Fresh Cooking with In-Season Food: Strawberries

Everyone knows that cooking with fresh fruits and vegetables (that are in-season) not only is a great way to stretch a buck, it is also the best way to produce flavorful dishes that will keep your family, friends, guests (whomever) asking for more. This time of year there are many wonderful selections: leafy greens, sweet potatoes, peanuts and strawberries to name a few. A quick visit to your local farmer's market, grocery store or fresh produce stand on the corner offers a bountiful harvest of in-season crops. Here, we focus on the ever scrumptious, antioxidant-rich strawberry. Often thought of for pies and other delicious desserts, this "most famous berry" has a lot more to offer other than taste!

Salads
- Strawberry & Spinach Salad w/Honey Dressing
- Chicken Salad w/Strawberry Vinaigrette
- Strawberry & Onion Salad

Condiments/Misc.
- Strawberry Refrigerator Jam
- Strawberry Rhubarb Jam
- Strawberry Rhubarb Leather

Beverages
- Strawberry Daiquiri
- Frozen Strawberry Daiquiri
- Strawberry Lemonade
- Strawberry Margarita
- Strawberry Banana Smoothie

Desserts
- Strawberry Cake
- Strawberry Pretzel Surprise
- Strawberry Trifles
- Black-Bottom Strawberry Pie
- Fat Free Strawberry Sherbet
- Strawberry Cream Pie
- Strawberry Rhubarb Coffee Cake

-Salads-

|Strawberry & Spinach Salad with Honey Dressing

6 oz Fresh Spinach, cleaned and trimmed
2 Tb Balsamic Vinegar
2 Tb Water
4 tsp Honey
2 tsp Dijon Mustard
Salt and Pepper to taste
1 C Fresh Strawberries, thickly sliced
1 sm Red Onion, thinly sliced

Tear spinach into bite sized pieces and place in salad bowl. In a separate bowl whisk together vinegar, water, honey, mustard, salt and pepper. Add to the spinach and toss lightly. Add strawberries and onion. Toss lightly.

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