What do you do with strawberries?

Besides popping 'em in your mouth every five minutes....



Strawberry season is one of my very favorite times. I don't know if it is because it is the first real fruit harvest of the year and so more exciting (could be) or that the preserving of such is so easy (could be also) or that I don't have to worry about snacking throughout the day because what could ever be wrong with helping yourself to strawberries?!? Or maybe because I am not buried alive by all sorts of garden things that need to be "put up". Maybe for all those reasons.

Strawberries are a gentle nudge into the start of canning season because I don't actually "CAN" them. I prefer strawberry freezer jam to the taste of cooked strawberry jams so I get the pleasure of putting things up for wintertime without the fuss.

For freezer jam, I always just follow the recipe on the packet. It's good.

I also froze lots of berries. To do this, wash and hull (remove the stem portion) berries and lay in a single layer on a cookie sheet and pop them into the freezer. (This is called FLASH FREEZING.) Once they are solid, transfer them to a freezer bag. You lay them out first so that they don't form one complete LUMP of berries but can be used individually. Easy Peasy and they will be SO welcome this wintertime.

I tried to dehydrate some slices this year too and filled my dehydrator full-but realized that the slices become as thin as paper when done and only ended up filling a small canning jar. I don't know that it was worth it. I'd rather freeze the berries whole.

Of course, an order of sorbet is in order. Or two.

And strawberry milkshakes (that was last night.)

TWO strawberry rhubard pies (on my to-do list)

THIS incredible salad. It's divine!

Fruit Salsa with cinnamon sugar tortilla wedges

Speaking of rhubarb: I am going to experiment in order to create a strawberry rhubarb jam this year. That sounds good. (Another to-do)

And cinnamon pancakes with berries and cream. (don't even need syrup!)