Summer Strawberries

Summer is officially here in the Twin Cites and that means it is time to call the Berry Hotline! This week I took my two favorite small people strawberry picking at Pine Tree Apple Orchard and we had so much fun! After taking the wagen ride out to the fields and being assigned to picking rows, we were set free to harvest to our little strawberry hearts content! We did, and it was so hard to stop! Below you can read what we did with this plethora of beautiful berries. I hope you enjoy the good eats as much as we did!
I found my recipes and pinned them on my Pinterest. Below you'll see the links but also my little edits on the recipes that I discovered and changed when making the meals myself.    












Fruit Salad  

The kids were great helpers with this one. The recipe comes from The Real Mom Kitchen, with my edits below.

• 1 (5.1 oz) pkg vanilla instant pudding 
• 1(20 oz) can pineapple tidbits with juice 
• 1 lb. fresh strawberries, quartered 
• 3 bananas, sliced 

In a bowl combine the dry pudding mix and canned pineapple with the juice. Stir until well blended and all the pudding mixture has dissolved. Fold in the strawberries and bananas

Strawberry Short Cake Popsicles 

 These were a hit for the kids to make and eat and the grownups were enjoying the treat too!

Strawberry Shortcake Popsicles (adapted from Bakers Royale)
makes 12 popsicles

2 cups fresh strawberries, washed and hulled
1/2 cup crushed Nilla wafers
2 cups plain whole milk yogurt
1/3 cup honey (more if desired)
12 6 oz. disposable cups
wooden popsicle sticks (or we used plastic spoons) 

In a medium bowl, combine the crushed Nilla wafers, yogurt, and honey. Set out 12 6 oz. Dixie cups, and fill each one with 2 tablespoons of the yogurt mixture. Set in the freezer to chill for 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, puree or mash up the berries. Divide the berries among the 12 cups, and freeze for another 30 minutes.

Finally, divide the remaining yogurt mixture among the cups, add a popsicle stick to each one, and chill completely, several hours or more.

Strawberry Grilled Cheese  

Inspired by cooks at Simple Lens, these were easy and delicious and "taste like summer" according to Justin. 

• slices of bread 
• strawberries, chopped
• sharp white cheddar
• 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
• handful of fresh basil

• chop strawberries and marinate with balsamic for about 15 minutes.
• Assemble your sandwich layer the cheese, basil and strawberries.
• On an oiled skillet pan, medium heat, place the sandwich halves. Cook until cheese has just started to melt (~3 minutes or so).

Strawberry Mango Salsa 
This recipe is complements of the McConkie Menue Blog. You'll see I'm not big on exact measurements because I just make it and taste it till I'm happy with my result. 
This is a recipe that I completely recommend! Its SO delicious! 

 Strawberries, finely diced
 Mangos, finely diced
 Red Onion, finely chopped
Basil Leaves, chopped
 Fresh Lemon Juice
 Sea Salt
 Black Pepper 

This salsa was awesome all by itself! But I actually put it over tilapia that was served on a bed of herbs(picked from the garden) rice and sprouts. It was so delicious and gorgeous!