Here We Go a' Strawberry Picking!

About author / Pamela Chester

Mom of two; graduate French Culinary Institute; kids cooking program instructor; Master's degree in food studies. Creates kid friendly foods and loves her slow cooker.

One of my favorite things to do this time of year is to head down to the strawberry patch and come out with a bucketful of fresh and juicy ripe berries. It’s an activity that all kids, young and old, love. An hour or two of effort is sure to yield a bounty of berries your kids will be proud of. Nothing can compare to the sweet taste of a freshly picked strawberry, still warm from the sun. If you have any left to bring home, you can also use them in all kinds of delicious summer desserts: cobblers, crisps, pies, and cakes.

My love of fresh picked berries goes back to my childhood. My dad, an avid gardener, set up a little strawberry patch out back by our sandbox one year as a surprise. In the springtime, I used to wake up at the crack of dawn to go out and pick them when they were still glistening with dewdrops. That bowl of strawberries seemed like the best breakfast ever, and I was so proud of myself for getting it on my own.

With a bit of extra time, I would still happily spend hours picking berries along a wooded trail or at a local orchard. In addition to our at home berry harvesting efforts, I remember going to pick fresh strawberries in May every year, at the local apple orchard and farmstand. When we got home, our hands would be stained a bright red color. By the time we got done eating our fill of fresh berries, there would still be pints and pints of strawberries left to make pies and preserves.

We are planning a visit to the local strawberry patch soon, to introduce our sons to the joys of berry picking. If you have the opportunity to do so in your area, I highly recommend a trip; it’s a great way to spend an afternoon. Once you arrive home with your harvest, there are so many things you can do with them.

Strawberries are the perfect snack for children; they're naturally sweet, healthy, and full of antioxidants. Plus little kids can eat a bunch without getting too full for their next meal.

There are a ton of recipes here on CDKitchen for delicious and easy strawberry desserts. One of my favorite summertime desserts is a fruit crisp. You can make the recipe below with strawberries alone, or create your own mix: the classic sweet and sour of strawberry rhubarb, or a nice mix of berries, adding blueberries, raspberries, or blackberries. Topped off with some fresh whipped cream or vanilla ice cream, it’s a little bit of heaven on a warm summer evening.

Another easy way to serve fresh strawberries is to serve them with a store bought pound cake, angel food cake, or shortcakes. Slice up some strawberries and mix with a tablespoon of sugar; let them sit a couple of hours til they give off some of their juice. Then slice your cake and serve topped with the juicy berries. What could be simpler for a kid-pleasing summer dessert? Don’t forget the whipped cream!

Serves/Makes: 4

• 1 quart fresh strawberries
• 1/4 pound butter
• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• whipped cream (optional)