Farm to Freezer in 24 Hours

It took me most of the morning but what a sense of accomplishment! YAY! Yes, it's highly recommended that you rinse them before freezing. I always do.

One qt. hulled and washed

 One qt. sliced

 Eight qts. packed, sealed and frozen

They will be stacked in a box for easy access and more room in the freezer.

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Suggestion for a Strawberry Daiquiri!

This is a frosty blender-full of strawberry-citrus slush. You may enjoy this with or without the rum. You may also be a brave soul and change the ingredients and sizes of them. I did. Delicious any way it's made!

In a blender, combine ice, sugar and strawberries. Pour in lime juice, lemon juice, rum and lemon-lime soda. Blend until smooth. Pour into glasses. 

6 C ice

1/2 C white sugar

4 ounces frozen strawberries

1/8 C lime juice

1/2 C lemon juice

3/4 C rum

1/4 C lemon-lime flavored carbonated beverage

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SWEET!

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A quick ride out to our favorite place to see if strawberries were ready - AND! THEY! WERE! They sit in the back of the car until tomorrow morning when I will bring them inside. If put on the front porch, the birds might steal them. If put in the carport, the resident groundhog will certainly have them for his dinner! They are safe in the car. Please review last year's blog to see what I do with these before making and baking with them throughout the year. 
Click on link: 2018 Strawberries Processed
Link for Recipes:Recipes

It's a Jungle

If I were able to venture into the deep woods I would be able to show you more of these beauties. I love to take pictures of mushrooms. 

Also it would be nice to canoe into the foliage at the end of the lake here because I keep hearing "harumpf" sounds and I'll just bet there are giant bullfrogs there. Please notice how much larger the wild yellow pond iris has grown down among the cattails and lily pads.

Maybe tomorrow I'll find more interesting sights but for today I'm pleased.

On a sad note, we may not have local strawberries this year due to all the wetness in the fields. I will NOT buy imported strawberries and am glad we still have some in the freezer from last year. On a good note, shortcake for supper dessert tonight. 

Strawberry Recipes

These are from a beach friend and I remember how really good they were. She made and shared all three with us. I haven't made them myself for about 10 years but soon will.

Since it is strawberry season I'd like to share with you.
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Shoney’s Strawberry Pie                  from Jean Cox

1 3/4 cup sugar

1 3/4 cup water

1/4 cup cornstarch

3 oz. strawberry Jell-O

Strawberries (frozen ones not recommended)

Cook first three ingredients until thick.

Add 1 package (3 oz.) Jell-O and stir.

Place uncooked strawberries in a baked pie shell

    (or graham cracker crust).

Pour cooked mixture over berries.

Chill in refrigerator. Top with whipped cream. 

Makes one 9 inch pie or two small ones.

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Strawberry Dessert “Pizza”                       Jean Cox

1 pkg. (20 oz. or 18 1/2 oz.) sugar cookie dough

1 pkg. (8 oz.) Philadelphia cream cheese, softened

1 tub (8 oz.) Cool Whip Topping, thawed

1 Pt. (2 cups) fresh strawberries

1/3 C Sugar

Let dough set out until soft, then press it into a greased 12 inch pizza pan. 

Bake at 350º for 20 minutes or until golden brown, 

Cool in the pan on a wire rack.

Beat the cream cheese and sugar with electric mixer on high speed until well blended.

Gently stir in the whipped topping.

Spread the cream cheese mixture over the crust.

Top with strawberries.

Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate until

ready to serve.

Will keep 2—3 days in the refrigerator.

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Strawberry Delight — Low Fat          From Jean Cox

1 Angel food cake

1 Low fat or fat free condensed milk

1 8 oz. lite or fat free sour cream

1 12 oz. lite or fat free Cool Whip

2 Pts. (4 cups) fresh strawberries, sliced

1 Medium and 1 Large bowl

SAUCE: (medium bowl)

Mix together condensed milk, Cool Whip and sour cream.

Set aside.

LAYER: (large bowl)

1/2 angel food cake torn into bite size pieces.

1/2 fresh strawberries

1/2 sauce mixture.

Repeat with remaining cake, strawberries and sauce mixture.

Top with whole fresh strawberries

Refrigerate overnight.

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And, knowing me, I would try it without ANY of the fat-free stuff!

Strawberry Progress Report

Today we took a ride out to our favorite produce stand to see if strawberries were ready. When we arrived there were 5 flats on the table, each one containing 8 quarts.  After a little debating, I decided that I could handle taking one of them, even though there were many berries to process. They were beautiful, large, and the green tops weren’t at all wilted. When I mentioned to the owner that we thought it might be time because after looking at my pictures from last year, the 20th of June was when we purchased some. She said that they were late and slow to ripen due to weather this year. Pollination of the plants wasn’t up-to-par either and we’ve had way too much rain, but they are coming on now. She also told me that these were just picked from the field LAST NIGHT by her and other family helpers. I neglected to ask just which variety the extra large ones were. They are whoppers! - and sweet. Now I will have to go through my recipes to use them. Of course, after freezing, they will be readily available any time for me now. I have some excellent and tasty recipes and will share a few later.

                  8 Quarts             

 Hulled

Sliced

Bagged

No matter how you look at them they are beautiful!

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Currently they have a good life, waiting in the freezer for love. Field to freezer in less than 24 hours. You can't beat that!

Sweet Spring Special

Last year in June we went to the produce market three times just to buy freshly picked strawberries. We were "strawberried out" so I froze a few quarts. I also froze 4 pound cakes that I found on sale due to the season being almost over.  

This was then:  June 20 (NINE months ago!)

Fresh picked from the field

Washed and hulled

Frozen first separated, then bagged

This was today's lunch dessert:

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We are celebrating the first day of Spring arriving tomorrow, March 20! 

Strawberry Smother

All finished with the hulling, washing and freezing - for today. We are good to go to get more!

Strawberry Season

Last night was the "Strawberry Moon" and tonight is going to be strawberry shortcake! They don't come any better than these that were JUST picked locally. Bigger, prettier-looking berries can't compare with the juiciness and flavor of these.

Click image to experience

The Summer Solstice coincided with the rise of a full "Strawberry Moon." It hasn't occurred since 1967 and won't again until June 21, 2062. I'm fairly sure I won't be here. The Algonquin tribes named it because it indicated the time to gather berries. Another source says that it may have gotten its name from Native American tribes because it arrives in June, when strawberry season is at its peak. When the moon is close to the horizon, it takes on a reddish tint. In Europe the June full moon is sometimes known as the "Rose Moon." 

We're going back for more in two days. It is a "first come, first served " system because they are in heavy demand sold by the box or a flat of eight boxes.