It's a Strawberry Invasion!

Who doesn't love fresh strawberries?  With their bright red color and subtle sweetness, the ever-so-popular strawberry is the perfect choice for so many scrumptious dishes. Strawberry season is in it's prime right now so you've probably purchased your share from the local grocery store or farmer's market. If the price was right, I bet you stocked up on those little berries of goodness, too.  If that's the case, you may be asking yourself, "What the heck do I do with all these strawberries?"  Well, if you're in the mood for some fancy shmancy recipes, I'd definitely suggest checking out The Joy of Baking: http://www.joyofbaking.com/StrawberryRecipes.html.  They've got everything from Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream to good old-fashioned Strawberry Shortcake. 

In my strawberry research, I also came across a couple websites that are chock full of all things strawberry related.

The first is What's Cooking America:
http://whatscookingamerica.net/StrawberryHints.htm.  

It has information and tips such as:
• Selecting and Purchasing Strawberries
• Strawberry Equivalents (for example, 1 pint = 7 cups whole berries)
• Storing and Preparing
• Nutrition
• Freezing

The other is California Giant Berry Farms: http://calgiant.com/springinyourstep/.

This website isn't just about strawberries; it's about all berries in general.  And when you have a surplus, it's nice to know of some 'not-commonly-thought-of' ways to use them up.  One great idea: using frozen berries in your summer drink instead of ice cubes. Or use a bowl filled with berries as an art project prop.  Don't worry though, there's also a few good recipes to satisfy those sweet tooths.