It’s almost strawberry season!  I wait for it all year long…  That wonderful time of year when plump, juicy strawberries are bursting with summer goodness.  Since I am such a strawberry junkie, I ‘m always on the lookout for wonderful recipes that make use of all that delicious flavor.

So try the recipes below, and make the most of summer strawberries while they last.

3 Simple Strawberry Recipes

Simple Strawberry Dip (recipe created by Sebrina Zerkus Smith)

1/4 cup organic heavy whipping cream

1-5oz container non-fat greek yogurt, vanilla

2 Tablespoons All-Fruit Spread, Strawberry or whatever flavor you like

1-2 oz toasted pecans, chopped (optional, but worth it!)

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1 qt fresh strawberries, rinsed and hulled

Whip heavy cream until stiff peaks form.  Set aside.  Mix next 4 ingredients together in a bowl.  Gently fold in whipped cream.  Serve immediately with fresh strawberries.  Great with other fruit, too!

Simple Grilled Strawberries With Ice Cream (Adapted from FoodNetwork.com)

1 qt strawberries, rinsed and dried (leave tops on)

2-3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

2-3 tablespoons Raw Sugar or brown sugar

4 long wooden picks or skewers, soaked in water for at least 30 minutes

Vanilla Ice Cream

Put strawberries in a bowl and drizzle with balsamic vinegar.  Put Raw Sugar in separate bowl.  Remove a strawberry from the vinegar and roll in the sugar.  Thread strawberry onto a wooden pick.  Repeat with remaining strawberries.  Set grill to low heat.  Place strawberries on grill over indirect heat.  Grill about 1-2 minutes. Remove from grill and serve immediately with vanilla ice cream.

Simple Strawberry Soup (adapted from Taste of Home)

1 qt fresh strawberries, rinsed and sliced

2 cups plain greek yogurt

1/4 c Grand Mariner

1/4 c orange juice

1/4 to 1/2 c raw sugar, or to taste

1/4 tsp ground cardamom

water

Fresh strawberry halves and mint leaves for garnish

Put strawberries in a blender and puree.  If desired, strain strawberry mixture through a fine sieve to remove any seeds, and return mixture to blender. Add all remaining ingredients except water, blending well.  Mixture will be thick.  Add water to desired consistency, if desired.  Chill at least 1 hour.  Garnish with fresh strawberry halves and mint leaves. enjoy!