Thank goodness for strawberries. When she was a baby the sweet red fruit was one of the only all-natural snacks my young daughter would willingly devour. Three years later strawberries are still on the top of her “Favorite Foods” list and being able to pick our own at a local farm has become an annual family tradition.
We headed out on our latest strawberry picking adventure a couple of weeks ago and per usual it was… well, eventful (as are most outings with a preschooler). This year the crop was plumper and juicer than ever. We picked 10 pounds worth of berries. Or, rather, I picked 10 pounds of berries and my daughter helped the farmer weed his field (she was fascinated by the pieces of tall grass that were interspersed in the strawberry rows, which she at first used as a measuring rod, then as a whip to get her “mommy horse” to pick strawberries faster).
If you have been considering taking your children to pick fresh strawberries at a farm I would suggest choosing a date soon (in most parts of the country strawberry season only lasts until the end of July). And once you get your pick of the crop I highly recommend using them in the following kid-friendly recipes. Because if there is anything my young daughter loves more than picking strawberries it’s taking pride in turning them into sweet treats that we share with family and friends.
Here are some of the quick and easy strawberry recipes we used this year:
**Note: They are by no means elaborate masterpieces, but kids love them and they are a cinch for little hands to create.**
SIMPLE STRAWBERRY PIE
Ingredients:
1 pre-made pie crust
1 quart fresh strawberries, washed and cut in half
1 1/2 cup sugar
1 cup water
2 1/2 teaspoon cornstarch
1 (3 oz.) package strawberry Jell-O
Directions:
Mix water, sugar and cornstarch in a pan. Cook until thick. Stir in package of Jell-O.
Set aside to cool.
While mixture is cooling, arrange strawberries in prepared pie crust. Pour cooled mixture over strawberries and chill.
Use extra berries to garnish along with whipped cream.
CHOCOLATE DIPPED STRAWBERRIES
Ingredients:
1 quart fresh strawberries (with stems)
1 2/3 cups (10 oz.) vanilla baking chips
2 tablespoon shortening, divided
1 cup (6 oz) semisweet chocolate chips
Directions:
Wash strawberries gently and pat dry.
In a microwave or double boiler, melt white chocolate chips and 1 tablespoon shortening.
Dip each strawberry until it is two-thirds coated.
Allow excess chocolate to drip off.
Placed on a wax-paper lined tray.
Refrigerate 30 minutes until set.
Melt chocolate chips and remaining shortening.
Dip each strawberry until one-third coated.
Return to tray and refrigerate another 30 minutes.
SIMPLE STRAWBERRY JAM
Ingredients:
4 cups crushed fresh strawberries
1 ½ cups sugar or Splenda
1 package of fruit pectin
5 (8 oz) freezer jars
Directions:
Stir sugar and contents of pectin package in a bowl until well blended.
Add crushed strawberries, stir for 3 minutes.
Ladle mixture into jars.
Let stand for 24 hours at room temperature before freezing.
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Family Travel: Taking Your Children To A Strawberry Farm
The Sneaky Mama Sneaks in Strawberries for Summer!