Spring Recipe: Angel Food Cake with Balsamic Black-Pepper Strawberries

Did you know that in Italy people love to eat strawberries with balsamic vinegar and black pepper? I know it sounds a little nuts, but you just have to believe me that it's the ideal combination of sweet, sour, and spicy. Such a party for your taste buds!

Sometimes we eat this mixture plain (greedily, out of a mixing bowl) and sometimes we put it on salads. But it's also really good on vanilla ice cream. Last week, Ryan's family was getting together for Italian take-out, so I decided to bring an angel food cake and serve it with this yummy, strawberry mixture. It was a hit!

I don't usually add any sugar to the mix when eating this plain or on salad. But, in order to bring out the juices, making it more of a sauce, I added a bit here. I chose brown sugar to further complicate the flavors, but white sugar would also do the trick. 

Angel Food Cake with Balsamic Black-Pepper Strawberries

Ingredients: 

1 angel food cake (store bought or homemade)
1 pint strawberries
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon brown sugar
A very generous grinding of black pepper

01. Hull and slice strawberries. I like to slice them vertically because I think the strawberry-shaped slices are much prettier than rounds.
02. Mix sliced strawberries with brown sugar, balsamic vinegar, and black pepper.
03. Serve in the hallow of the angel food cake. There will be additional berry mixture to serve alongside as well.