Strawberry Season

Strawberries! YUMMMM! I love it when strawberry season is here. They have been around in the stores for several months. But really........who wants to eat red stryo???? When the local berries ripen, mmmm, they are sooo juicy, they smell so good, and taste sooooo wonderful. When strawberries ripen, summer is here. I don't have enough room in my yard to grow as many strawberries as I want, so I go to a local farmer and spend an hour picking. This year I picked 30 pounds.
Have you ever wondered how much one of the little baskets weighs? How much are you buying? Right there.......10.6 ounces.
After picking, going home, making a strawberry smoothie, it's time to "put up the berries". Some of the caps are still on the berries. I've never been able to make the little berry huler thingies work right. I would aways take half of the berry off. I wasn't much better with a knife. My solution? Right here....
My mom was given this tip from a friend several years ago. A grapefruit spoon. It works great! The point goes under the cap, and pulls it right out. The edge cuts out any spot, if needed. I have 30 bags for the freezer. The label says 2 C, but it's more like 2 1/2 C.

Then I make 2 batches of freezer jam. I put the jam in various size jars. Some jars are cute to use as gifts. Then I save some to eat fresh. We love strawberry shortcake. I made some, but ate it before I could take a picture. Maybe I'll get a picture with the next shortcake. It was just too delicious to wait.
I think I'll pick more. I want to infuse some in vodka and rum, and try dehydrating some. Have you ever done that? How did it work? I hope you get to enjoy some berries too.