Strawberry Butter

The next best thing to having strawberry freezer jam just might be Strawberry Butter. Try it on homemade bread, toast, or bagels.

1. 1 pint Michigan strawberries
2. 1/2 pound Michigan butter, softened
3. 1 cup confectioners sugar

Place ingredients in food processor or blender and process until smooth and creamy. Chill. Serve on a bagel or favorite bread.

Recipe via the Michigan.gov website.

Strawberry BBQ Sauce

In continuing with the strawberry-themed recipes this week, I came across this sweet and hot Strawberry BBQ Sauce. This would be good on pork or chicken, but I am sure it wouldn't hurt to try it on whatever comes to mind. I have had great success with a cherry bbq sauce on pork and chicken so I would think this will be a similar sauce.

• 2 cups fresh Michigan strawberries, hulled and sliced
• 1/3 cup strawberry preserves
• 1/3 cup ketchup
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 large clove of garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon fresh, chopped ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne powder
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh grated lemon zest
• 1 scallion, minced
• 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped

Place all ingredients in a food processor or blender and puree until smooth. Makes 2 cups.

I do not care for the taste of cilantro so I will definitely be leaving that out. Other than that, it looks delicious. I received a bbq sauce making kit for my birthday and I have been itching to try it out. Since this is the season for strawberries I might as well give this one a go.

Recipe via Michigan.gov website.

Update on the Strawberry Cream French Toast

Just had the strawberry cream french toast that I gave out the recipe for yesterday. The review is in, that was an awesome breakfast! Accompanied with a steaming cup of black coffee it was all I could do to not eat more than I did. We even have leftovers to eat for tomorrow's breakfast. Yum!

Easy Strawberry Freezer Jam

My wife makes the best strawberry freezer jam. I hoard it throughout the year and am just now nearing the end of the last container of last year's jam. I love it so much that I wanted to share her awesome recipe with you. When I asked her for the recipe this morning she chuckled. She brought me the package of freezer jam pectin and told me that she just uses the recipe on the back. All this time I thought she was using some old family recipe! ;)

Of course, anyone making freezer jam is most likely using the same or at least a similar recipe. I do think that the quality of the strawberries is the key, though. Everyone might use the same recipe, but you have to use quality berries.

So, without further ado, here is the strawberry freezer jam recipe from the back of the Ball Freezer Jam Pectin package.

1. Measure 2/3-cup sugar into bowl. Add package Fruit Jell Freezer Jam Pectin; stir until mixed.
2. Crush strawberries. Combine 1 2/3 cups crushed strawberries with pectin mixture. Stir 3 minutes.
3. Ladle jam into clean jars (Ball makes great plastic jars with screw-on lids) leaving 1/2-inch headspace; apply lids. Let stand until thickened (about 30 minutes).
4. Serve, Refrigerate up to 3 weeks or Freeze it for longer storage.

Yields 2-8oz. jars

P.S. If you are at all like me you won't have to worry about storing the jam in your fridge for more than 3 weeks. It just won't last that long :).

Strawberry Cream French Toast

This reminds me of the stuffed french toast you can get at IHOP. My wife has made something similar to this and it was waaaay better than anything at IHOP. I'm not just saying that because she reads this blog either. :) Anyway, our strawberry patch is producing berries every day and I think I will be trying this delicious recipe for breakfast tomorrow.

What you need:

• 8-ounce package cream cheese
• 1 cup strawberry yogurt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 12 slices white bread
• 4 eggs
• 1/2 cup cream or milk
• butter for frying
• 2 cups freshly sliced Michigan strawberries

The night before serving:

Mix cream cheese (warm a little in microwave for easier mixing) with strawberry yogurt and refrigerate overnight. Slice 2 cups fresh strawberries and let sweeten overnight.

To prepare:

Spread half of cream cheese mixture on 6 slices of white bread and top to form a sandwich. Beat eggs, milk, and vanilla. Melt butter on the griddle or skillet. Dip sandwiches in egg mixture and cook until brown. To serve, top each sandwich with the remaining cheese mixture and fresh strawberries.

Courtesy of Hess Manor Bed and Breakfast; Romeo, Michigan, via Michigan.gov

Yummy Cherry Recipes

Cherry Republic has some great cherry recipes that I will definitely be trying out. We get a lot of our cherry products that we carry from Cherry Republic. You can get similar items for less at your local grocery store, but I firmly believe that once you try their cherry products you won't make that mistake again. The Classic Cherry Turnovers and Cherry Bread Pudding are at the top of my list to try out. I have made the Slow Cooker Bread Pudding with dried blueberries so I am sure it would be even better with some dried tart cherries.

For cherry recipes to soothe your sweet tooth head on over to Cherry Recipes from Cherry Republic.