Strawberries....coming to a farmer's market near you!

My family looks forward to the first berries of the season. Around here that would be strawberries. Our local berries haven't made an appearance yet, but California berries are making their way to our grocery stores. While I enjoy the flavor of local berries more, no offense to the California strawberry growers, we often start buying strawberries as soon as they are in our local market.

Growing up, my grandmother had a strawberry patch in her back yard. I know she enjoyed them too, but I felt like she grew them just for me. Every time I'd visit her, she'd send me outside with a big bowl and I'd pick as many ripe berries as I could find. Then we'd wash them up and shed give me a saucer of sugar to dip them in. What a fantastic treat that was! They often didn't need sugar, but she said that it made them all the sweeter. I sure do miss my grandmother and her strawberry patch. I have not tasted berries so sweet since, maybe it's just the memory that is sweet.

There are so many amazing options, aside from just fresh eating, when it comes to strawberries. Muffins, cakes and pies come to mind. As well as shortcake and sliced over ice cream. How about strawberry smoothies? Strawberry milk shakes or ice cream? The list goes on and on!

Making strawberry freezer jam was one thing my grandmother did every year. I make jam also, but I generally make the cooked and canned variety. Grandma's freezer jam was the best, however and I often wish I had the freezer space for a batch or two. This year, I may just have to make room for it. It is the easiest jam to make, anyone can make it. It takes very little time and you will have the taste of fresh from the garden strawberries all year long. Just pick up a box of pectin at your grocery store and the instructions are on the box. So simple and so tasty!

No matter how you prepare your strawberries, you must enjoy them while they are here! The season always seems too short to my liking, so we try to enjoy them every chance we get! Pair them with rhubarb for an added treat. Strawberry Rhubarb pie is hard to beat. Top that off with some strawberry ice cream and you might just have enough strawberries to satisfy your craving.