Strawberry Season

Well, strawberry season is long past, but with mission trips, weddings, and house remodeling, there has been little time to write. Nevertheless, here we are! Better late than never. 
I've lived in Michigan for 5 years, and this was this first time I went strawberry picking. Crazy, I know. I went to Visser Farms (visser-farms.com/), which actually proved to be a pleasant experience. You can either bring your own containers or purchase them at the shack. If you bring your own containers, make sure you weigh them before you pick your berries. After you've weighed in, the employee will tell you where to pick, and you're free to go. 
I started close to the road and picked toward the shack, following one row. The majority of the strawberries were ripe but small, as you can see in the bottom right picture. I found the best looking strawberries under the shade of leaves, so don't be afraid to get your hands a little dirty looking for those perfect strawberries! Even though I chose to pick on an overcast day, I was still sweating, so plan accordingly! If it's hot out, obviously wear sunscreen, bring water, and maybe even wear I hat to block out some sun. I decided to go closer to the end of the season, just so it wouldn't be so crowded. I still found loads of beautiful strawberries-- more than I could even pick!

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Though I was picking alone, this could certainly be a family activity. I was there for close to an hour and picked roughly 10 pounds of strawberries! This might be a little tedious for young children. I saw several families with wagons/carts for their children to sit in. Other parents employed the help of their children, telling them, "We don't leave until all the containers are full." Whatever option you choose, it's easy to make this a fun, memory-filled trip with a bountiful reward! 
Now, you're probably wondering how I used 10 pounds of strawberries, and I'm excited to share a couple recipes with you! 

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Strawberry-Infused Vodka

A refreshing beverage to enjoy while sitting on your deck. 
Servings: 4

Ingredients:

• 4 cups strawberries
• 8 medium/large basil leaves
• Vodka (medium tier vodka works well)

Containers:

• 4 mason jars

Directions:
     Wash and cut four cups of strawberries. Set them on a towel or paper towel to dry. 
     Wash your fresh basil leaves. Set them on a towel or paper towel to dry.
      Place 1 cup of strawberries and 2 basil leaves in one mason jar. Fill with vodka. Close the lid and give it a couple gentle shakes. Repeat with your remaining mason jars. 
     Set it in a cool, dry place for 1-3 days. 
     Enjoy by itself or mixed with lemonade or iced tea.
    When your mason jar is empty of its liquid and you have vodka-infused strawberries left over, re-fill your mason jar with vodka and start all over!

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Strawberry Jam

I can't claim this recipe as my own, so I'm sending you to the source: 
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Strawberry Jam

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There you have it: my two easy recipes to enjoy the fullness of strawberry season! Stay tuned for my next post, which will feature blueberries.