So, we’ve covered the hulling and cleaning stage, now on to the preparing stage.

Depending on how you plan on using them, strawberries can be prepared a few different ways.  They can be left whole, halved, or quartered.

WHOLE

Fill a graham cracker crust with whole berries, prepare  jello per package directions, pour over berries, chill until set, spread on whipped cream, garnish with a couple whole berries and a few mint leaves and there you have a lovely pie ( that was 2 suggestions btw).

HALVED

I don’t normally prepare and freeze (next post) halved berries but when I do, they are usually for strawberry shortcake and they are usually fresh. Halved berries are great for decorating the top of cakes for a 4th of July theme. Alternate halved berries with whole blueberries for a beautiful display.

QUARTERED

This is my preferred method of preparation. Quartered berries are my go to when preparing berries for preserving. The smaller size makes them more flexible, mashable, cookable, freezable, and the list goes on.

Here is a simple recipe using berries prepared as a topping (next post).

STRAWBERRY CHEESECAKE PIE

Here’s what you need

• 1 package graham crackeres (smashed, chunks are encouraged)
• 1 stick butter
• 1/4 C sugar
• 1/2 C  smashed walnuts
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
•  package topping (sugar) berries thawed
• 2 8 oz packages cream cheese
• 1 can sweetened condensed milk
• 1 DEEP dish pie pan (sprayed)

Here’s what you do

Dump smashed crackers into sprayed pie dish, then dump in the smashed walnuts. Pour in the sugar and give it a good finger mix. Lay the stick of butter in the middle and microwave for 1 minute (you can melt it in a pan if you are like me and don’t like to use the ‘nuker’). Mix well with hands, then pack firmly on the bottom. (do not got up the sides). Bake 10 minutes in 350 oven to set, sprinkle cinnamon over the top as soon as it comes out, let cool completely.

While crust is baking, mix together the cream cheese and the milk until smooth. Measure out 1/2 cup of berry topping and mix into cream cheese mixture. Pour into cooled pie crust and chill for 4 hours covered.

Pour remaining topping over chilled pie. Using the handle of a spoon or knife, create a swirl pattern of choice or just spread over the surface and chill until serving.

Enjoy the fruits of your labor

Jo 💟