an ode to strawberries...

oh, sweet little red berry

full of summer's juice

how do i love thee

let me count the ways...

okay. i am no poet and will keep my day job but i do love me some sweet, tender, juicy little berries. i profess my love to all of the berries, i do not discriminate, but the summer sunshine (which just arrived this morning btw) just makes me dream of strawberries. 

my tiny garden is overflowing with red, ripe strawberries right now. unfortunately, most of them have been taste tested by bugs already. how the heck do i stop those critters from eatin my berries? those are my berries, damn it. 

i will swoop up a few baskets of those luscious little berries at farmer's market this weekend and here are a few ideas of what i can do to those sweet little things...

honey and jam tarts  honey + jam

easy strawberry preserves mark bittman

strawberry scones orangette

brown butter banana strawberry bread joy the baker

strawberry summer cake smitten kitchen

spinach + strawberry salad with goat cheese + almonds whole foods market

its likely that my weekend laziness will overcome me and i might just roast some berries with a drizzle of good balsamic vinegar and serve them on toasted bread slathered with goat cheese.

what is your favorite strawberry recipe? my momma taught me that its nice to share. please share!