On my travels yesterday I stopped into my local market, Rock Garden Farms and picked up some local goodies to make some simply delicious meals this week. Fresh Ontario snow peas, peas, spinach, tomatoes, romaine, fresh farm eggs and strawberries!

On my way out Margaret and I had a quick chat about how beautiful the berries are this year, however the weather is concerning. It was around 30 C today and she was saying it is “too hot for the strawberries.” I got it what she was saying immediately. I have noticed in my garden that in a one week, almost all of my perennials have doubled in size! This could simply mean a very short spring strawberry season. They will grow too quickly, ripen too fast and would need to be consumed before they spoil. So let’s get them while we can:)

Here are a 3 tips to get the best out of your strawberries this season,

1. Eat them fresh and enjoy the delicious sweet flavour of the local strawberries, they are simple and easy to prepare.
2. Make jam if you have the tools and the time, it can be fun with the kids!
3. Freeze them for the winter months when you simply crave the taste of local Ontario strawberries! Perfect in muffins, smoothies and can be used to make lovely sauces top top of poultry, beef and pork recipes.

I am going for option number 1 & 3, having a crazy busy schedule this season leaves me looking for the most practical and quickest way to preserve the flavour for the winter months. I have many farmer friends who are making awesome jams and preserves that are loaded with local flavours that I am going to be buying this year.

We have no shortage of jams and preserves being made locally, however I have noticed that over the winter months it can be hard to find local Ontario frozen fruits. So I am going to stock up now, so I do have a choice for local frozen fruit for my family.

Last night the girls and I prepared the fruit in 20 minutes, rinsed and cut into quarters. We spread them out on baking trays and popped into the freezer for about 30 minutes, and put them into some Ziploc freezer bags. It was fun and easy to do while we were making  lunch for tomorrow.

With the weather being so unpredictable these days, my suggestion is to go out and support these local strawberry growers and find ways to freeze, preserve the awesome flavour of strawberries that may not last long. And seriously “eat as much as you can,” because they are absolutely delicious this year!

Get out and get picking with the kids(:

Living local with the family,

Stacey Fokas

Health Benefits; natural source of fibre, natural source of sugar, potassium, inflammation reducer, good for your heart, vitamin C, antioxidants, good for your eyes, cancer prevention, and they taste really good!

Looking for a local berry grower near you, email us at info@freshalicious.ca or visit the freshalicious freeway

Stacey Fokas

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