All Things Strawberry

Happy Spring everyone!!

With spring comes all of the beauty of a new season, the colors and smells of all the flowers. The beauty of new birth. Also comes the start of fruits and vegetable season…yesssss!! I love this time of year because I love to cook with fresh ingredients. So on today’s post, I’ll be sharing a couple of my favorite strawberry recipes.

I am excited to share these with you. One is a fresh strawberry pie and the other is strawberry freezer jam. Two all-time favorites in my family. We are going to keep this short and sweet today so you can hopefully get right in the kitchen and prepare one or both of these.

Fresh Strawberry Pie:

Ingredients:

1. 1-9 inch unbaked pie crust
2. 4-6 cups strawberries, cleaned, hulled and cut in half or quartered
3. 1 cup of water
4. 1 cup of sugar
5. 3 Tbs cornstarch
6. 1-3oz box of strawberry Jell-O

Directions:

1. Bake the pie crust per instructions. Or if you prefer to make your own, that works as well. Set pie crust off to the side to cool.
2. In a saucepan, combine the water, sugar, and cornstarch….bring to a boil. Whisk mixture constantly for about 3 minutes.
3. Add the strawberry Jell-O and cook for about a minute longer.
4. Remove from heat and let cool for 10-15 minutes.
5. While the mixture is cooling, layer the strawberries into the pie crust.
6. Gently pour the mixture over the strawberries.
7. Refrigerate till set or overnight.
8. You can garnish with whipped cream or enjoy with ice cream.
9. This recipe can be altered to be made sugar free. Use Stevia instead of sugar and sugar-free strawberry Jell-O.

This is a really pretty pie once fully set because the strawberry mix gives the strawberries a glossy look. I hope that you and your family enjoy this pie as much as we do. We would love to hear from you in the comment section. Ohhh!! On a side note, I wonder if this pie would be good as a peach pie? Made with fresh peaches and peach Jell-O…maybe?!

Strawberry Freezer Jam:

This jam has been in my family for as long as I can remember. And can be enjoyed in so many ways. But first, let’s get down to making it.

Ingredients:

1. 4 cups of cleaned, hulled, and sliced strawberries.
2. 4 cups of sugar.
3. 1 packet of Sure-Jell.
4. Containers for jam. I have always used plastic freezer containers. You can use jars too but you will need to make sure that you wash and sterilize them really well.
5. This recipe, too, can be made sugar free, just be sure to buy the sugar free Sure-Jell. It comes in a pink box.

Directions:

1. Start by crushing the strawberries, either with a food chopper or a food processor. I have always done mine with a handheld food chopper because I like to have a few chunks of strawberries in my jam. But if you want a smoother texture, use a food processor and puree the strawberries.
2. Next, you will add the sugar, exact amount, to the strawberries and combine. Let stand for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to help dissolve the sugar.
3. In a small saucepan, bring to a boil 3/4 cup of water and a packet of Sure-Jell. Let boil for 1 minute. Now you have liquid pectin.
4. Pour the liquid pectin over the strawberry mix and stir for another 3 minutes, continually, until the sugar is fully dissolved. The mixture will become a little thick.
5. Now you are ready to start filling your containers. Fill them up, leaving about 1/2 of space at the top. Cover with lids and let sit for 24 hours at room temperature.
6. Place them in the freezer for up to a year.
7. Enjoy!!!

This jam is good on so many things. Try it on toast or pancakes. A favorite of mine, and don’t tell anyone, lol…take vanilla ice cream, favorite cookie-like graham crackers, crumbled up, and the strawberry freezer jam. Mix it all together and you will have your very own Cold Stone Ice Cream. Ohhh!!! I want a bowl now just thinking about it!

I truly hope that you will try these recipes and please let us know how you like them.

Blessings everyone!!! Amanda

Check out the link below for a video of how to make both the pie and freezer jam.

https://www.facebook.com/2334462876820058/videos/263336518050049/