurt.
🍓 Grandma’s note: Fruit is healthy. Especially when it tastes like dessert. Don’t tell Dr. Simmons.
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