Every year when the strawberries are abundant, I make what I call my Strawberry Pick-Me-Ups. I puree strawberries, strain the seeds, pour into ice cube trays, and freeze. I remove them from the trays and store in freezer-safe containers in the freezer. They can be used in a multitude of ways, adding fresh strawberry flavor to drinks and desserts.
Press through a sieve to remove the seeds. This can take some time, but is worth the effort. This step can be skipped, if desired.
I definitely prefer seedless.
Before freezing, taste the puree. If the strawberries are tart and need sweetening, stir in sugar or simple syrup before adding to the ice cube trays.
Add them to your favorite liquid mixer – sparkling water, pineapple or other juices, lemon-lime sodas, etc. Use them in your smoothies. Make strawberry margaritas, strawberry daiquiris, strawberry mojitos – you get the idea. They are great thawed and stirred into store-bought ice cream & frozen yogurt. Perfect for making homemade strawberry ice cream. The uses are as endless as your imagination. Hide some and bring out to perk up a dreary fall day, when there are no fresh strawberries in sight on store shelves.
I love them stirred into a glass of ginger ale. Just add one to a glass of ice, pour in cold ginger ale (or your favorite drink), allow to sit just a little while and stir.
For just my husband and I, a full pitcher of lemonade is too much. I discovered I can make a single glass of lemonade whenever we want one.
Always fresh, always delicious.
Strawberry Lemonade – By the Glass
Juice one lemon into a glass. Add cold water. Add simple syrup, to taste. Drop in one Strawberry Pick-Me-Up. Let sit for a few minutes. Stir. Add ice.
Ahh, the taste of summer in a glass.
I keep simple syrup in the refrigerator to sweeten lemonade. I also
keep unsweetened iced tea on hand, but if a guest wants sweetened tea, simple syrup mixes in perfectly.
Simple Syrup
Bring 1 cup water to a boil. Stir in 1 cup of sugar. Boil for 3-5 minutes. Let cool.
SUNSHINE JUICE!!!!!!!!!